How to Play with a Pet Scorpion

People keep scorpions as pets for a variety of reasons. They create curiosity and excitement. They require very little support. They're easy to find in pet shops and don't cost much. Some can even be bred in captivity. On the down side, a scorpion isn't a good pet to play with. You can get stung or grabbed by its claws. You can also injure your pet fatally.

Things You'll Need

  • Pet scorpion
  • Scorpion housing
  • Book on scorpions such as "Scorpions" by Manny Rubio
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Instructions

    • 1

      Think again before deciding to play with your pet scorpion. People who are scorpion experts don't recommend it. Try to talk yourself out of it. Still, if you insist, read on.

    • 2

      Understand why scorpions make unsuitable pets for play. The species you have possesses one or more of the following traits: 1) potentially deadly venom, 2) very aggressive nature, 3) fragile body that can be easily injured, 4) high mobility and good climbing ability.

    • 3

      Find out how your pet rates on the above points. Asian Forest scorpions score highly on Point 2. African Burrowing scorpions have high scores on Points 1 and 2. Bark scorpions have a high Point 4 score. Flat Rock scorpions score highly on Point 3. Emperor scorpions, on the other hand, have low ratings in all traits; that's why experts recommend them for novices.

    • 4

      Take the appropriate precautions based on your pet's rankings. If it has deadly venom, wear gloves and don't leave skin exposed. If it's a fragile species, be extra careful that it doesn't fall, as that might injure it fatally. If it's a highly mobile species, transfer it to a restricted environment like a wide plastic container from which it can't escape. The last thing you want is for it to hide into a furniture and be irretrievable. If it's aggressive, make your movements extra slow and gentle.

    • 5

      Place your hand in front of the scorpion, palm facing up, and let it walk on your hand. If it's docile, push it carefully with a brush or some other soft object. Let it walk from one hand to the other if it wants to keep walking. Don't make other movements or force it to do other things, as you might provoke it.