Care & Housing for an Emperor Scorpion

The emperor scorpion, or imperial scorpion --- Latin name, Pandinus imperator --- is the largest species of scorpion, reaching up to 8 inches long. Because it's relatively docile, it is the best choice for a beginner scorpion owner. The emperor scorpion needs a warm, moist environment because it is indigenous to the tropical rain forests of West Africa. If you take proper care of your emperor scorpion, it can live up to 10 years.

  1. Feeding

    • Feeding should take place in the evening, to mimic the scorpion's nocturnal habits. Emperor scorpions are carnivores. Baby scorpions feed on pinhead crickets; the adults can eat large crickets, spiders, mealworms, small lizards, snakes and the occasional pinkie mouse. Water should be accessible at all times in a shallow bowl.

    Housing

    • Emperor scorpions need a secure enclosure with the correct amount of humidity and a constant temperature. One option is to keep your scorpion in a 5- to 20-gallon glass aquarium with a secure lid. The substrate should be a peat-free compost at least 3 inches in depth, which may be covered with bark, mulch or twigs. This substrate should be sprayed once every few days, just enough to maintain the humidity but never enough to create fungus or mold. You may wish to add hollowed-out logs to the enclosure for the scorpion to hide in and burrow under.

    Heat

    • Place a heating pad made for heating reptile cages beneath the substrate, to cover no more than two-thirds of the scorpion's environment. One-third of the substrate is left unheated so the scorpion can dig down to get cool as needed. Scorpions require a constant ambient temperature of 78 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit.

    Handling

    • Even though stings are relatively rare with emperor scorpions, and not much more painful than a bee sting, it's still recommended that you not handle your scorpion directly. Soft, long-handled tongs or forceps may be used to pick up your scorpion if you have to move it.

    Light

    • Scorpions don't need supplemental light added to their enclosures, as they are nocturnal creatures. In fact, emperor scorpions are particularly sensitive to light and should be kept away from all UV light, as it causes too much stress and may eventually lead to death.