The numbers
Enclosure
25 × 20 × 20 cm
Diet
Crickets, small roaches · 1-2 items weekly
Temperature
28-34°C
Humidity
40-50% (semi-arid)
Identity
Order / Family
Scorpiones
IUCN / CITES
Not CITES-listed; IUCN not assessed
Difficulty
Advanced (experts only)
Commonality
Occasional specialist import
Adult size
6-8 cm
Lifespan
3-5 years
Growth rate
Fast
Activity & niche
Nocturnal arid dweller
Temperament
Defensive, fast
Venom / defense
Dangerous venom (medically significant) – experts only
Price (THB)
400-1,000 (indicative import)
Enclosure and conditions
Temperature
28-34°C
Humidity
40-50% (semi-arid)
Min. enclosure
25x20x20 cm for one adult
Substrate
6-10 cm soil/sand with bark
Hides / decor / water
Bark/cork hide, water dish
Diet
Staple food
Crickets, small roaches
Feeding frequency
1-2 items weekly
Supplements
Not required
Behaviour and handling
Handling
Never
Communal
Some Hottentotta tolerate communal life; still risky — advanced only
Defense / stress signs
Tail up, quick strikes
Reproduction
Reproduction
Viviparous; young ride mother's back to first molt
Common health problems
Common health issues
SignsMismolt, dehydration
Red flags / quarantine
SignsTools only; QT wild-caught
Good to know
- Hottentotta are among the few buthids that can live semi-communally
Others in this group
Emperor scorpionPandinus imperatorMalayan / Asian forest scorpionHeterometrus spiniferDesert hairy scorpionHadrurus arizonensisLaotian / Vietnamese giant forest scorpionHeterometrus laoticusDeathstalkerLeiurus quinquestriatusYellow fat-tailed scorpion (australis)Androctonus australisArizona bark scorpionCentruroides sculpturatusGiant forest scorpion (longimanus)Heterometrus longimanus