Having even 1 survive is an accomplishment – even in large zoo exhibits, I’ve had females kill their broods. It’s a stress response, and individuals vary in that regard.

Although scorpions and other invertebrates are capable of learning behaviors that help them survive, it is very important to understand that they are not capable of concepts such as “trust” etc. Certainly some are more docile than others, but when dealing with animals that can bite or sting, it is dangerous to regard them as in any way “tame”. We know very little about scorpion venom, and while emperors are not considered to be dangerous, a serious or even fatal allergic reaction to a sting is always a possibility.

I strongly urge you never to free-handle any scorpion – based on a lifetime of experience with many thousands of scorpions, I can tell you that animals that have been in captivity for 20+ years can sting as readily as a newly-caught specimen. The real problem is that we do not know how they perceive the world – an odor on one’s skin, a far off vibration that you do not feel but which they sense with their sensitive hairs (they are nearly blind), can cause a sting which appears to us to be “for no reason”.

Some females remain aggressive permanently after having bred, others change in time. Handling the scorpion will only increase her aggressiveness at this point. I suggest providing her with as much room as possible and a deep substrate into which she can burrow, along with lots of caves and other places to hide. Please write back if you need some ideas for the terrarium’s design.

Good luck and please keep me posted.

Best regards, Frank Indiviglio.

Thanks for your interest in our blog. I’m glad to see you are trying to breed scorpions and are going about it cautiously.

The “mating dance” looks a lot like fighting, and so distinguishing the two is very difficult. Some species (not often recorded in emperors) even employ a “sexual sting”, in which the male’s stinger may remain in the female for 20 minutes, without harm.. However, we do not know if venom is released at this time. Scorpions do sometimes kill one another (same species) and they sting in the process, so it is likely that their venom does have an effect.

Introducing them slowly, via a partition as you’ve suggested, is a great idea. However, I suggest you use screening or a perforated tank divider as opposed to glass, as scorpions are nearly blind and detect one another via scent or chemical messages. Once introduced, keep a long handled tongs handy to break them up if need be. A night viewing light will help you watch them after dark.

Unfortunately, there is a bit of luck involved – I’ve not had any casualties with emperors…one or another usually breaks contact and escapes. They seem better suited to surviving such encounters than do other species.
We have a great deal to learn about scorpions – any observations you might pass along would be most appreciated; I’ll be sure to include them in future articles.

Good luck, enjoy and please keep me posted.

Best regards, Frank Indiviglio.

Thanks for your interest in our blog.

I have seen limpness in the tail and limbs in a number of emperor scorpions, even had vets try to work on such at the Bronx Zoo. Unfortunately, we know very little about the illnesses that affect invertebrates, and I have never been able to come up with any explanations. Age seems often to be involved – they likely survive longer under ideal captive conditions…as many in the trade are wild caught, you may have an elderly animal on your hands.

As for breeding, you can use 1 male and multiple females as long as they have plenty of room and a deep substrate; while they usually get along, there is always the chance of aggression; best to buy a group that has been living together. Also, if a female gives birth, it would be best to remove the non-breeding animals and leave her in the tank, so another large enclosure may be needed. Multiple males sometimes work out, but I wouldn’t recommend it – fighting can break out even after a time of peaceful co-existence.

Sorry I could not be of more help with your ailing animal.

Good luck and please keep me posted.

Best regards, Frank Indiviglio.

Glad to hear you have a pair that is getting along; females are generally heavier than males. Its often hard to tell when they are carrying young, although large clutches will make the female swell much more than might be expected from eating. I hope it works out and you wake to find youngsters soon,

Good luck and please keep me posted.

Best regards, Frank Indiviglio.

Please see my earlier post. As for how to breed them – often they will reproduce without an external stimulus once they settle in. You can encourage them by providing extra food and, especially, variety. Wild caught insects are especially useful. Some folks have experimented with drying them out a bit for 2-3 weeks, and then spraying heavily
every day, in imitation of a rainy period. It’s not clear if this is effective, but it may be worth a try. If you can find out where they came from, research weather patterns there and try to imitate these (on a scaled down version!) in the terrarium.

I hope you are soon caring for some scorplings….

Good luck and please keep me posted.

Best regards, Frank Indiviglio.

Thanks for your interest in our blog.

Females are usually a bit heavier and larger than males, so their sizes will not be a problem. Its preferable to give them 6 inches or more of substrate in which to burrow – keep it semi-moist; you can mix in some soil if need be, so that the burrows will keep their shape. Also provide several cork bark hiding spots – always good to give them opportunities to avoid each other, should one become aggressive.

Males sometimes fight, so add another female, but watch them carefully as the 2 already there may be territorial – groups sometimes get along, but they need to be monitored. They usually do a circular “dance”, locking claws, before mating, but this most often occurs at night; a night viewing bulb may help in observing them after dark.

Gestation varies, so it is hard to predict births – stress, temperature and other factors affect the timing of the birth. Best to remove the others if a female does have young, to avoid predation.

Good luck, enjoy and please keep me posted.

Best regards, Frank Indiviglio.