Thicktail Spitting Scorpion

Basic Description

Parabuthus Transvaalicu aka Thicktail Spitting Scorpion - native to South Africa they roam the deserts and shrubs land at night while hiding under rock crevices and holes in the day. They live up to 30 years. They grow up to 4 - 6 inches. Their main diet are insects and sometimes small animals. This scorpion varies in color from black to dark brown but their usual color is black from body to tail while their legs and claws are brown. They are bulky and tank like build but their claws are skinny. They have a very thick tail which they use to spray venom on their predator when threatened.

Temperament

One of the best intermediate pet scorpion. Most individuals especially adults are calms and docile. They never spit venom especially if they are captive bred. Scorplings are fast and move a lot but once they become sub-adult they start to mellow down. They are usually excavating and hiding under the rocks in their enclosure. They will only come out of their hide out when the female is pregnant and is chasing the male out. Also, when they are hunting they will chase their food. From 1 - 10 being ten the most aggressive, this specie is 3-4 in most individuals. They are as docile as emperor scorpions. I been stung by babies from time to time when I separate them and move them to different enclosure. There venom level is as painful as an ant bite. If a person has an allergic reaction it might become severe or have a different effect.

Diet

In captivity they usually feed on crickets, roaches, mice, small reptiles and amphibians. They only eat once or twice a week. Depending on the size of the abdomen of the Scorpion, they can survive for weeks without eating.

Housing

Scorpions can be house in different size containers. 1 inch scorpion can be house in a deli cup. 3-5 inch can be house in a 5 gallon tank. 6 inch and above can be house in a 10 gallon tank. They can also be house in a shoe box to save space.

Scorpion need moisture from time to time but they thrive well in an enclosure that has a lot of ventilation and low humidity. Their substrate should be a mix of sand, coco fiber and clay for best results.

Water dish is required, not a lot of people know but scorpions drink too. Make sure that the water dish is clean at all times to stop the development of bacteria in the tarantula cage.

Growth Rate

This specie grow rate from 1 - 10, 10 being the fastest and 1 being the slowest. This specie growth speed is about 6 out of 10, with daily feeding they can reach adulthood from 2-3 years in captivity.

Special Feature

This scorpion can squirt venom out from its tail and can travel in an amazing distance.

Vidoes and Pics

With Babies

Adult Female