What It Takes To Own A Pet Scorpion
January 11th, 2010 Posted in Spiders & Other Arachnids
Most people would run away from a scorpion if they had the chance, but they actually make great pets. You have to understand what it takes to properly care for a scorpion before you own one.
They can pinch you with their pincers and sting you with their tails, but if you handle them correctly they are docile pets that pose you no harm. It is just important to know how to handle them, feed them, and care for them.
How To Handle A Pet Scorpion
Scorpions rarely attack humans and when they do it is because they feel threatened. If you stumbled upon a scorpion while you were gardening and suddenly pushed the scorpion away from you, it might sting you. When buying a scorpion from a pet store make sure you do your homework and research which species, out of the 1500 species of scorpions, are right for you and your lifestyle.
If you are handling a scorpion be completely gentle with it and don’t make any sudden or surprising movements. Let it crawl into your hands and walk around. Let your pet scorpion climb into you hands and then gently place them back in their cage. By being gentle with your scorpion you won’t force it to react and hurt you or a family member.
How To House A Pet Scorpion
It is important to house your scorpion in the proper environment or you’ll seriously hamper the life of your scorpion. Purchasing a vivarium is relatively easy. A vivarium is basically an aquarium for pet insects. If you have a single scorpion then you need to purchase a 10 gallon size tank.
The tank should be about 50 x 25 x 30 cm. This will provide the scorpion enough room to eat, sleep, walk around, and live a healthy life. Make sure to have water, a fan for proper air flow, plants, dirt, a nearby light source, and even some rocks within the vivarium. Without these key items within the vivarium it will be as if the scorpion is in a cage and not a healthy environment like it should live in.
What To Feed Your Pet Scorpion
Most scorpions, like the emperor scorpion for instance, will eat almost anything they can hold onto. However, scorpion food needs to be alive in order for them to be interested. Live crickets are the main food that scorpions prefer to eat and they can be purchased at any local pet store.
Woodlice, small mammals, reptiles, and other small insects are all perfect for a scorpion to feed on. Most species of scorpions can go for long periods of time without eating, but it is best to offer a scorpion as much as it is willing to eat.
3 Comments | The First 1,000 to Comment (Starting 12/21/2009) Will Become EcoSMART Product Testers!
By David Jones on Jan 18, 2010
I have never thought about keeping a Scorpion as a pet. I thought they were dangerous. I still would have to give it a lot of thought. It just seems strange to have one for a pet. But it sure is an interesting ideal. David
By johnthan on Nov 30, 2010
I plan on getting a scorpion very soon. but i little bit afraid to buy scorpion, Scorpions sleep during the day and are active in the evening and night time, so I don’t think it’ll suffer too much from being alone. It’ll just make up for that by keeping you up all night.
By what do scorpions eat on Dec 19, 2010
if there are some animal that i have some respect it is the scorpions, it can be hold in a vivarium but i see it quite dengerous…