Asian bush scorpion (Heterometrus sp.)

Origin: Originally from forests in Asia
Length: Can grow up to about 15 cm long

Care
Experience: Novice owner
Food: All scorpions are carnivores that eat insects, spiders and even small lizards and snakes Feed adults: 1 or 2 times a week or once every two weeks
Feed young: 2 to 3 times a week
Water bowl: No, the accommodation should preferably be misted with water every day.

Nutrition
The amount the scorpion needs depends on the species and size. A larger species will often eat two or three adult crickets per week. It is best to feed the scorpion at night so that their behavior pattern is more similar to that of wild scorpions.

Cleaning
The accommodation does not often need to be completely cleaned. If the prey remains are sufficiently cleaned up after feeding, a complete change only needs to be done once or a few times a year.

Handling
The best rule is to never hang out with a scorpion. Species belonging to the genus pandinus and heterometrus are generally considered docile and relatively harmless, but other species can be deadly. The best way to move a scorpion is to place a container over it and slide a lid under it.

Housing
Minimum enclosure size: A scorpion needs a enclosure that is at least 3 times its total length long and twice that length wide.
Day temperature: Between 24 and 30 degrees Celsius
Night temperature: Between 24 and 30 degrees Celsius. Daylight: Scorpions have no positive need for daylight.
Humidity: 70%-80%
Ground cover: Deep layer of peat-free compost (6-7 cm). This can be covered with chips of ochride bark.

Design
You can decorate the terrarium with some flat pieces of wood, cork bark or pieces of ceramic plant pot. This gives the scorpion something to dig under.
Before the stay there are some extra things to pay attention to. Make sure the enclosure is high enough that the scorpion cannot reach the top when standing up. Scorpions are good at escaping. That is why it is important that there are no cracks in the accommodation and that the walls are smooth. Also make sure that you have a well-closable lid, but do not forget about ventilation. If it is necessary to heat the terrarium, it is best to do this with a heat mat. This heat mat should be placed in such a way that it covers approximately one third of the bottom of the terrarium. This allows the scorpion to move between warm and cooler areas.

Behaviour
Most scorpion species live at night and are almost invisible during the day. It is a very interesting group of animals with many different lifestyles.
Lifestyle: Nocturnal

Character Most scorpion species can generally be aggressive at times.

Cost and Purchase
Legislation: Keeping poisonous animals is prohibited in many municipalities. For this, an exemption must first be requested from the municipality.
One-time costs: You can buy a scorpion at a pet store, a reptile exchange or a breeder. Depending on the type, you pay a few tens of euros. The prices of a terrarium start at about 100 euros
Fixed costs: You can buy insects to feed from a few euros per tray and new bedding will occasionally have to be purchased.
Unexpected costs: Unexpected costs can occur if the animal unexpectedly becomes ill.