Thanks for the kind words and very nice to hear of your success. It seems that scorpions and other inverts can somehow adjust their metabolisms to food availability (assuming temps and all else is in order); they are primed to grow fast when times are good (especially vulnerable youngsters), and to slow down yet remain active during food shortages. (some evidence of this in snakes also – ratsnakes have been shown capable of adding size even during long fasts!).
I’ve not seen any evidence of the overfeeding problems that are common to other creatures in captivity. Hard to adjust intake in a colony situation in any event; you can separate weak ones if need be, but otherwise I’d say continue as you are.

There is no real schedule as to shedding – affected by health, space, stress, humidity, in addition to food intake. In controlled situations one could probably discern a pattern – good future project?

Please let me know if you need any further information. Good luck, enjoy and please keep me posted.

With mom and the new babies they are eating like crazy. Is there ever a risk of overfeeding with these little creatures? Some of the little ones look so round like they’re about to pop! But all in all the colony is doing well. We still have all 10 and mom doing well a couple of the scorpionlings have gone thru their second molt which bringsa a second question. Is there a particular schedule to their molting? Again thanks for your invaluable expertise!

Gravid females sometimes become easily stressed; also, I’m wondering if perhaps she was very hungry after being in the store, and so ate right away but is now not at ease in the new tank?

In either case, make sure all temp/humidity is as it should be and give her plenty of hiding places and let her settle in. Don’t feed or disturb for a week or so (a week or more of fasting is of no concern). If crickets still disturb her try waxworms, a small earthworm, or mealworms. Let me know how all goes when you can.

Please let me know if you need any further information. Good luck,

Best regards, Frank Indiviglio.

Nice to hear from you again. It’s hard to predict…they vary widely depending on type/frequency of diet, health, temperature, humidity and factors we may not be aware of. I’ve seen well fed hatchlings shed once weekly for a few weeks, early on in life, but that is by no means consistent.

Please let me know if you need any further information. Good luck, enjoy and please keep me posted.

Best regards, Frank Indiviglio.

Thanks very much for the news….I know you were hoping! Very nice to hear. You can probably expect more, but don’t disturb her to check. We still have a great deal to learn about these and other scorpions – breeding results vary greatly even in zoos, so please take notes and keep me posted when you can. Congrats on “your part” in the proceedings!

Please let me know if you need any further information. Good luck, enjoy and please keep me posted.

Best regards, Frank Indiviglio.

Thanks for the interesting comment. H. paucidens are known for their relatively small appetites and slow growth rates; however, like all scorpions, they will slow down and/or stop feeding if chilled. They are said to get most of their water from food, but I always leave a shallow dish and spray – can‘t say that I’ve actually seen one drink…thanks for the observation; good to know.

Please let me know if you need any further information. Good luck, enjoy and please keep me posted.

Best regards, Frank Indiviglio.