Dealing with New Arrivals [Semi Emergency]

So, I went on vacation and upon my return a family member bought me two new Emperors. One looks to be about 4th or 5th Instar, while the other is more likely 6th. I'm pretty sure they're all females thanks to the guides on this site.

I'm happy to see the family grow, but I really wasn't ready for this. On top of that, I'm worried about their behavior. First, I took all three Emperors into separate containers. I rearranged the tank, added plenty of hides (four - two small two large), refilled the water, mixed up the substrate and made everything pleasant. I added them back in quickly, and they all ran to different corners. Two found hides immediately and the third (my original - Shosuro) started walking around the open substrate. Upon finding one of the occupied hides, she became agitated, started doing a juttery dance and tried to force herself into the hide. The one that was in there emerged, and they did a bit of a stand off before appearing to calm down significantly. Shosuro started wandering again and Soshi (the smaller of the three) found one of the other larger hides. She's been in there ever since. Now, the third Emperor - Bayushi, has a redder telson than any of the others, though it's not completely red, leading me to believe about Instar 6. She was hiding in a simple Eco Terra 'dome' rock, with plenty of space for all three Emperors to fit comfortably inside.

Shosuro made her way into the occupied hide, taking the opposite side. I was watching carefully, and I noted the two starting to lunge at each other. The fight spilled into the open and they both continued posturing. Telsons were not being used, in fact, I would guess that they were just sizing each other up. After a few minutes of random grabs and pushes, both wandered away. When they met next, Bayushi was laying under a plant I have in the enclosure. Shosuro was still wandering and they both jumped at each other when approached.

This fight was different. It didn't have the same posturing, and stings were used. I can't tell if either landed a hit on the other, but I quickly separated them for their own safety. Does anyone have any advice? Ideas? Should I rearrange again, and try once more?

When I get pictures uploaded, I'll show you the enclosure layout, so you have an idea.

Thanks for the help!

Okay, so you believe them all to be females and it sounds like none of them are adults yet.

Would it be possible to get a picture with all three scorps in it? That way we can see a size comparison.

What are you using for substrate? How deep is it?

It sounds like they were having a territorial dispute, I wouldn't worry about it too much unless it starts to get bad. When having these disputes, they will use their chela to shove each-other and it's not uncommon for them to push strike at each-other with their metasomas, telson usually tucked safely underneath.

Keep an eye out if one of them molts, during that time they are very vulnerable to attack.

In the two earlier squabbles, exactly what you described was happening. In the later fight, the stingers were getting involved. Even separating them was difficult.

I can try and get pictures of them, that shouldn't be hard. I just don't know if I should keep them all in a separate container for now.

As for substrate - It's Cypress Mulch, about three inches deep. I have an Eco Terra half rock hide, a piece of hollow driftwood, an Eco Terra magnetic hide (the one that sits on the glass with the removable plate) and another piece of driftwood with space beneath it for cover. I tried to find the most convenient ways for them to hide away from each other at the get go.

Try switching the substrate to coco fiber. This will allow for burrowing and reduce stress for the scorpions.

Is it one individual that's being aggressive? If so, you may have to separate it from the group.

As far as I could see, only the largest one was causing trouble. She seemed plenty content to lay aside, but when the middle one approached, she got VERY defensive. I'll rework the tank tomorrow and see what I can get going.

Is she showing any signs of premolt? Could be why she's acting defensive.

Retanked - Added more hides. They each found their own home and are chilling. We'll see what happens in the morning.

Not sure if they had already done so, but they'll need to get pass a some interaction before we assume that they have decided to stay in a communal setup peacefully.

Have you gotten them individually sexed and ID'ed on their estimated instar or if one/some are already adults?

Pictures would help on the ID/ sexing if you need some opinion.

I'm fairly confident all are females. The two new ones are most likely 4i and 6i. The one they're being added to is 5i based on the other two. The oldest's Telson is brownish, but not quite red. The youngest is almost a cream colored Telson. Considering the number of steps, and that Shosuro's somewhere between the two, I deduced the ages. I don't want to bug the girls RIGHT NOW for Sexing/Age Pics, but I'm confident on my assessment.

Wow - Okay, twenty minutes ago, the light clicked off. Now they've already begun switching up hides. Some new things I've noticed that I've never seen before.

Shuttering: Occasionally they'll stop and just shiver or shake. It's usually only one or two pulses...but she'll take a few steps and keep moving. Then when she stops next, it happens again.

Tail Waving: I'd never observed Shosuro do this in the months that I've had her. As the girls walk (I've seen them all do this), they'll just start waving their tail around in the air. It doesn't resemble the 'Self Stabbing' I've heard with overheating, and the tank maintains a fairly chill temperature during the day.

Fighting: Occasionally, when two of them encounter each other, they take up a very defensive posture. They'll grab each other's claws and move to sting. Their stingers will even be thrusting, but they don't seem to be trying to stab each other. This is a change from yesterday. Shosuro and the 6i were full on rolling around trying to kill each other.

Since retanking, all scorpions seem to be moving around with each other normally. There were a few tense moments, but there hasn't been any big fights YET.

Just keep monitoring them, if things get ugly, separate the individual that's causing the trouble.

Pictures?

My camera is arguing completely with the light. I can't get anything good. All of the colors are washed out by the flash.

The two younger, Shosuro (5i) and Soshi (4i) stayed on top of each other inside a hide last night. They've taken one of the larger rocks that has a dome built into the front as their own.

I'll give a run down on the tank they're in - for reference.



From left to right, back to front. There is a piece of triangular slate half buried with a hide dug out from beneath it (Hide #1). The plant is covering another half buried porous rock that has a large opening and a spacious dome beneath it (Hide #2). The piece of Driftwood is pressed against the glass, and buried at it's far end (Hide #3). The yellow rock in the corner is against the glass, supported by substrate, giving enough room for a single scorpion (Hide #4).

In the hour that the light's been out, Bayushi (5i) ran from Hide 3 into Hide 2. She kicked out Soshi (4i). Shosuro was under Hide #4 all day and emerged when Bayushi walked by. Soshi and Bayushi are now hiding in Hide 2, and Bayushi has returned to where she came from under Hide 3.

Right now, Shosuro and Soshi are happily digging in the mulch under Hide 2.

While typing - all three scorpions are under Hide 2. I've confirmed that all three are moving around.

Walked into the room and found this.

I panicked, thinking Shosuro had been stung and was dying. Instead she was just cleaning.

Looks like all is well.

Tank set-up looks good, although I still suggest using coco fiber.

Lol, yeah she was just cleaning herself.

Yeah - I'm broke.

When I get the cash for Coco Fiber or Moss I'll do it. That will give them two good weeks of acclimation time.

Well, there's no rush. Cypress mulch isn't the worst substrate out there, it just doesn't allow for burrowing like coco fiber or peat does. Good luck with your scorps!

HAH

A friend gave me a brick of extra stuff from his indoor garden kit.

It was a small brick. I was worried it wouldn't give me a lot.

Holy Crap! That's a lot of Substrate!

Holy [hopscotch] mushrooms!!! Get those emps some Eco earth ASAP. Ask ANYBODY to borrow $4. I would be a pissy scorpion not being able to burrow and getting stabbed by moist cypress mulch whenever I tried.

Shi-take is not hopscotch worthy!!!