Hi Guys,

Recently got my first scorpion (Emperor) which I believe is an adult male.
Today I noticed that he was extracting venom from his sting randomly... just droplet after droplet...

At the time, he was trying to climb the corner of his tank as he often does (which worries me because I've followed all housing instructions exactly from many different sources: 25c-30c, fairly humid, damp soil and lots of dark places for him to hide). I just don't see why he's so frantic to escape; hoping he's just inquisitive. Then I noticed that venom was just dripping from his sting. I didn't provoke him, and the cricket I'd put in was right at the other end. And his telson wasn't raised (to stike) at all.

Does anybody know if this is normal behaviour? And if so, why does this happen? (Even after trying to find answers for this for ages I've come across nothing).

Any help/advice would be much appreciated.

Cheers,
Steve

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"It's Just A Ride" -Bill Hicks

Quite normal mine used to do it, may take months to make a burrow. Not sure bout the venom tho.

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lucifus@hotmail.com - feel free to add.

I wonder whether this behaviour is due to stress as these little chaps like to live in colonies.Another problem may be mites or enviromental vibrations.

Although they live in colonys in the wild they are also fine on their own. Been some problems in the past where scorps in colonys have ended up as food for another, cant get out of an enclosure like in the wild so no where to run.

Emporers do generally try to get out of their enclosures. Mine used to grip the faunarium bars and try to squeeze them. It will settle down eventually tho. How big is the set up and do you have pics?

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lucifus@hotmail.com - feel free to add.

Pics are going to be a pain to get atm (camera is screwed)
The tank is 15"x9" has two dark hiding places which are pots (that he uses quite often) has a shallow water dish in one corner. The soil is about 2" deep (I know its a bit shallow but he hasn't even attempted to burrow yet and seems pleased with his pots ).

I've been thinking about getting him a little friend or two and upgrading them to a bigger tank but I'd hate to have one of them eaten...

Oh and I recently found out it's WC.

Any ideas about why he was dropping venom? I've kept T's for many years but this being my first scorp I'm very curious/worried about this.

And thanks for the previous replies.

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"It's Just A Ride" -Bill Hicks

Don't worry about the trying to climb out the tank, they all do it WC caught or not!

As for the 'venom', you might find he was just going to the toilet, scorpions bums are on the very last segment of their tail just before the stinger.


http://www.ub.ntnu.no/scorpion-files...on_anatomy.jpg
(WARNING- big pic!)

Edit-ps even though he has not tried to burrow I would still make the substrate a good bit deeper so that if he will be able to if he wants. My juv emps have substrate about 3" deep and they burrow everywhere, particularly underneath their plantpot hides)

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Beasties1.0 Pony - Seamus1.0 BCI - Alcatraz0.1 Brachypelma Smithi - Muse0.1.2 Thrixopelma Pruriens - Belle, T1 and T30.0.2 Brachypelma Emilia - B1 and B20.0.1 Nhandu Chromatus - Digger0.0.1 Avicularia sp "Peru Purple" - Bramble0.0.10 Peruphasma Schultei0.0.3 Pandinus Imperator
6607.

Cheers but this was definitly coming from his sting. No idea what this could be.

I will make the substrate a bit deeper and see how that works out.

Cheers all,
Steve

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"It's Just A Ride" -Bill Hicks

put some pics on or pm me them so i can see please

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