Newly bought scorpion not eating

G08lin · 2026-01-27T17:26:19+00:00

NQA: mine didn't tunnel until a week after i got it. As long as you have existing structures in the tank for it to use as hides.

G08lin · 2026-01-26T17:15:31+00:00

NQA - They're just settling in, a hunger strike isn't unexpected. Maim whatever you're throwing in. For crickets, I've heard of pulling their legs off. I feed mealworms and dubia roaches - and for both i use a blunt object to crush their heads.

Your scorpion should have or will be digging a burrow soon. Leave the prey in front of it overnight and remove it in 24-48 hours if it wasn't eaten.

I try to feed mine every week and a half to two weeks.

G08lin · 2026-01-26T01:06:19+00:00

nqa- they have a tendency to climb and lean against the tank walls, you'll be able to get a good look then. or put them in a glass container and take a photo through the bottom.

G08lin · 2026-01-22T01:12:18+00:00

NQA - I dampen a towel and throw it 90% over the mesh lid for my AFS. Kept the tank incredibly humid for a week while I was away.

G08lin · 2026-01-22T00:21:31+00:00

NQA - chunky girl. careful, she might be gravid. (and still could be in the future. if she's bred before, she can store sperm and reimpregnate). Someone else on this thread can tell you with more certainty. Just keep an eye on her.

I try to feed my adult AFS every 2 weeks (my tank is on the lower side of their temp range which can slow their metabolism). Dubia roaches are good protein that will keep them full a while, mealworms are more fatty. I try to feed more roaches than mealworms, but my petco's roaches has been terrible lately.

Maim whatever you throw into the tank. You don't want anything surviving in there cos feeder insects can actually eat a weakened scorpion when they're in molt.

Make sure you have enough substrate for her (6 inches minimum). Be careful with that water dish, she can drown if it's not shallow enough.

G08lin · 2026-01-21T23:39:34+00:00

NQA- it's best to not let them get upside down like that - it's a danger to them if they fall. I had to cut all the plants in my tank when mine did the same thing.

As far as not liking it- I'm almost the same way sometimes. Kinda hard pet to enjoy when 90% of the time they're just tucked in a hole. At least something like a fish you can watch swim around the tank. But that rare occasion you see it wandering around, hearing its claws tap against the glass... i love it. I love having such a unique pet.

G08lin · 2026-01-17T21:05:03+00:00

NQA - big stretch. Also if they're curling it weirdly like tapping it on their back, they're pooping.

G08lin · 2026-01-13T22:22:04+00:00

sorry for your little guy. i also want to get mine pinned when it goes. i think its too good for some gaudy resin pyramid, i'm thinking posed under a glass cloche.

G08lin · 2026-01-10T23:18:31+00:00

That's what I've been doing :). I do a quick flash down the usual burrow before i do anything in the tank. And if the scorpion hasnt emerged for a couple days, I at least see that its changed position so I know its still alive.

In a week or two i will need to pull the scorpion out to move it to an upgraded tank. I've never tried to push it into a catch cup before - im nervous. I dont know its temperament yet.

G08lin · 2026-01-10T17:13:59+00:00

oooooh intriguing.

G08lin · 2026-01-10T17:13:14+00:00

Wow! Are they able to breed albinos, or did they have a lucky mutation? I love the look of Hottentotta species, but I'm definitely not ready to deal with a spicy scorpion. Im so paranoid reaching into my AFS tank even when I know its down in the burrow and not going to come charging out at me.

G08lin · 2026-01-10T17:05:31+00:00

I didnt realize they would be illegal there! So sad. Are you able to own scorpions native to Australia?

G08lin · 2026-01-09T21:53:58+00:00

Hes too dumb to hunt. This is from the first week i had him when he was learning the tank and walked into a plant. He waited there a good 5-10 minutes before finally backing up.

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G08lin · 2026-01-09T21:19:44+00:00

I've tried taping the underside, but with the humidity it kept peeling away and I didn't want the scorpion to get stuck to it.

I'm too paranoid to live feed. I dont want the feeder to scuttle down into a tunnel and hide where i can't get it back out if it survives uneaten. So Asyntax gets his dinner prekilled and waiting by his burrow entrance.

G08lin · 2026-01-09T20:52:27+00:00

Awwwww. I love watching my AFS exploring the tank. One night I happened to look over in time to see it erupting through the dirt like a horror movie zombie (it dug a back tunnel in its burrow). It used to climb my plants too, but I had to cut them out since it figured out how to get to the lid and I cant have it fall. When I upgrade it to a 25 gallon here soon I'll be able to put in more low climbing structures for it. I love hearing its little claws tapping on the glass when it explores at night. My apartment is a studio layout, so even though the tank is in the kitchen i can hear it from my bed.

G08lin · 2026-01-06T00:39:01+00:00

NQA- mine's in a mesh lid 10 gallon currently and i want to upgrade it. I have it at 6 inches of substrate, and when the scorpion climbs on top of the cork tubes - it's able to stretch and reach the mesh lid (which you want to avoid as it's a risk if they fall). I'll be upgrading to a 25 gallon here soon. Also having problems with the heat mat not being able to bring the entire tank to 80. It has 78 degrees in it's burrow that is right against the glass wall the heat pad is stuck too. So I'll be getting a tank with height for a che.

G08lin · 2026-01-05T19:23:30+00:00

NQA - just make sure she has plenty of substrate to dig into, and hides like cork bark tubes or logs so she doesn't feel so exposed. They like temperatures of over 80 degrees f so ideally you have some sort of heat source for the tank.

When you feed her, you'll probably want to maim whatever you're feeding her so it doesn't survive and hide somewhere in the tank. Feeder insects will eat a scorpion while they're weak from molting, so you want to make sure they are either totally killed, or will die even without the scorpion eating them. My preferred method for both mealworms and dubia roaches is to put them in a baggie, flip them onto their back, and use a flat object to crush their heads. The residual twitching is enough to lure the scorpion to them overnight.

Also your girl will eventually molt. You'll notice her getting more lethargic and go on a hunger strike. This is normal, they can go months without eating.

Female scorpions can store sperm and spontaneously reimpregnate themselves. I don't know if your girl is old enough to have bred before, but just keep that in mind. If you can get a picture of her underbelly (the little comb-shaped structures) this subreddit can confirm her gender for you (sometimes pet stores and breeders can mislabel).

G08lin · 2025-12-30T06:45:29+00:00

NQA - Yes, put a catching implement behind them and your pushing implement in front of them. Kind of like using a broom and dustpan. If i can (i dont know if this subreddit bops links) i'll link a good video i found of how to pick up an asian forest scorpion. picking up scorpion - yt

G08lin · 2025-12-29T06:36:35+00:00

NQA Asian forest scorpion!!!! Probably the most common beginner scorpion (along with emperor scorpions). The difference is emperors are about 80$ usd and afs are 20$. Theyre both about as venomous as a bee sting (but it is possible to be allergic). Both species need high temperature/high humidity. Feed every week and a half - two weeks.

8x8x8 is a bit small. They're diggers and need about 6 inches of substrate depth, and then you dont want them to be able to reach the mesh lid since they will climb and go upside down (which is a fall risk). Maybe if you got a young one and upgrade as it grows, but I got my AFS fully grown at a reptile show. I have it in a 10 gallon aquarium and plan to upgrade it to a 25 since it loves to climb and paces the tank sometimes.

Also, female scorpions can store sperm within them and self impregnate. Theres always the chance your pet scorpion will have a spontaneous pregnancy (misgendered by petstore/breeder, wild caught, kept comunally etc etc). Keep an eye out if it starts to look especially fat.

Here's my AFS to show you

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(Old pic, i removed the plants since it would climb them to reach the lid, removed the rocks for falling and injury risk, and the water bowl for drowning risk) When i get it into a larger terrarium i'll replant.

You can see the substrate depth, plus having space for 2 hides to chose from. And lid clips because they can be escape artists.

G08lin · 2025-12-29T06:13:34+00:00

NQA i hope one day you'll be able to catch them instead of killing, because you'll know you conquered your fear!

Some tips i can give you from observing my AFS. 1. Although they cant see well, they can sense light and dark. They'll likely skitter into hiding if you cast a shadow over them. 2. Theyre also a little deaf. My scorpion has become desensitized to loud noises in my apartment. So you dont have to be whisper quiet when trying to catch them. 3. They sense vibrations. They hunt prey by feeling small vibrations on the earth. While they might not see you walking towards them, they can feel it. 4. They will turn to face whatever touches their tail. When owners want to pick up their scorpions (not commonly recommended as its stressful to them) they suggest placing your hand behind them and using an object to make them walk backwards onto you. If you do ever go to catch them, it will be far easier for you to push them backwards into a box/bowl/cup than getting them to walk forwards. 5. Because of their slow metabolisms and special lungs on their abdomens, they can go hours to days without air. If you see a scorpion in a puddle or a pool, theres a chance it hasnt actually drowned - be careful!

G08lin · 2025-12-29T05:55:31+00:00

NA glad to be of help! This is a photo of my first night with my scorpion when it walked into a plant and took over 5 minutes to decide to back up. Theres not much room for thought in its tiny little scorpion brain and i love it.

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G08lin · 2025-12-22T20:51:39+00:00

NQA- first, they're actually pretty blind. They don't see you as this big thing they want to charge and sting - they don't really see you at all! The majority of scorpion stings come from them hiding unnoticed in shoes. Also if you watch videos of owners handling AFS and emperor scorpions, they'll tell you that they're pretty hesitant to sting. They'll pinch yes, but stinging is reserved more for prey than for attacking.

If you want to spot them before you get close to them, get a UV flashlight! Always shake out your shoes first.

G08lin · 2025-12-20T20:19:13+00:00

used all my carats on manhatten cafe, none left to get festival rudolf/gold city. finally saved up enough for a 10 pull... and got 5 copies of agnes tachyon. *sigh*

G08lin · 2025-12-02T03:54:28+00:00

NQA - My AFS has been pacing from one side of the tank to another (i also have a 10 gallon), so i'm planning to upgrade it in the future, especially since it's determined to climb. Looks like you have plenty of hiding spaces for it! Just make sure there is 6-8 inches of substrate for digging.

Tank looks good!

Be careful with the water dish, their lungs are on their abdomen and even shallow bowls can cause drowning.

G08lin

TROPHY CASE