So, my bf and I have had a bunch of scorpions for about a year now. We really do not handle them at all. He tails them once in a while just to do cage maintenance and stuff. About a week ago I decided that I wanted to try to tail one (just to learn how to do it and to get the experience). So he told me how to do it. I lifted the scorp (Desert Hairy) out of the tank, I didn't even have it for 5 seconds and I placed it back in the tank. Now, the scorp has refused food ever since. His tail is completely flat, and has been for about the last 4 days. I thought that tailing a scorp was safe for the scorp. Did I hurt it? Or is it just a coincidence?
Does tailing hurt the scorion?
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Completely flat how? As in it's got the metasoma stretched out or a segment or so are flattened? How old is said H. arizonensis? Can you provide pix of said phenomena?
Tailing is relatively easy and generally does not bother a scorpion too much - one can liken it to grabbing a cat by the scruff of the neck. Now, if it struggles then it can get hurt but it's not all too often that a scorpion kicks against the pricks, if you will.
Tailing is relatively easy and generally does not bother a scorpion too much - one can liken it to grabbing a cat by the scruff of the neck. Now, if it struggles then it can get hurt but it's not all too often that a scorpion kicks against the pricks, if you will.
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I am not an expert, and can only tell you what I have read in this particular circumstance as I have not experienced this myself.
That being said:
As I understand, tailing is not a good idea with the heavier bodied species. Injury could occur. However, many people, myself included, will tail at least some species. Centroides sp. for example, should be able handle GENTLE tailing every once in a while. An emperor however, should not be tailed. (Many people will tail emps for years without problems, but it's not a risk worth taking imo.
As for solutions:
I would recommend the two of you using a deli cup or something similar to move your Hairys. They are stout bodied. You can put cup in front of scorp, and give it a light touch to the tail, and it should walk right in. No worries then! It may take 2 or 3 tries, but it is worth it imo. Another option if it is grabbing onto bark or what not, would be to remove whole bark and put it in a larger plastic tub temporarily.
Good luck, and I am hoping for a fast recovery for your buddy. r
That being said:
As I understand, tailing is not a good idea with the heavier bodied species. Injury could occur. However, many people, myself included, will tail at least some species. Centroides sp. for example, should be able handle GENTLE tailing every once in a while. An emperor however, should not be tailed. (Many people will tail emps for years without problems, but it's not a risk worth taking imo.
As for solutions:
I would recommend the two of you using a deli cup or something similar to move your Hairys. They are stout bodied. You can put cup in front of scorp, and give it a light touch to the tail, and it should walk right in. No worries then! It may take 2 or 3 tries, but it is worth it imo. Another option if it is grabbing onto bark or what not, would be to remove whole bark and put it in a larger plastic tub temporarily.
Good luck, and I am hoping for a fast recovery for your buddy. r
I am not sure of the age but we think it is mature. I can try to provide pictures later. The tail is flat, like flat flat. When I picked up the scorp it didn't struggle at all, and like I said I put it right back down. It seemed perfectly fine, and even took food that night (but now has not eaten since). We really had not heard that this could harm the scorp, thought people did it all the time. We have used the deli cup method in the past also, especially with our emp. This is probably what we will do in the future also. Thank you for all input.
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I will take pictures as soon as I get home.
I am kind of thinking that it may just be a coincidence that this happened right after the tailing. I really don't think he got hurt as he really didn't struggle and the tail didn't go flat for several days.
Either way, does anybody have any advice of ways to help him out? Any tips of what to do to get him healthy again? Whether or not it is due to the tailing, he is still sick and I would like to help him.
I am kind of thinking that it may just be a coincidence that this happened right after the tailing. I really don't think he got hurt as he really didn't struggle and the tail didn't go flat for several days.
Either way, does anybody have any advice of ways to help him out? Any tips of what to do to get him healthy again? Whether or not it is due to the tailing, he is still sick and I would like to help him.
You say that you think it's an adult...are you sure it didn't leave a molt in the past few days? Is there a place a molt could be hidden? That's the only thing that makes sense other than something heavy in the enclosure crushing it or the tailing crushing it because there's no sound reason as to how that could happen.
Galapoheros had a P.imp molt and lose it's telson but after a few posts on that thread there came no more updates. I should email him about that because that was over a year and a half ago. I'm not interested in what came of that scorp.
Galapoheros had a P.imp molt and lose it's telson but after a few posts on that thread there came no more updates. I should email him about that because that was over a year and a half ago. I'm not interested in what came of that scorp.
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My reasoning tells me that tailing is OK. The only genus I avoid doing that with is Hadogenes with their heavy body and thin tail, just using caution, it may be fine too but it doesn't feel like a good thing to do with those ..to me anyway, fits with what nomad was saying. It took me many years to finally decide to get a Hadrurus, a very strong tail it you ask me! Could be old like was mentioned. rasputin... it took me a minute to remember that emp. It was a 2nd instar emp missing a telson and the metasomal segment it would've been attached to. It might have been born like that, not sure. It didn't make it though, all the others did. Too bad, I was looking forward to seeing it grow bigger.
I will put up a pic in a few minutes. I did notice that it wasn't acting as aggressive as it normally does the night when it was tailed. Usually it would put it's tail straight up in the air at the slightest movement in its cage. That night, you could brush it and it wouldn't even flex its tail.
I am just thinking that it is getting old, and it was coincidental that this has been more noticeable after tailing.
Rasputin-There is no molt around in the cage, and the only "heavy" thing in the tank is a piece of broken terracotta.
I am just thinking that it is getting old, and it was coincidental that this has been more noticeable after tailing.
Rasputin-There is no molt around in the cage, and the only "heavy" thing in the tank is a piece of broken terracotta.
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I always move my Hadrurus arizonensis like that...better than using tweezers and all mine are still fine.I normally hold them by the last but one segment.
Also do it with the imperials too but would draw the line at my Hadogenes paucidens because of the small tail and they are pretty easy going anyway so no need.....just put your hand under them and tell them to hop on....lol
Also do it with the imperials too but would draw the line at my Hadogenes paucidens because of the small tail and they are pretty easy going anyway so no need.....just put your hand under them and tell them to hop on....lol
well as I was going to take it's picture, I realized that it wasn't moving at all. So I flipped it over to see if it would move at all, and it is completely lifeless. So I think that it just died of natural causes and the tailing incident was just a coincidence.
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That really is the most likely reason. In the future as to not have to worry, try cupping. But don't blame yourselves for this! It is not common knowledge, and it isn't likely anyway. Sorry about the loss.
well as I was going to take it's picture, I realized that it wasn't moving at all. So I flipped it over to see if it would move at all, and it is completely lifeless. So I think that it just died of natural causes and the tailing incident was just a coincidence.
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thats to bad, looks like my V spinigerus when it died.
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Not because of tailing but happened during a molt.
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Here, more pictures:
She doesn't seem to mind the loss of the telson at all. But of course, P. imperator doesn't use the telson that much when catching prey...
She doesn't seem to mind the loss of the telson at all. But of course, P. imperator doesn't use the telson that much when catching prey...
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