Might get into the scorpion hobby - couple questions first though

I have been looking for a "look but don't touch" pet lately and I think scorpions may just fit the bill. But there are a few things I have been wondering.

1) Are they the kind of pet that stays hidden all the time or is there some "visual entertainment" to be had? I have had some inverts that were hidden ALL the time. They were boring, boring, boring. Are scorpions (see list below) active, out and about or are you going to see nothing but substrate every time you look?

2) I have many small vivariums at my disposal that I would love to house scorpions in. They are 8.5 inches diameter and about 12 inches tall (2.5 gallon). They have a SECURE top and I can make sure it has all the ventillation required. I have no intentions to breed, nor do I want house a scorpion community. I want ONE scorpion per vivarium. I don't want to get into large vivarium decorations either. I just want to put whatever the scorpion needs to be happy.

These are some examples of the scorpions that have peaked my interest. Would they be suited to the enclosure size I have in mind? Babycurus jacksoni, Centruroides exilicauda, Smeringurus mesaensis, Vaejovis spinigerus.

The first 2 are bark scorpions, so slanting bark in a darker spot could increase activity. They woud both fit, but bark would be a factor.

So what are the space requirements for...

1) vaejovis spinigerus

2) centruroides exilicauda

3) androctunos amoreuxi

4) babycurus jacksoni

5) smeringurus mesaensis

Looking around online, I seem to find that 2.5 gallons per scorpion should be fine, but my 2.5 gallon enclosures are round and are 8.5" diameter and 12" tall and I need to know if THOSE enclosures will work since not all 2.5 gallon enclosures are the same dimensions.

I keep my Babycurus jacksoni scorpling in a much smaller enclosure, but with the same shape. 2.5 gallons should do fine for an adult by the way you describe it. Centruroides exilicauda should also do well.

i think V. spinigerus is a fine late night scorpion to watch. my sister has one and i've been dying to get my hands on one as well.

with that high of an enclosure you can easily provide it a deep enough substrate which would contradict your idea of a 'show scorpion'.

try H. hottentotta or H. longimanus. for a weird reason, mine are always active and on the move.

Well MRMB, welcome to the forum.

First, what inverts have you kept before?

Second, please check out the caresheet section of our forum: http://www.scorpion-forum.com/f11-scorpion-caresheets

I also encourage you to check out this: http://www.scorpion-forum.com/t2198-info-scorp-o-matic-choose-your-scorpion-wizard

Third, all scorpions are going to hide, some more than others. All the species you mentioned are fairly active though.


On a different note, I strongly suggest that you stay away from Androctonus species until you gain more experience with more benign species.

Also, everyone seems to be having trouble with this lately:
Vaejovis Hoffmannius spingerus

V. spinigerus was moved to the genus Hoffmannius a while ago.


http://www.ntnu.no/ub/scorpion-files/vaejovidae_updates.pdf

Scorpion19981000 wrote:

Well MRMB, welcome to the forum.

First, what inverts have you kept before?

Second, please check out the caresheet section of our forum: http://www.scorpion-forum.com/f11-scorpion-caresheets

I also encourage you to check out this: http://www.scorpion-forum.com/t2198-info-scorp-o-matic-choose-your-scorpion-wizard

Third, all scorpions are going to hide, some more than others. All the species you mentioned are fairly active though.


On a different note, I strongly suggest that you stay away from Androctonus species until you gain more experience with more benign species.

Also, everyone seems to be having trouble with this lately:
Vaejovis Hoffmannius spingerus

V. spinigerus was moved to the genus Hoffmannius a while ago.


http://www.ntnu.no/ub/scorpion-files/vaejovidae_updates.pdf

+1 to all.

Scorpion19981000 wrote:

Well MRMB, welcome to the forum.

First, what inverts have you kept before?

Second, please check out the caresheet section of our forum: http://www.scorpion-forum.com/f11-scorpion-caresheets

I also encourage you to check out this: http://www.scorpion-forum.com/t2198-info-scorp-o-matic-choose-your-scorpion-wizard

I have yet to keep any scorpion. However, I am now taking an interest hence this thread. I have a lot of equipment though (thermostat, heaters, enclosures etc). I have had a centipede for about a week, not really enjoying it though.

Thanks for the links. Based on the bark scorpion sheet by GS at the "all scorpion archive," bark scorpions would work perfect for the enclosures I have. I may look into those.

I like bark scorpions the most also. Their colors seem too be brighter and have more diverse colors. They also seem to be more active, communal, and better eaters.

In that case I suggest either Centruroides gracilis or Centruroides vittatus.

What species of centipede do you know?

Hemiscolopendra marginata

The thing is like a pet worm. It spends 100% of it's time burried in the eco earth. Just got rid of it.

The C gracilis and C vittatus are two I was looking into.

How is Babycurus jacksoni care different from the Centruroides care? Is it also a bark scorpion? I noticed GS's care sheet for bark didn't list that one.

The bark scorpion genuses are Rhopalurus, Babycurus, Centruroides, Tityus, Grosphus, Lychas, Isometrus, and maybe a few others. Care is pretty abundant. Just search it.

If your looking for more activity then you might want to keep some bark scorpion communally. I know you said 1 scorp per enclosure but you might want to reconsider.

MRMB wrote:

Hemiscolopendra marginata

The thing is like a pet worm. It spends 100% of it's time burried in the eco earth. Just got rid of it.

The C gracilis and C vittatus are two I was looking into.

How is Babycurus jacksoni care different from the Centruroides care? Is it also a bark scorpion? I noticed GS's care sheet for bark didn't list that one.

What did you do with the centipede?

Yeah, Hemiscolopendra marginata aren't the most active species. Nice looking though.

If you ever decide to get another centipede, go with some species of Scolopendra.

~Abyss~ wrote:

If your looking for more activity then you might want to keep some bark scorpion communally. I know you said 1 scorp per enclosure but you might want to reconsider.

I have been thinking about that.

My biggest hang-up with that is that I don't want any breeding going on, at least not yet.

Plus, I was also wondering how does one ensure that each scorpion gets enough food in community?

Shakudo wrote:

What did you do with the centipede?

*************

Scorpion19981000 wrote:

If you ever decide to get another centipede, go with some species of Scolopendra.

I havent completely written centipedes off yet. I have heard that S. Polymorpha and S. Subspinipes are more active and if I do go back to centipedes, I will look into those species.

Another thing I have been looking into is Latrodectus....aka black widow spiders.

MRMB wrote:

Shakudo wrote:

What did you do with the centipede?

***********.

Sorry to hear, that when it seems that an animal bores you, you decide to kill it?

I find that very cruel.

I hope that you think twice about getting into scorpions, they are not disposable cups.

When you kill an animal just because its displaying its natural behavior, and it doesn't suit you, you fail to understand and respect an animal.

I hope you think twice about getting another animal, you might want to choose some other hobby,.