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Image from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scorpion
There are approximately 1,500 different species of scorpions roaming the world right now. Scorpions live in a variety of habitats including rain forests, woodlands, deserts, grasslands and everywhere in between. Most scorpions prefer warmer tropical or subtropical climates. They prey upon a wide variety of animals and insects and all have the ability to sting. Even though a sting can hurt, very few scorpions are dangerous to humans.
Scorpions as pets
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Picture from: http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y58/BSher...nt=7b38e2c9.jpg
Keeping scorpions as pets is becoming increasingly more popular. They are relatively inexpensive to buy and require very little maintenance, much in the way of set up, or care. Scorpions can be easily found at pet shops, reptile shows and online dealers and breeders. If you are looking for an interesting and unique pet a scorpion makes an excellent choice.
Anatomy
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Sexing Scorpion
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The easiest way to sex an Heterometrus sp and Pandinus sp is to look at their Pectinal Teeth
Male have longer and thicker teeth while the female otherwise
Another way is to look at their Genital Opperculum, male have a Genital Opperculum pointing at their Carapace while female otherwise
Below are the image of Male Pandinus Imperator above, female below


Original Source from:
http://www.chaerilus.co.uk/malelao.JPG
http://www.chaerilus.co.uk/femlao.JPG
Disclaimer:
This method only work for Heterometrus and Pandinus Sp.
Different species have their own method in sexing them
For more info on sexing different sp Scorpion can refer to this link:
http://scorpionforum.darkbb.com/sexing-dif...on-species-f14/
Male have longer and thicker teeth while the female otherwise
Another way is to look at their Genital Opperculum, male have a Genital Opperculum pointing at their Carapace while female otherwise
Below are the image of Male Pandinus Imperator above, female below


Original Source from:
http://www.chaerilus.co.uk/malelao.JPG
http://www.chaerilus.co.uk/femlao.JPG
Disclaimer:
This method only work for Heterometrus and Pandinus Sp.
Different species have their own method in sexing them
For more info on sexing different sp Scorpion can refer to this link:
http://scorpionforum.darkbb.com/sexing-dif...on-species-f14/
Housing
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Before buying a Scorpion, it's important to know where they are origin from. Rainforest sp. like Heterometrus and Pandinus Sp. should be keep in humid environment to stimulate their natural habitat as much as possible. Others Desert Sp like Hadrurus Arizonensis do well in bone dry environment. Desert species are one of the best Arthropod species in conserving water. A waxy coating on their exoskeleton makes it impermeable to water (in both direction). Water intake of most desert Scorpions are acquired from their food so one should not be worry too much bout desert sp. being dehydrated.
Below are the example of a Rainforest Setup and Desert Setup pictures


Pictures taken from: http://scorpionforum.darkbb.com/scorpion-p...losures-t11.htm
Substrate
Below are the example of a Rainforest Setup and Desert Setup pictures


Pictures taken from: http://scorpionforum.darkbb.com/scorpion-p...losures-t11.htm
Substrate
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For Rainforest sp, Coco fiber would be the best substrate as it can hold moisture very well compare to other substrate. Coco fiber can be purchased from local florist shop as well as Jusco/Carrefour with around RM2.90 per pack.
For desert sp, they can be house in exo terra sand which cost around RM20+ per pack. Some people use natural sand from their garden and let it dry under the sun few days before using to eliminates unwanted organism.
For desert sp, they can be house in exo terra sand which cost around RM20+ per pack. Some people use natural sand from their garden and let it dry under the sun few days before using to eliminates unwanted organism.
Food
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Depending on the Scorpion size, young scorpling can be feed with pin head cricket and mealworm while adult can take adult cricket and superworm. Roaches (B.Dubia) can also be fed.
Avoid feeding your Scorpion with wild caught insect that you found in the house as it might contain parasite/insecticide or pesticide which can kill your scorpion.
Young Scorpling should be feed 2-3times a week while adult once a week
Avoid feeding your Scorpion with wild caught insect that you found in the house as it might contain parasite/insecticide or pesticide which can kill your scorpion.
Young Scorpling should be feed 2-3times a week while adult once a week
Handling
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The best rule is to never handle you scorpion. Species belonging to the Genus Pandinus or Heterometrus are generally considered docile and relatively harmless however other species are potentially lethal.
Handling your Scorpions mean you are putting yourself and the Scorpions at risk. I myself have a personal experience of handling a freshly molted Scorpling which result in a fall and nonetheless to say it passed away.
If you need to rehouse a Scorpion you can try gently pushing them into a vial/cup by using a paintbrush before transferring them to their new container .


Handling your Scorpions mean you are putting yourself and the Scorpions at risk. I myself have a personal experience of handling a freshly molted Scorpling which result in a fall and nonetheless to say it passed away.
If you need to rehouse a Scorpion you can try gently pushing them into a vial/cup by using a paintbrush before transferring them to their new container .


Molting
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Image from: http://flickr.com/photos/aeortiz/243206353/
- In order for a scorpion to grow, it must molt
- Every time a scorpion undergoes a molt it has gotten a little bit larger
- A scorpion's developmental progress is measured in instars (how many moults it has undergone)
- A scorpion will molt an average of 6 times until it is fully mature. After that, the scorpion will cease to molt
- In order for the scorpion to have a successful molt, it must be humid in the cage, or else the scorpion could get stuck in its old skin and die
- After the scorpion molts it will be a lighter color and will be very fragile, as the new skin is not hard yet
- During this critical time, you should not handle, feed pr disturb your scorpion in anyway
- The scorpion will not eat for a few days after the molt, and will probably stay hidden
Venom
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All scorpion species possess poison or venom. Scorpions use their venom to kill or paralyze their prey so that it can be eaten; in general it is fast-acting, allowing for effective prey capture. Scorpions are relatively timid creatures which are preyed on by a variety of larger predators, most of which can easily outmaneuver the scorpion and tear off its stinger. Some have even developed an evolved immunity to the venom so the scorpion can be devoured whole. Thus, when confronted by a larger creature, scorpions will generally run for the nearest cover.
Effects of scorpion stings on humans
Effects of scorpion stings on humans
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Of the ~1500 scorpion species, the vast majority are only capable of producing a local reaction similar in scope and effect to a bee sting. Only around 50 species are known to produce venom that causes serious systemic effects in humans. Of these 50 species, only a few (mostly in the family Buthidae) produce enough venom to pose a lethal risk to humans.
Still, severe reactions and death from stings are very common, accounting for thousands of deaths a year worldwide, 10 times as many as snake bites.[11] Most of the deaths attributed to scorpion stings occur in children, the elderly and the infirm in rural, agricultural areas of Africa, South America and Mexico, where the most venomous species are ubiquitous.
Scorpions rarely aggressively attack humans, but will often reflexively strike when they are handled, stepped on in bare feet, or accidentally crushed in clothing. Their ubiquity in certain rural areas and nocturnal, cold-blooded physiology often result in scorpions making their day burrows in human objects or dwellings. Footwear or clothing left outside overnight, thatched roofs, cracks in plaster or concrete, and wood and brush piles are all common shelter sites for scorpions.
Among the most dangerous are the deathstalker (L. quinquestriatus) and the yellow fat-tailed scorpion (A. australis), bearing the most potent venom and the highest human death toll in the Scorpion order (respectively). Both are native to the deserts and grasslands of North Africa and the Middle East, and account for nearly 75% of the worldwide deaths attributed to scorpion stings every year. Human deaths normally occur in the young, elderly, or sick; all but a few species are generally incapable of delivering enough venom to kill a human, although envenomations from one of the 50 most potent species generally causes unpleasant and temporarily debilitating systemic effects such as vomiting, cramps, blurred and wobbly vision, sensitivity to light, hypersalivation, difficulty swallowing, and agitation. Anaphylactic shock has also been caused by allergic reactions to several species of scorpion venom.
Still, severe reactions and death from stings are very common, accounting for thousands of deaths a year worldwide, 10 times as many as snake bites.[11] Most of the deaths attributed to scorpion stings occur in children, the elderly and the infirm in rural, agricultural areas of Africa, South America and Mexico, where the most venomous species are ubiquitous.
Scorpions rarely aggressively attack humans, but will often reflexively strike when they are handled, stepped on in bare feet, or accidentally crushed in clothing. Their ubiquity in certain rural areas and nocturnal, cold-blooded physiology often result in scorpions making their day burrows in human objects or dwellings. Footwear or clothing left outside overnight, thatched roofs, cracks in plaster or concrete, and wood and brush piles are all common shelter sites for scorpions.
Among the most dangerous are the deathstalker (L. quinquestriatus) and the yellow fat-tailed scorpion (A. australis), bearing the most potent venom and the highest human death toll in the Scorpion order (respectively). Both are native to the deserts and grasslands of North Africa and the Middle East, and account for nearly 75% of the worldwide deaths attributed to scorpion stings every year. Human deaths normally occur in the young, elderly, or sick; all but a few species are generally incapable of delivering enough venom to kill a human, although envenomations from one of the 50 most potent species generally causes unpleasant and temporarily debilitating systemic effects such as vomiting, cramps, blurred and wobbly vision, sensitivity to light, hypersalivation, difficulty swallowing, and agitation. Anaphylactic shock has also been caused by allergic reactions to several species of scorpion venom.
Credits:
http://www.amentsoc.org/insects/caresheets/scorpions.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scorpion
http://books.google.com.my/books?id=XjUwzS...=result#PPA3,M1
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This post has been edited by RyoKenzaki: May 23 2009, 12:16 PM
Feb 27 2009, 09:57 AM, updated 17y ago
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