Pet Scorpions - big scorpion sexing breeding food as pets and informationKingdom: AnimaliaPhylum: Arthropoda Subphylum: Chelicerata Superclass: Metastomata Class: Arachnida Subclass: Dromopoda Order: Scorpiones Families: 17+ Species: 1350+ |
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Scorpion OverviewScorpions are an interesting member of the Arachnida class. There are about 2000 species of scorpions. They are found distributed south of 49° N, except New Zealand and Antarctica. Scorpions have a wide variety of habitats from hot dry deserts to lush rain forest and everywhere in between.Scorpions are nocturnal hunters, feeding mainly on insects such as crickets, beetles, cockroaches, spiders, centipedes and millipedes. Being nocturnal some hide under bark, rocks, or leaf litter durring the day while others dig burrows and lie in them waiting to go hunting until the dark of night. All scorpions are venomous. Scorpions use their venom to kill or paralyze their prey so that it can be eaten. They inject venom by striking prey with their barbed tail. The effects of the sting can be from mild localized pain to quite severe in humans. The exact lifespan of many species of scorpions is not know but dependent on species they can live from 4 to 20 years. Their size varies just as much from .5 inches as a full grown adult to 8 inches. Anatomy More to come... Sexing Sexing scorpions can be quite difficult. Not only is it hard to differentiate males and females before mature, but also in different species you must look for different things. More on sexing of separate species to come... Breeding The majority of scorpion species reproduce sexually. Some scorpions however reproduce through parthenogenesis, a process in which unfertilized eggs develop into living embryos. Parthenogenic reproduction starts following the scorpion's final moult to maturity and continues thereafter. Sexual reproduction is accomplished by the transfer of a spermatophore from the male to the female. Mating starts with the male and female locating and identifying each other using a mixture of pheromones and vibrational communication; once they have satisfied each other that they are of opposite sex and of the correct species, mating can commence. The courtship starts with the male grasping the female’s pedipalps with his own; the pair then performs a "dance". The male is leading the female around searching for a suitable place to deposit his spermatophore. When he has identified a suitable location, he deposits the spermatophore and then guides the female over it. This allows the spermatophore to enter her genital opercula, which triggers release of the sperm, thus fertilizing the female. The mating process can take from 1 to 25+ hours and depends on the ability of the male to find a suitable place to deposit his spermatophore. If mating goes on for too long, the female may eventually break off the process. Once the mating is complete it is good to separate the two so in case the female tries to eat the male. However sexual cannibalism does not happen that often. As Pets If you are looking for a pet to hold and play with a scorpion is NOT the pet for you. Scorpions should be dealt with the utmost care and caution, they will not hesitate to strike if they feel threatened. They make great pets if your intentions are to study them and watch their behavior. Mind you, scorpions are still nocturnal and will spend most daylight hours hiding, so you may not get to see them that often. Do your research when deciding what type of scorpion is right for you. FAQ's Question: What is a good starter scorpion? Answer: The best scorpion for a beginner is an Emperor Scorpion (Pandinus imperator). These Scorpions are big and very docile, perfect for the beginner in the hobby. Question: Can I hold my scorpion? Answer: It is never suggested that you handle a scorpion. Not only can it be dangerous for you but may stress out your scorpion also. |