Is She Looking Gravid?

Here are some pics of the female that appeared to be "stilting". Does she appear gravid to you?

Click here to view:

Can you see little embryos in the see-through part of her side?

With Pandinus Imperator you will not see the embryos as the membrane isn't see through like it is in desert species. It's tough to say from those pictures. If she is increasing in size but still only being fed one feeder a week then probably. Emps take forever to pop, 9-18 months so just keep an eye on her. She isn't so big looking now that I would say you have gravid specimen. You have a long wait ahead of you. But take a picture every few months to see if she is still growing and that will help you to know for sure. Also you could introduce a male and he will try to mate with her. If she constantly tails him away after multiple mating attempts that's another pretty sure sign she is already gravid. Good luck.

The picture sequence is a good idea.

I just learned today that a friend's emp had babies. A whopping brood of 4 of which 3 survived. Does an emp mom kill prey for the babies when they are on her back?

Yames wrote:

With Pandinus Imperator you will not see the embryos as the membrane isn't see through like it is in desert species. It's tough to say from those pictures. If she is increasing in size but still only being fed one feeder a week then probably. Emps take forever to pop, 9-18 months so just keep an eye on her. She isn't so big looking now that I would say you have gravid specimen. You have a long wait ahead of you. But take a picture every few months to see if she is still growing and that will help you to know for sure. Also you could introduce a male and he will try to mate with her. If she constantly tails him away after multiple mating attempts that's another pretty sure sign she is already gravid. Good luck.

+1

robert44 wrote:

Does an emp mom kill prey for the babies when they are on her back?

Killing a prey that poses as a threat for her babies.. yes.
Killing a prey to feed the babies.. possibly, but not before the babies have gone throught their first molt (from 1.instar to 2.instar) on her back and usually, the 2.instar juvenile scorplings will only start feeding after they have dismounted from their mom's back.

Thanks guys. She seems to have gotten a little bigger yet she hasnt eaten anything in almost month. And now shes spending all of her time next to the heat lamp (sometimes stiltin). I will watch closely though.