Red Clawed Scorpion: Useful Care Tips For Your Pet Scorpion

Although it is kind of a crazy idea to keep scorpions as pets, the red clawed scorpion is in all the weirdest of all. Humans have gone so far to prove that almost any animal can be bred.

The red clawed scorpion is a very aggressive scorpion, easily irritated, and highly intolerant unlike its conspecific, the emperor scorpion.

Let us now find out ways to identify this species of scorpion, its behavior, and how to care for them as pets.

 

What Does a Red Clawed Scorpion Look Like?

The red clawed scorpion looks similar to the famous emperor scorpion but there is definitely a difference in size between these two scorpion species, and of course, the red clawed scorpion actually has red claws.

How can you identify the red claw scorpion? Well, let us now describe this scorpion by its body parts:

• Body:
  • Red claw scorpions have flat bodies.
  • The bodies appear to be widened.
  • The average size of this scorpion is approximately 9 to 12 cm in length. They sometimes reach 15 cm though.
• Color:
  • They exhibit shiny, brownish-black to reddish-black colorations.
  • Their heads, claws, and legs exhibit lighter colors than the rest of the body parts.
• Claws:
  • Their claws appear to be enlarged and swollen.
  • From their name, it is obvious that the claws are red.
  • They have 9 to 12 sensory hairs under their claws.
• Pectinal Teeth:
  • They have 13 to 14 pectinal teeth.

 

Read also: How To Identify A Bark Scorpion

 

What is the Difference Between Male and Female Red Claw Scorpion?

Male and Female Red Claw Scorpions
S/N	Male	Female
1.	MALES usually have 14–15 pectinal teeth.	FEMALES usually have 13–14 pectinal teeth.
2.	MALES have a concave section on their chelae.	FEMALES have rounder chelae.
3.	The combs on the abdomen of the MALES have slightly longer spines than the combs of the FEMALES.

 

What are the Behaviors of the Tanzanian Red Clawed Scorpion?

Unlike the red claw emperor scorpions, the red claw scorpions are quite aggressive and exhibit agitative behaviors due to easily getting provoked or irritated.

Although this scorpion can be kept as a pet, it is not advisable for a beginner or novice to breed them. Caution, patience, and wariness are required when handling this pet.

Red clawed scorpions enjoy digging and are referred to as borrowers. It is therefore advisable that if you plan to breed them, you create spaces for them to burrow.

Since they are quite aggressive, they are also certainly prepared for fights when they face an opponent. To defend themselves, they’d:

• Arch their tail over their body.
• Raise their claws upward.
• Face the direction of the threat.

Can you house red claw scorpions together? This is a capital NO! Red clawed scorpions are quite territorial and will not share their space with any creature besides themselves, even their kind.

Housing 2 red-clawed scorpions will only result in a fight to the death for whoever is going to reign supreme and take over the space.

If you plan on housing this scorpion, you must be careful not to irritate them so that they will remain happy and less agitated.

 

What Do Red Claw Scorpions Eat?

Red clawed scorpions often use their powerful claws to capture their prey and have been known to eat small animals, including mice, frogs, lizards, and even insects, when they dwell in the wild.

When breeding the Tanzanian red clawed scorpion, you should feed them:

• Roaches
• Crickets
• Worms
• Locusts
• Red runner roaches
• Mealworms, etc.

 

Where is the Habitat of the Tanzanian Red-Claw Scorpion?

Red clawed scorpions are likely to be found in areas that are:

• 70% to 80% humid (humidity)
• 70 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit (temperature)

We earlier mentioned that these pets enjoy burrowing so it is more likely that you’ll find them in rock crevices, under rocks, under fallen trees, etc. These are significant places where they hide and spend most of their time.

If you’ve read to this point, you’ll see that we referred to them as the Tanzania red-clawed scorpion, and this is because these pets are local to Tanzania and can be found in these provinces:

• The central part of Tanzania
• Iringa
• Singida
• Dodoma
• Shinyanga

 

How Do Tanzanian Red-Clawed Scorpions Mate?

Red clawed scorpions are very aggressive, and it is unsafe to just carelessly place a female with a male for mating, as they’d only end up fighting to the death.

There are important steps that must be followed and a process to be carried out. Below are the steps to mating a male and female Tanzanian red-clawed scorpion:

1. Ensure that the scorpions are properly fed.
2. A flat stone should be placed in the container so that the male can attach its spermatophore (this contains spermatozoa that are thrust out by the male and transferred to the genital tract of the female).
3. They should be placed in a big and spacious container.
4. The Mating Process:
   1. The female follows the claws of the male, which guide her to mating.
   2. The female follows the lead of the male until a suitable spot is found for the male to deposit its spermatophore.
   3. The male helps the female position her reproductive tract for it to deposit its spermatophore.
   4. Mating is complete, and they can now be separated.

 

Read also: How Do Scorpions Get In The House?

 

Are Red Clawed Scorpion Venomous?

Yes, the red clawed scorpions are venomous, but these stings do not result in too much pain as they are only slightly mild and require little attention.

For people who are allergic, the toxic sting from this scorpion may result in minor cases and as such, they must be rushed to the hospital to prevent allergic reactions.

 

How To Care For Your Tanzanian Red Clawed Scorpion

To ensure the longevity of your red-clawed scorpion pet, you must ensure that their artificial habitats provide them with similar conditions as their natural habitats.

The temperature, humidity, and space must be favorable to ensure that they live healthy and comfortable life.

Most people house their cave clawed scorpions in terrariums and even aquariums, but we would suggest a plastic container from Amazon as this:

• Is affordable.
• Has good humidity.
• Provides your pet with good, natural aeration.

You can easily create holes in the plastic container.

 

What is the Temperature Requirement?

We mentioned that the environmental conditions of your scorpion’s housing must be similar to the conditions in their natural habitats; hence, the required temperatures for their housing should be:

• During the Day: 75ºF to 86ºF
• During the Nights: 70ºF to 75ºF

 

What is the Lighting Requirement?

Cave clawed scorpions are burrowers, meaning that they love to hide. Lighting will not be necessary for their housing.

 

What is the Humidity Requirement?

Red-clawed scorpions require a humidity level between 70% and 80%.

 

What is the Tank Size Requirement?

When purchasing a container, terrarium, or aquarium for your pet scorpion, it must have a tank size of 5 gallons.

Your tank must be spacious enough for these pets to have hiding spots and burrowing substrates.

Your tank may still be small, but as long as it provides them with the required temperature and humidity level, your pets are good to go.

Scorpions are not active hunters, so your tank must not be too big. Having a very large tank will only make their prey difficult to catch.

 

What is the Water Requirement?

Even though red clawed scorpions obtain water from their prey, you must still ensure that you provide them with water in a shallow water dish—not too shallow (so that they can easily crawl out).

The best water source for these pets is spring water, but if they must be given water from the tap, then the water should be left for 24 hours before being placed in the tank.

Water from the tap contains chlorine, and this is not very safe for pet red clawed scorpions.

Ensure to change the water every 5 to 6 days.

 

What is the Feeding Requirement?

• When feeding your pet clawed scorpion, you must consider the size of the prey. The prey should be at least 1 to 2 inches long to ensure that the scorpion can easily grab it with its claws.
• The time you feed your red clawed scorpion also matters. In their natural habitats, they usually feed at night since they are nocturnal animals; hence, you should feed them in the evenings as well so that they will feel as though they are in their nocturnal habitats.
• When feeding scorplings (young scorpions), you must ensure that their prey is made weak or close to death before introducing it to them. Scorplings are weak, so they can easily be overpowered by their prey.
• When introducing a prey to the tank, ensure that it is already weak, with its wings chopped off or legs slightly disoriented, to ensure that it does not give your scorpion a hard time.
• Red-clawed scorpions do not feed daily like humans do. If you introduce a prey to them and they do not react to it, remove the prey and try again another week.

 

How Often Should Your Red Clawed Scorpions Feed?

We have already mentioned that red clawed scorpions do not feed like humans; hence, feeding them once a week is very okay.

These pets exhibit slow metabolisms and will not move a lot. Trying to overfeed them will only be a waste of time.

• Adults: should be fed once a week
• Reproducing Females: should be fed 2-3 times a week.
• Scorplings: should be fed 2-3 times a week.

 

Can You House Red Claw Scorpions Together?

Housing red-clawed scorpions with other scorpions, whether conspecifics (members of the same species), is a totally bad idea and will only result in a fight to the death.

These pets are very territorial and prefer to live alone.

 

Read also: Are There Scorpions in Florida?

 

Conclusion

Red clawed scorpions are very interesting pets, though aggressive, they can still be loved and cared for.

These pets will be very happy if they are given a spacious tank with comfortable living conditions (similar to their natural habitats). Just like some humans exhibit anger issues, these scorpions are highly temperamental.

Do not touch them carelessly or you’ll get a sting. Do you think it is wise to house a red clawed scorpion? Let us know your thoughts via the comment section below!

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