Pandinus Imperator
The most popular scorpion in the pet trade, the Emperor scorpion, as
it is better known, is also the friendliest. With some specimens growing
as large as 8 inches, this is the largest living scorpion! Black
in color, Emperors, like all scorpions glow green under a black light.
Their habitat is in the rain forest of West Africa stretching into Central
Africa but not limited to these areas alone. These guys hardly ever use
there stingers even to catch and kill prey! Which makes them wonderful
to handle. Even kids can and do usually before an adult will.
I currently have one Emperor's named Bes, and she is great.
She lives in a 10 gallon aquarium with about 4 1/2 inches of
vermiculite on the bottom. Under the one side she has a small
box with an
opening on one side as a shelter. I use a box rather than let him dig
a burrow because he spends most of his time in there, and the vermiculite
is not good burrowing materials, so it needs the support. Also in
her home there is a large chunk of obsidian, a small quartz, and a rock
that looks like a brain! She drinks from a milk cap, she practically
turns it up and chugs the water, so I thinking about getting her a little
beer mug. : )
I use a little water pistol to spray the sides of the tank unevenly
about 3 to 4 times a week. Unevenly to produce a different humidity
level in different parts of the tank.
When I first got Bes I bought a dozen crickets. I soon learned that
she doesn't eat that much at all! Besides they are always too small!
Anyway I just go out once a week at night to catch a couple of big juicy
ones for her. To get Bes to eat, I have to almost
hand the cricket to Her. She is a little lazy. That's cool though!
Who isn't?
For a roof, I use a regular fish lid during the day. Then at night,
I use a black light that I bought from Spencer's. Under a black light
these guys are truly the strangest things I have ever seen! Everything
glows a Bright green except for the tip of their
stingers and the little claws at the end of their legs. It looks like
she was carved from jade and given life!
I have found that it is easier to get someone to accept scorpions when
they see them
under a black light. " It's not quite as threatening now."