Great Guide To Selecting A Scorpion

When it comes to scorpions there are a lot of them to choose from. There are around 1,500 different species, and they have adapted to live a wider range of habitats, from grasslands to rain forests. However, not all 1,5000 are available as pets, and the most common pets are: African Burrowing Scorpions, Asian Forest Scorpions, Bark Scorpions, Emperor Scorpions, Flat Rock Scorpions, Giant Hairy Scorpions, and Gold Scorpions.

The largest scorpions species is Heterometrus swammerdami, which can grow to a whopping nine inches. However, it is not going to be available as a pet so you won’t have to worry about how to handle a scorpion of this nature. The Giant Hairy Scorpion, Hadrurus arizonensis, is far more likely to be the available choice, or the stunning black Pandinus imperator, which is commonly known as the Emperor Scorpion.

There is a checklist that you will want to go through when you buy a scorpion. First make sure that it is not too placid, then check its limbs: pectines, sting, legs, and pincers. This is important for all types of scorpion, especially those that are slightly rarer, such as Heterometrus longimanus (Asian Forest Scorpion) and Heterometrus spinifer (Malaysian Forest Scorpion).

A scorpion makes a great pet, but there are many aspects to looking after them that require careful research before buying one. An example of this is the vivarium – what substrate with you use? what lighting is needed? what heat lamps are suitable? Beyond this you also need to understand the life stages your scorpion will go through, the molting process and just what they like to eat and drink.

Of the scorpions that are dangerous to many the most beautiful is the Tityus Cambridgei, or Cambridge’s tityus, which is a brownish green, and native to tropical banana plantations. You are not likely to ever have one as a pet, but they are well worth researching. Another scorpion that is dangerous to man is the burrowing thick-tailed scorpion, Parabuthus truculentus. It grows to nearly six inches and is a yellowish, brown color – watch out when walking in the sand of the Ruwenzori river as that is where you will find it burrowing.

So there you have it. Explore the world of scorpions and enjoy.

The scorpion species is certainly diverse. For more information read http://hubpages.com/hub/Scorpion-Species. Having a scorpion as a pet is exciting, but you must study its natural habitat. Enjoy that scorpion pet.