H Spinifer Arrival

Ordered a Heterometrus Spinifer from Ken The Bug Guy and it arrived this morning. The terrarium is not set up all the way yet and the scorp is really active. Its not hungry but well see how it is once it settles. Can anyone tell the sex from these pics? If not ill take some of the pectines after class.

Your scorp appears to actually be a Heterometrus petersii. I've noticed that lately most of the scorps being sold as H. spinifer are actually H. petersii.

Some differences between the two species are that H. spinifer has a very pronounced internal tubercle on the patella while H. petersii has a internal tubercle, it's nowhere near as pronounced. In addition to that, H. spinifer normally have red telsons while H. petersii have black.

You may want to contact Ken and tell him the scorps he's selling are actually H. petersii.

You need to get that substrate moist ASAP, pour some water on it until it's thoroughly moistened.

You're going to need more pictures if you want it sexed.
H. petersii can be sexed two ways.
The first is looking at the operculum and the size of the pectines. H. petersii also show sexual dimorphism in their chela, the males have an enlarged tibial tooth.

Here's what I mean by the internal tubercle:


H. spinifer:


Pictures are NOT mine. I take no credit for them.

Wow it appears you are right. Think I should just link this thread to ken in the email? Also, having trouble figuring out a way to take pics of the pectines without upsetting it. I did however take better photos (i think you can see it) of the chela. From what you said it appears this one is male.

Damn. In the photos I cant tell but in person it appears the tooth on the left is much bigger. And ive moistened the subtrate substantially and it appears much happier (not just hovering around the water dish and fully exploring)

Papoose wrote:

Wow it appears you are right. Think I should just link this thread to ken in the email? Also, having trouble figuring out a way to take pics of the pectines without upsetting it.

[HOW TO] Correctly handle a scorpion

Scroll down a bit to the "sexing your scorpion" section.

Yeah, just link Ken the thread.

Heterometrus are a beautiful spp.. Congrats with yours!

Here's what a male chela would look like:


Female:


Pictures are NOT mine. They are the property of Alex. (LXDNG79) I'm am simply posting them here to show the sexual dimorphism.

Thank you. from those pics Id say it is a male.