The numbers
Enclosure
30 × 25 × 25 cm
Diet
Crickets, roaches · 1-2 items weekly
Temperature
26-32°C
Humidity
40-55% (damp burrow base, dry surface)
Identity
Order / Family
Scorpiones
IUCN / CITES
Not CITES-listed; IUCN not assessed
Difficulty
Intermediate
Commonality
Occasional import
Adult size
9-12 cm; glossy yellow-brown, dark back
Lifespan
8-12 years
Growth rate
Slow-medium
Activity & niche
Nocturnal semi-arid deep-burrower
Temperament
Defensive; readier to sting than emperor
Venom / defense
LOW-MODERATE venom (painful but not dangerous); handling discouraged
Price (THB)
600-1,200 (indicative import)
Enclosure and conditions
Temperature
26-32°C
Humidity
40-55% (damp burrow base, dry surface)
Min. enclosure
30x25x25 cm for one adult (deep substrate)
Substrate
12-18 cm soil/sand/clay, deep for burrowing
Hides / decor / water
Starter burrow/cork, water dish
Diet
Staple food
Crickets, roaches
Feeding frequency
1-2 items weekly
Supplements
Not required
Behaviour and handling
Handling
Discouraged — quick to sting; painful but not dangerous
Communal
No — solitary/territorial
Defense / stress signs
Pincers open, tail up, stridulation, deep burrowing
Reproduction
Reproduction
Viviparous; young ride mother's back to first molt
Common health problems
Common health issues
SignsMismolt if too wet; dehydration
Red flags / quarantine
SignsQT wild-caught; provide deep burrow or they stress
Good to know
- Digs elaborate spiral burrows; 'Opistophthalmus' refers to eyes set far forward
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