The numbers
Enclosure
30 × 25 × 20 cm
Diet
Crickets, roaches, locusts · 1-2 items weekly
Temperature
28-35°C
Humidity
30-40% (dry)
Identity
Order / Family
Scorpiones
IUCN / CITES
Not CITES-listed; IUCN not assessed
Difficulty
Advanced (experts only)
Commonality
Specialist keepers only
Adult size
10-12 cm; yellow, massive tail
Lifespan
5-10 years
Growth rate
Medium-fast
Activity & niche
Nocturnal desert scrape-dweller
Temperament
Very defensive, fast, stings readily
Venom / defense
Dangerous venom (medically significant, potentially lethal) – experts only
Price (THB)
800-2,000 (indicative import)
Enclosure and conditions
Temperature
28-35°C
Humidity
30-40% (dry)
Min. enclosure
30x25x20 cm for one adult
Substrate
8-12 cm sand/soil, packed
Hides / decor / water
Rock hide, small water dish
Diet
Staple food
Crickets, roaches, locusts
Feeding frequency
1-2 items weekly
Supplements
Not required
Behaviour and handling
Handling
Never
Communal
No
Defense / stress signs
Tail raised, fast repeated strikes
Reproduction
Reproduction
Viviparous; young ride mother's back to first molt
Common health problems
Common health issues
SignsMismolt if humid; dehydration
Red flags / quarantine
SignsTools only; QT wild-caught; verify antivenom access
Good to know
- Blamed for more human deaths than almost any other scorpion in North Africa
Others in this group
Emperor scorpionPandinus imperatorMalayan / Asian forest scorpionHeterometrus spiniferDesert hairy scorpionHadrurus arizonensisLaotian / Vietnamese giant forest scorpionHeterometrus laoticusDeathstalkerLeiurus quinquestriatusArizona bark scorpionCentruroides sculpturatusGiant forest scorpion (longimanus)Heterometrus longimanusTanzanian red-claw scorpionPandinurus cavimanus (ex Pandinus)