The numbers
Enclosure
30 × 20 × 20 cm
Diet
Crickets, roaches; occasional superworm · 1-2 items weekly
Temperature
26-30°C
Humidity
75-90%
Identity
Order / Family
Scorpiones
IUCN / CITES
Not CITES-listed; IUCN not assessed
Difficulty
Beginner
Commonality
Very common in Thailand (also farmed/eaten); frequently sold as pet
Adult size
10-13 cm; robust
Lifespan
6-8 years
Growth rate
Medium
Activity & niche
Nocturnal burrower of humid lowland forest and paddy margins
Temperament
Defensive; quick to raise pincers, generally reluctant to sting
Venom / defense
LOW venom (mild); strong pincers. Docile but a pincher — not dangerous
Price (THB)
100-300 (Thai market; cheaper wild/farmed)
Enclosure and conditions
Temperature
26-30°C
Humidity
75-90%
Min. enclosure
30x20x20 cm for one adult
Substrate
10-15 cm moist coco/peat/topsoil, burrowable
Hides / decor / water
Cork hide, leaf litter, moss, water dish
Diet
Staple food
Crickets, roaches; occasional superworm
Feeding frequency
1-2 items weekly
Supplements
Not required
Behaviour and handling
Handling
Discouraged but not dangerous; pinch/rare mild sting only — observe
Communal
Tolerant in large communal setups if well fed; still risk of cannibalism
Defense / stress signs
Raised pincers, arched tail, stridulation, burrow retreat
Reproduction
Reproduction
Viviparous; large broods (up to ~30+) carried on mother's back to first molt
Common health problems
Common health issues
SignsDehydration, mycosis, mismolt in stale/dry substrate
Red flags / quarantine
SignsAvoid emaciated/wild-stressed stock; check for mites; QT wild-caught
Good to know
- Its venom is studied in Thai ethnopharmacology; sold live for food (larb/fried) as well as pets
Others in this group
Emperor scorpionPandinus imperatorMalayan / Asian forest scorpionHeterometrus spiniferDesert hairy scorpionHadrurus arizonensisDeathstalkerLeiurus quinquestriatusYellow fat-tailed scorpion (australis)Androctonus australisArizona bark scorpionCentruroides sculpturatusGiant forest scorpion (longimanus)Heterometrus longimanusTanzanian red-claw scorpionPandinurus cavimanus (ex Pandinus)