The numbers
Enclosure
40 × 30 × 25 cm
Diet
Crickets, roaches, locusts · 1-2 items weekly to biweekly
Temperature
28-34°C
Humidity
30-45% (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
11-15 cm; thick venomous tail
Lifespan
10-15 years
Growth rate
Medium
Activity & niche
Nocturnal arid burrower/scraper
Temperament
Defensive; can spray/flick venom and stridulate
Venom / defense
Dangerous venom (medically significant) – experts only; can also squirt venom toward eyes
Price (THB)
700-1,500 (indicative import)
Enclosure and conditions
Temperature
28-34°C
Humidity
30-45% (dry, with water dish)
Min. enclosure
40x30x25 cm for one adult
Substrate
10-15 cm sand/soil mix, packed for scrapes
Hides / decor / water
Rock/cork hide, water dish
Diet
Staple food
Crickets, roaches, locusts
Feeding frequency
1-2 items weekly to biweekly
Supplements
Not required
Behaviour and handling
Handling
Never
Communal
No — solitary and cannibalistic
Defense / stress signs
Tail raised and vibrated, stridulation, venom-flicking
Reproduction
Reproduction
Viviparous; young ride mother's back to first molt
Common health problems
Common health issues
SignsMismolt if too humid; dehydration
Red flags / quarantine
SignsHandle only with tools/long forceps; QT wild-caught; verify keeper competence & antivenom access
Good to know
- One of few scorpions that can squirt venom up to ~1 m as a warning
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