Androctonus bicolor Concerns.

[Craig]

I am looking for input for what went wrong with this scorpion. It died mid- molt. It seemed to be in pre-molt for months, but otherwise was very active. But, for whatever reason this scorpion did not make it out of the molt.

I setup this scorpion like the rest of my desert scopions. I made a heated shelf for my desert scorps where the temp is about 90° day and 79-81° at night.

So I know temp and housing are not an issue. I have never kept A.bicolor aside from this individual. So I am wondering if the long pre-molt stretch is normal for this species? Also are molt losses common for this species? I have only ever had one other scorpion die in molting.

If you are wondering, I got this scorpion with injured pedipalps.

 

[Outpost31Survivor]

Mist a wall every week to two weeks but always be sure to keep the enclosure well ventilated and the substrate as dry as possible to avoid mycosis. Raising the humidity by misting keeps the exuvium moist and pliable and will assist in a successful molt.

 

[Sir Aculeus]

I am looking for input for what went wrong with this scorpion. It died mid- molt. It seemed to be in pre-molt for months, but otherwise was very active. But, for whatever reason this scorpion did not make it out of the molt.

I setup this scorpion like the rest of my desert scopions. I made a heated shelf for my desert scorps where the temp is about 90° day and 79-81° at night.

So I know temp and housing are not an issue. I have never kept A.bicolor aside from this individual. So I am wondering if the long pre-molt stretch is normal for this species? Also are molt losses common for this species? I have only ever had one other scorpion die in molting.

If you are wondering, I got this scorpion with injured pedipalps.

Sorry for your loss!
Did your bicolor have enough drinking water available or did it perhaps experience a stressful situation such as rehousing, mating attempt, moving the entire enclosure to another location? I use water bottle caps as water dishes for all my desert scorps. The bottle cap is so small it doesn't create a change in humidity. None of my bicolors or any andros for that matter have been in pre-molt for that long. I do remember losing a 5th instar bicolor and a 4th instar australis to a bad molt but I am sure it was due to lack of hydration on my part early on in my scorp keeping/breeding years.

I also do a very light misting once every two to three weeks and make sure the animal is on the other side of the enclosure and in its hide. Proper ventalation of course for all desert scorps. To me it seems like a hydration and/or long term extreme dryness issue since it was in pre-molt for so long. Although desert scorps need dry conditions with higher temps, hydration is needed since deserts get some amount of dew and even rare rain events. There is also the possibility it was weak for whatever reason and simply could not finish the process successfully.

 

[Matt Man]

sorry for the loss. Twas a beautiful specimen

 

[Craig]

Sir Aculeus:

Thank you so much for the detailed reply. I think it was a hydration issue looking back. For the rest of my Andros I usually mist one side of the enclosure every 14 days or so. They also have a water dish that almost never gets used. The scorpion did not experience anything stressful prior to the molt, aside from me accidently bumping the enclosure when I was looking at the animal. I wonder if that was enough to stress him? He was more high strung than my other andros but I understand A.bicolor is a bit more reactive as a species.

This scorpion was due for watering but I saw a molt was impending and held off misting. I think I was over thinking it and, thought since it was a desert species misting maybe would cause the exoskeleton to become too "sticky".

Thank you for your input everyone. I will increase make sure to increase watering for my andros. They are all well ventilated. I know androctonus is prone to fungal illnesses. And maybe I was over thinking that too.

 

[Sir Aculeus]

Sir Aculeus:

Thank you so much for the detailed reply. I think it was a hydration issue looking back. For the rest of my Andros I usually mist one side of the enclosure every 14 days or so. They also have a water dish that almost never gets used. The scorpion did not experience anything stressful prior to the molt, aside from me accidently bumping the enclosure when I was looking at the animal. I wonder if that was enough to stress him? He was more high strung than my other andros but I understand A.bicolor is a bit more reactive as a species.

This scorpion was due for watering but I saw a molt was impending and held off misting. I think I was over thinking it and, thought since it was a desert species misting maybe would cause the exoskeleton to become too "sticky".

Thank you for your input everyone. I will increase make sure to increase watering for my andros. They are all well ventilated. I know androctonus is prone to fungal illnesses. And maybe I was over thinking that too.

It happens to the best of us as well as Mother Nature. A single bump on the enclosure will not stress them out like that.
African and Middle Eastern deserts have morning dew to some extent. When I see my desert scorps in premolt I make sure they always have fresh daily water and rather than lightly mist a corner once every 2 to 3 weeks I'll mist lighter albeit once a week.
Bicolor is such an awesome looking scorpion... the Porsche 911 of the desert scorps.

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

Mist a wall every week to two weeks but always be sure to keep the enclosure well ventilated and the substrate as dry as possible to avoid mycosis. Raising the humidity by misting keeps the exuvium moist and pliable and will assist in a successful molt.

Do scorpions absorb moisture? I know Ts don’t , but supposedly extra humidity helps molting for all arachnids?
Is mycosis is a scorpion only issue ?

 

[Joey Spijkers]

Do scorpions absorb moisture? I know Ts don’t , but supposedly extra humidity helps molting for all arachnids?
Is mycosis is a scorpion only issue ?

No, scorpions can not absorb moisture through the exoskeleton if that's what you mean. However, some moisture is necessary to keep the exoskeleton flexible when molting. This is the case for all arthropods, and also reptiles when shedding, but the amount of moisture necessary to do the job is different depending on the natural habitat of each species of course.
Mycosis has been observed in scorpions and myriapods (mainly centipedes) as far as I know of.

 

[Craig]

Thank

It happens to the best of us as well as Mother Nature. A single bump on the enclosure will not stress them out like that.
African and Middle Eastern deserts have morning dew to some extent. When I see my desert scorps in premolt I make sure they always have fresh daily water and rather than lightly mist a corner once every 2 to 3 weeks I'll mist lighter albeit once a week.
Bicolor is such an awesome looking scorpion... the Porsche 911 of the desert scorps.

Thank you again for your time and information! I agree. Bicolors are beautiful. I will be shopping around for another one or two.

 

[Jamey]

I lost a bicolor this year, same deal, not enough humidity. It liked to hide under a porous oyster shell. The first molt was successful, when I misted the oyster shell. The second time I just kept a water dish in there, but did not mist the oyster shell. Don't know why I changed my routine, was worried about mycosis. It was heartbreaking. I learned, though, and was able to keep the conditions right for the Androctonus Mauritanicus I just got last month to successfully molt last night! Thrilled! I think it's 4i now. I lifted it's oyster shell last night and saw it was on it's back, molting, so I gently put the shell back down, and then covered the shell, the whole spot, with a moist paper towel. Worked like a charm. I was so scared to look tonight, to remove the towel. It's in there next to it's old exoskeleton! Yes! We gotta make it count, right?