Breeding massive scorpions in High oxygen

[Dnaiel Rich]

Hey Guys,

So I found this article https://www.wired.com/2010/11/huge-dragonflies-oxygen/
about how many insects increase in size significantly when grown in a high oxygen environment. I was curious about how much fun it would be to have some extra large insect pets. Now the article only say 15% extra growth and not accross all species, but still cool.

I haven't kept scorpions before but they seemed like something that would be especially cool in an enlarged form. Any ideas on easy and fast breeders that are really large to begin with?

Any other extra thoughts? I am still working on the logistics and figuring out how expensive it would be. I imagine humidity would be bit of a problem since the gas exchange would be controlled so that the oxygen level could be kept high.

Perhaps it isn't reasonable but even as a thought experiment it is a fun idea.

 

[RTTB]

It's against my beliefs to do such a thing. Its unnatural manipulation and trying to create a condition that does not occur in nature.

 

[sanguis bibimus]

Increasing oxygen concentrations in a closed environment where there is usually a nearby heat source would be a terrible idea due to the inherent fire hazards.

 

[Jason Brantley]

I don't even know where you can buy oxygen. Don't you need a doctor's prescription? It probably says in the article I didn't read. Just keep the scorpions health and well being in mind throughout your experiment.

 

[Jason Brantley]

Ok i read the first half then kinda trailed off towards the end. Scorpions have book lungs so it might not even work and scorpions might not grow at all just like the roaches. Seems like a pain in the azz for an extra half inch. Scorpions dont eat that much and will go through periods of fasting.

 

[Galapoheros]

That topic has come up here now and then. So some people experimented with it and some Dragonflies ended up with a half an inch larger wingspan, hm. There is some sensatonalism in the article, that's no monster. I suspect the guys experimenting here are working for the government, looking for something to do but now and they do come across something crazy. I don't think O2 will do much, I think it comes down to genetics, physics and gravity. There is a theory that gravity was much less millions of years ago, that might explain better the larger ...everything back then.

 

[ZX14]

Just an fyi....Oxygen tanks can be purchased and filled at welding specialty stores and welding gas suppliers. I was a Steamfitter/Pipefitter for 17 years and am a welder myself

 

[Mila]

Bootlegging an environment that is super high oxygen combined with a heat source is a.. erm... great idea

 

[soldierof4cheese]

High oxygen levels in humans helps the body to heal faster, though to much oxygen is corrosive and not good. I think it would help yield larger scorpions if introduced correctly. Ethical? probably not.

 

[vespers]

This was just discussed a week ago in the tarantula section of the boards:
http://arachnoboards.com/threads/l-parahybinia-or-l-klugi-oxygen-chamber.296604/
I'm going to state the obvious: Scorpions aren't even insects like Dragonflies. I don't know why people are mentioning this study as if it would automatically apply to arachnids too.

 

[RTTB]

How about something useful like breeding projects for rare species not science experiments to create designer unnatural mutations.

 

[Mila]

How about something useful like breeding projects for rare species not science experiments to create designer unnatural mutations.

Scorpions breed perfectly fine and have done for millions of years. The reason they're rare 99% of the time is because of human destruction to habitat not due to being lazy idiots like the giant panda

 

[ErinM31]

Hey Guys,

So I found this article https://www.wired.com/2010/11/huge-dragonflies-oxygen/
about how many insects increase in size significantly when grown in a high oxygen environment. I was curious about how much fun it would be to have some extra large insect pets. Now the article only say 15% extra growth and not accross all species, but still cool.

I haven't kept scorpions before but they seemed like something that would be especially cool in an enlarged form. Any ideas on easy and fast breeders that are really large to begin with?

Any other extra thoughts? I am still working on the logistics and figuring out how expensive it would be. I imagine humidity would be bit of a problem since the gas exchange would be controlled so that the oxygen level could be kept high.

Perhaps it isn't reasonable but even as a thought experiment it is a fun idea.

If the experiment were successful, what would you do with your extra large scorpion? If their size is indeed constrained by oxygen concentration, then I would expect that such a specimen would not be able to obtain enough oxygen under normoxic conditions (or did you intend to keep them in +15% oxygen their whole lives?).