Breeding Emperor Scorpions | Top Q&A

We invite you to watch Part I and II of this article for information on the natural history of scorpions and other details on how to care for emperor scorpions.The captive breeding of emperor scorpions is a most enjoyable endeavor (for aquarists and, I imagine, the scorpions themselves!). When raised and cared for properly, emperor scorpions are relatively easy to breed. This is surprising, as they are unique and highly specialized creatures, and an opportunity not to be missed. Many renowned invertebrate experts have started with this species… keeping them is a great way to get involved in invertebrate farming, and will almost certainly hook you up.SexismIn captivity, as well as in certain areas of the natural range, mating can occur in any month. Adult females are longer and fatter than males, but this is not a reliable means of sex discrimination. There are some slight differences in the shape of the genital opening. Watch scorpions from below, in a clear plastic container, when trying to have sex this way – don’t grip them with your hands or tongs. Photos of the undersides of male and female emperor scorpions are posted at topqa.info/EN/biology_EN.htm.Courtesy and matingRead more: how to deal with harsh lighting in a light room Reproduction is likely if your scorpion is kept in a large terrarium where there are many burrowing opportunities. All species studied to date perform a “mating dance”, with the pair locking their claws and moving. It is theorized that this helps to clear the ground for the deposition of the male sperm pack. I imagine, but cannot determine for certain, that the particular jumping “movement” also aids in species identification among these nearly blind creatures (this is the case in the “dancing” scorpion’s relative. , such as jumping spiders). The male places a sperm pack on the ground and pulls the female on top of it (it is tempting to draw analogies with salamander reproduction). Hooks along the edges of the sperm pack attach to the female’s genital opening, and then the egg is fertilized inside.Pregnancy and childbirthThe gestation period is highly variable, averaging 7-10 months but sometimes exceeding 1 year. It is likely that stress, temperature and other factors play a role in determining the length of pregnancy. Females continue to feed while watering and can swell considerably… when viewed from above, the carapaces are widely spaced and appear ready to split (however, the scorpions are heavily fed in both sexes may also be gray). The young (sometimes called “scorpions”), numbering 8-30, are born alive and measure about 5/8 inch in length. They are white and remain on the female’s back until the first molt, at which point they darken and begin adventuring on their own. Once this happens, they will readily accept inch crickets, small waxworms, freshly molted mealworms, wild-caught insects, and canned silkworms..Taking care of a mother’s childRead more: how to change the keyboard wallpaper on iPhone without the insect-feeding emperor Scorpion app – it’s really something worth a look. By all means, try to do the same by your viewing at night with the help of “night-eating” incandescent bulbs.. The level of care they provide for their young is extraordinary, and far greater than one might expect from such supposedly “primitive” creatures. Even among scorpions that exhibit social behavior, the emperor stands out as being very advanced in this regard.Take care of mom and her motherOnce the female has given birth, all other scorpions should be removed from the terrarium, as they will become aggressive and highly defensive. Don’t move your baby… this will definitely stress you out and can cause you to consume your baby. This is not uncommon – do not discard the remaining cubs unless they begin to eat them regularly, as overall survival rates improve when they are housed with their mothers. I’ve raised several canines to adulthood with my current mother – the key lies in disturbing it as little as possible and creating a deep, safe burrow. I usually increase the temperature of my terrarium to 85-90 F when keeping young emperor scorpions – this may not be necessary, but I find it works well. Actual maturity in the wild is reported to reach 4-7 years, but captive animals can reproduce as young as 12-14 months of age. Emperor scorpions under my care spawned between the ages of 3 and 4.