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Common name:Flat Rock Scorpion
Maximum size: 7-8" total length, large for a scorpion.
Suggested cage size: A 2.5 gallon to 5 gallon tank will suffice for an adult, smaller specimens can be kept in deli cups. or wide vials. This is not an active species and does not require a great deal of space. Sand substrate.
Temperature: 75-85F during the day, dropping to 70F at night.
Range: Southern Africa.
Diet: Appropriately sized crickets. Adults should be fed biweekly to monthly, younger specimens may eat more frequently.
Breeding: Around thirty young are born after an 18-month gestation period. they live on the mother's back for the first month or so. They look nothing like the adults, resembling maggots with tiny limbs and metasomas. After a few days they molt and begin to resemble the adults. Young should be seperated after they leave the mother and raised individually to prevent cannibalism. It takes several years for them to reach maturity.
Sexing: Males have a greatly elongated metasoma ("tail"), which is at least 1.5 times the body length. It is used in courtship the probe the spaces between the segments of the female's abdomen to excite her. The female's metasoma is much shorter, see the picture at the bottom of the article.
Notes: Likes to wedge itself in small cracks in rocks, stack pieces if slate on top of each other to allow it to do this. Make sure they are securely positioned. Has a long lifespan. This is probably the least active animal I've ever owned. It's an ambush predator that can sit wedged in the same crevice for months at a time, if you want an active, easily viewed animal you should pick another species. This is about all I ever see of mine.
Toxicity: This species has one of (if not the) weakest stings of any scorpion species and is reluctant to use its stinger. I have never been stung, however I have heard of effects ranging from nothing to slight pain (on par with or less than a bee sting) to increased sensitivity to touch to swelling and redness. That said, it is possible that sensitive individuals may be more sensitive to the sting and could react much worse than a normal man. If you are allergic to spider and/or insect bites or insect stings I suggest you pick a different species.
My experience with H. troglodytes: I have a single female that I've had for some time now, and I've cared for several others at my shop. Not my favorite species, but still interesting. Like I said, it eats very little and sits in one spot for months on end. I think it's bizarre appearance makes up for this, if you agree with me you should find it an interesting (if not engaging) specimen.
My specimen:
-PK
This post has been edited by BoomerSub: 05 October 2004 - 07:43 PM
