The numbers
Enclosure
30 × 20 × 20 cm
Diet
Crickets, roaches, locusts · 1-2 items weekly
Temperature
28-35°C
Humidity
30-40% (dry, with water dish)
Identity
Order / Family
Scorpiones
IUCN / CITES
Not CITES-listed; IUCN not assessed
Difficulty
Advanced (experts only)
Commonality
Specialist keepers only
Adult size
8-11 cm; pale yellow, slender
Lifespan
4-5 years
Growth rate
Fast
Activity & niche
Nocturnal desert burrower/scrape
Temperament
Extremely defensive, fast, nervous
Venom / defense
Dangerous venom (medically significant, potentially lethal) – experts only; a medical emergency
Price (THB)
1,000-2,500 (indicative import)
Enclosure and conditions
Temperature
28-35°C
Humidity
30-40% (dry, with water dish)
Min. enclosure
30x20x20 cm for one adult
Substrate
8-12 cm sand/soil, packed
Hides / decor / water
Flat rock/cork 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 — solitary/cannibalistic
Defense / stress signs
Tail up, rapid strikes, frantic fleeing
Reproduction
Reproduction
Viviparous; young ride mother's back to first molt
Common health problems
Common health issues
SignsMismolt if humid; dehydration; short-lived
Red flags / quarantine
SignsTools only; QT wild-caught; verify antivenom access & keeper competence
Good to know
- Its venom peptide chlorotoxin is studied for imaging brain tumours ('tumour paint')
Others in this group
Emperor scorpionPandinus imperatorMalayan / Asian forest scorpionHeterometrus spiniferDesert hairy scorpionHadrurus arizonensisLaotian / Vietnamese giant forest scorpionHeterometrus laoticusYellow fat-tailed scorpion (australis)Androctonus australisArizona bark scorpionCentruroides sculpturatusGiant forest scorpion (longimanus)Heterometrus longimanusTanzanian red-claw scorpionPandinurus cavimanus (ex Pandinus)