African Fat Tailed Scorpion

[Dennis Cada]

I have been offered an African Fat Tailed Scorpion for $40. The price seems right but these appear to be really nasty things! Should I get it? Would wearing rubber gauntlets while feeding it and cleaning the enclosure work? Or would just making sure it can't escape be enough? They look rather awesome, but...

 

[Scorpionluva]

Owning an androctonus specie is really no different than any other specie as long as you treat them all with respect and keep in mind that all could be potentially dangerous if they escape or if handled foolishly

 

[shining]

I have been offered an African Fat Tailed Scorpion for $40. The price seems right but these appear to be really nasty things! Should I get it? Would wearing rubber gauntlets while feeding it and cleaning the enclosure work? Or would just making sure it can't escape be enough? They look rather awesome, but...

If you have experience and made friends with hemostats and caution get it. Interesting critters for sure.

 

[brolloks]

Hi,

By "African Fat Tailed Scorpion" I assume you mean Androctonus?
Most of the species in that genus have got medically important venom. If you have doubts then rather don't get it and gain some more experience until you are more comfortable with owning and taking care of something like Androctonus.

 

[Erebus]

Androctonus species have really basic care. I have an Androctonus australis that I've had from about 2instar. You don't need the gauntlets if you have tongs, and it's not difficult to make an escape proof cage. I just use some sand with a couple flat rocks that the scorpion can burrow under. They can't climb smooth surfaces like spiders can so as long as the walls are higher than the scorpion can reach you'll be fine. As long as you respect them, Androctonus species are really easy to care for.

 

[HUNGRYBEASTS]

No need to worry... it's like taking care a regular scorpion.. my 1st scorps are 3 androctonus australis and i fell inlove with these kind of species now i have 26 fattail scorp.. crassicauda, mauretanicus, baluchicus, turieli and bicolor and i am trying to get more..
Dont forget to get a long tongs atleast 10 inches long..

 

[Dennis Cada]

I decided not to get it - at least for the time being - partly because of the seriousness of them and my lack of experience, and that I share my house with a friend who is terrified of anything like that, even if they are docile and quite harmess. He would likely think I was getting it because I wanted to do away with him.

 

[darkness975]

I decided not to get it - at least for the time being - partly because of the seriousness of them and my lack of experience, and that I share my house with a friend who is terrified of anything like that, even if they are docile and quite harmess.

I am glad you decided to hold off if you are unsure. Androctonus are not docile if you disturb them and they are also not harmless IF you are careless. Complacency is your greatest enemy in a hobby like this. Generally speaking Androconus is pretty easy to care for. Use long handled tongs for tank maintenance (not really much of this anyway, mostly just fill the water dish and spot clean on occasion) and for feeding I drop in the prey and let it hunt it itself. Sand substrate and something to hide under.

In the future if you want to try your hand at keeping scorpions start with something less medically significant like an H. arizonensis or something.

 

[Nir Avraham]

I have 4 species of androctonus in my country. Some of them are really deadly. I just put them in a box, and then in another box. Those boxes I put on tall places, far from small children.
I think that 40$ is a very good price, but be careful with them...

 

[gromgrom]

Androctonus are quite sting happy, and very fast, and can launch themselves from your tongs when grasped if they wish. I recommend getting used to tonging other species and raising others prior to getting these, and even then, I feed them in a tub so if they happen to escape, they are contained. I've kept them for 4+ years now and I still exercise caution.

This includes young Parabuthus, particularly schlechteri as well.

 

[Dennis Cada]

I am glad you decided to hold off if you are unsure. Androctonus are not docile if you disturb them and they are also not harmless IF you are careless. Complacency is your greatest enemy in a hobby like this. Generally speaking Androconus is pretty easy to care for. Use long handled tongs for tank maintenance (not really much of this anyway, mostly just fill the water dish and spot clean on occasion) and for feeding I drop in the prey and let it hunt it itself. Sand substrate and something to hide under.

In the future if you want to try your hand at keeping scorpions start with something less medically significant like an H. arizonensis or something.

I have had a scorpion for almost two years. It appears to be the species native to the California and Arizona deserts. All it does is hide in the driftwood, so if I want to move it I just put the driftwood into another container. As per suggestions here, yours I think, I did put it into a smaller container, and I removed the cotton balls and the veggies for the crickets. I will feed it 1-2 crickets each week instead of 6-8 every two weeks so it can't pig out and stay fat.

 

[darkness975]

I have had a scorpion for almost two years. It appears to be the species native to the California and Arizona deserts.

I believe I remember your thread. If I am not mistaken you have a Centruroides sculpturatus.

 

[Dennis Cada]

I would agree, although it is only about an inch and a half long. If that's the case it appears to be almost as nasty as the fat tailed ones! At the time I remember seeing something like californius arizonius on Wikipedia but I can't find that now.

 

[Dennis Cada]

I believe I remember your thread. If I am not mistaken you have a Centruroides sculpturatus.

At the time it was found it was believed to be a https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hadrurus_arizonensis but it is NOT a giant at all.

 

[darkness975]

@Dennis Cada If you are referring to this thread: http://arachnoboards.com/threads/what-am-i-doing-wrong.282966/ then I would say you have a Centruroides sculpturatus based on the coloration, size, and the fact that it is hanging upside down.

 

[Dennis Cada]

@Dennis Cada If you are referring to this thread: http://arachnoboards.com/threads/what-am-i-doing-wrong.282966/ then I would say you have a Centruroides sculpturatus based on the coloration, size, and the fact that it is hanging upside down.

That sure looks like it! So I've had a deadly scorpion for almost two years? I did come close to squishing it with a finger once too. I went to pick up the driftwood and it was like half an inch away! I didn't look because that was the only time I had ever seen it ON the driftwood instead of IN it.

 

[darkness975]

No @Dennis Cada it is not "deadly" except to those who have an allergy to the venom or those who may be very young, elderly, or have compromised immune systems. What it will do though is make your day unpleasant for a while if you are stung. Keeping them properly ensures you will never be stung.

 

[Jeffer7892]

sorry for poor photo quality, this is my l5 instar androctonus mauritanicus, can anyone tell its gender?

 

[Joey Spijkers]

View attachment 398975 sorry for poor photo quality, this is my l5 instar androctonus mauritanicus, can anyone tell its gender?

Better to make your own thread if you want more people to see it. No need to bombard multiple old threads with the same post.
I’m not experienced with Androctonus spp.

 

[Outpost31Survivor]

View attachment 398975 sorry for poor photo quality, this is my l5 instar androctonus mauritanicus, can anyone tell its gender?

Please make a new thread not rez old threads. It looks female and it may not be A. mauritanicus but another Androctonus ssp.