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Scorpionidae

Chinese / Vietnamese forest scorpion (petersii)

Heterometrus petersii
แมงป่องช้าง
BeginnerNocturnal · sleeping nowHuman-verified sheet
14:00
Day

Drag the sun. Chinese / Vietnamese forest scorpion (petersii) is nocturnal, so what it is doing changes with the light.

Temperature

26–30°Ambient

One ambient band, 26–30°C. This sheet states no warm side, no cool side and no night figure, so none are shown.

Humidity

75–90%Target RH
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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
Most common 'Asian forest scorpion' name at pet stores globally
Adult size
10-13 cm
Lifespan
6-8 years
Growth rate
Medium
Activity & niche
Nocturnal humid-forest burrower
Temperament
Defensive but calm; pincer-first
Venom / defense
LOW venom (mild); strong pincers. Docile but a pincher — not dangerous
Price (THB)
200-500 (indicative)

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
Hides / decor / water
Cork hide, moss, full 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 risk only
Communal
One of the more communal-tolerant Heterometrus with space/food
Defense / stress signs
Raised pincers, stridulation, burrow retreat

Reproduction

Reproduction
Viviparous; broods of 20-35 ride mother's back to first molt

Common health problems

Common health issues
SignsDehydration, mycosis, mismolt
Red flags / quarantine
SignsQT wild-caught; hydration & mite check

Good to know

  • Named the most commonly encountered pet-store forest scorpion; strongly UV-fluorescent

Others in this group

Sources