What is a good scorp that you can provide a nicely planted tank for? I am kind of a newbie so nothing crazy and super venomous I have a 3 year old.

Emperor I'd say is probably the easiest, but not my specialty for sure.

Only have a few scorps so I probably can't help much, hopefully Jeremy or someone else will chime in... I do like communal species myself however. Do you want a tropical setup?

I agree with Sara...I'd either go Emperor or Flatrock

Only have a few scorps so I probably can't help much, hopefully Jeremy or someone else will chime in... I do like communal species myself however. Do you want a tropical setup?
Tropical is what I know from the PDF's. However, a temperate tank would be fine as well. just no desert I want to do plants and make a nice viv for it,
I agree with Sara...I'd either go Emperor or Flatrock
Yeah the emperor is what i have found and i know it is a good fit, but real common. I was kind of hoping for something a little less common and still cool as hell.

Still relatively "safe" like an emperor, but different is the red clawed... but IMO still looks like an emperor (most novices can't tell the difference) and those have to live singularly, where you can house some emps together.

Still relatively "safe" like an emperor, but different is the red clawed... but IMO still looks like an emperor (most novices can't tell the difference) and those have to live singularly, where you can house some emps together.

You're funny I was just reading up on that one. Also the thai black and javanese jungle. I was just trying to find something with a little color maybe. The pictures made the red really stand out it isn't that noticeable in person?

You're funny I was just reading up on that one. Also the thai black and javanese jungle. I was just trying to find something with a little color maybe. The pictures made the red really stand out it isn't that noticeable in person?

Ha! Nope! Once in awhile you get a little brighter, but not really, no. They probably shopped it to make it more noticable, or held back an unnaturally bright one.

Emporer, Red Claw or Asian Forest scorps are all good beginners.

I would recommend a Emperor(Pandinus imperator), red claw (Pandinus cavimanus) or an Asian Forest Scorpion (Heterometrus spinifer). The red claw and Asian forest tend to be a bit feistier than the Emperor so if you want something a little more lively, then the Asian and red claw would be my recommendation. Emperor babies tend to be feisty but mellow out as they get older.

I would not recommend plants for the simple reason is that once you set up your tank, they will tend to redecorate by digging holes and moving items around. They will also climb all over everything and smash the plants anyhow. For our Emperor communal set up, we use coco fiber and several hides. It is not the most exciting set up but it is functional for the scorpions. However, if you want to give plants a try, I don’t see why not. I just know our Emperors would destroy them because they are constantly moving things around, digging holes and climbing. The 3 species I listed for you are more likely to use their claws rather than their stingers so they will grab items from their tank and run around with it. It is funny and frustrating at the same time. I would say the least amount of items you have in the tank, the better. Just provide plenty of hides. If they do redecorate, do not set it back up the way you want it as this tends to stress them out.

To keep humidity up, you can do a couple of things. You make a false bottom with rocks and a filter tube. Simply add the water to the tube to keep the humidity up. This method worked great but adds A LOT of weight to the tank.

The other method we use now is just add the moist coco fiber to the tank. Cover the top screen with two layers of moist paper towels. When we want to add more moisture to the tank, we just poor water over the paper towels and it drips down into the tank. The scorpions enjoy the water dripping down and the paper towels keep the water from evaporating from the tank.

A good resource for purchasing scorpions is Ken The Bug Guy (kenthebugguy.com)

Scorpions are easy to care for and really do not need anything fancy to keep them happy and healthy. Good luck and show us some pictures. =) I will post a picture of our set up tonight. Like I said, it is nothing fancy!

Dee Casey

Thank you for all the input. I have a ton of clippings from the frog tanks so i am going to try to plant it. If they mess it up it is no big deal. You mentioned a weight problem with the false bottom. Try using LECA instead of gravel it weighs nothing and that is what we use for the PDF'S. I will definitely check out Ken. Now it is my understanding that they are not climbers is this true? I know my AZ bark Scorpion used to hang from the top of its enclosure all the time. Trying to get away from that. I know it bugged :lmao: my wife.

They're not real "climby" (is that a word?) but will do some.

I found out that using plants gives crickets and roaches a place to get out of reach from the scorps. I used half pieces of cork bark for hides.

Not climbing like a monkey would climb a tree but they use their back legs and tail to brace themselves on the side of the glass and act like they are trying to climb. Yes, the crickets will hid behind plants-good point. For several reasons, I do not recommend the plants. But I think it is ok to try it and see if it works for you. It has never worked for us. I find that they uproot them more than anything. Good luck and let us know how it goes! Post some pictures!

I was telling my wife last night about them carrying the plants around and she thought it was quite funny and something to see at least once. Un fortunately it seems like the colors are just not there and i am going to go with an emp. A guy I deal with has some and I know they will be the easiest to obtain and rehome if they don't work out. I will post some pics and keep you guys posted. thank you for all the input and suggestions. I am sure that the plants won't last long as people around here seem to be pretty on the ball. Just one last question. The lid. I use 2 pieces of glass with a hinge for the frogs. Is this sufficient for scorps or do they push their way out?

Cool Gary! Sounds great! Emperors are great. It actually is pretty entertaining watching scorpions do silly things. I love when they have two crickets in their mouth while holding several crickets in their claws.

I dont think they could move the lid but you would be amazed at what they could squeeze out of. If they have access to the lid and the lid does not have a locking mechanism, I would just put some weight on top of it-just to be safe.

Good luck! I know you will enjoy them.

Oh, if your wife has long hair, make sure she doesn't lean over the tank. I leaned over our female Asian Forest scorpions container and she jumped up (yes, she jumped!) and latched on to my hair. My husband had to come and unlatch her. As you see, they do some pretty silly things that you wouldn't expect! :lmao:

Not a problem if the tank is tall enough. You might want to consider a locking lid since you have a 3 yr. old.

What size tank are you planning for????
And how hot of a species do you want?There are far better species out there then emporers for planted vivs (in my opinion).
Plenty of smaller tanks were you could make a nice tropical set up for aboreal scorps and there built to make sure nothing gets out.

I was thinking twenty long just because I heard they need the floor space over height. Arboreal sounds interesting if you can show me a good lid set up. As far as hot I know non deadly is going to be my only way with the kid and wife. What suggestions do you have?

I was thinking twenty long just because I heard they need the floor space over height. Arboreal sounds interesting if you can show me a good lid set up. As far as hot I know non deadly is going to be my only way with the kid and wife. What suggestions do you have?
Alot of Vaejovids (well almost all)
Some centroides species
Hadgones (flat rocks)...But they actually like it drier the emps.
Pauroctonus
Ahhh geez man the list goes onnnnn and on....
I have a few pic in here....:yes:
Ahhhhh wich reminds me i have to start doing that whole taking pics thing again.:lmao:

Jumping in my hair?????? I'm liking this idea less and less.... can't we get those pretty purple spiders instead? Or Pink ones? Hanna likes pink...

;)

(he gets what he wants anyway, but it's worth a try to talk him out of it.)