Emperor scorpion breeding

[Emp. scorpion]

I was just curious how many people breed emperors. I am planning on breeding them, but currently only have one emperor because I have moved a few times and have not had time to research and buy some. I have had other scorpions, but this is my first emperor. I know how to breed them, raise them, care for them and feed them. I just want to know how most scorpion hobbiest prefer to breed them, their different styles and techniques. But my main question is do you prefer individual breeding or colony breeding?
Thanks!

 

[EAD063]

I'd go for individual.. Each female in their own, males should be okay together though.

 

[Emp. scorpion]

Do you have your own way of breeding or do you just go by the book?

 

[Brian S]

I dont breed Emps but I do Heterometrus which is about the same thing. One male to 3 or 4 females in the same tank works rather good.
They will come more apt to breed if you keep your temps at least 80F. Most people keep them too cold and too dry from my observations

 

[nicoleyoung5]

whats the differences in the two species?

 

[Brian S]

whats the differences in the two species?

Different genus and each come from a different part of the world. They live in similar conditions though

 

[EAD063]

I guess you could say I go by the book, although there isn't really a certain way to do it... Some people have communal tanks in which they just basically leave be and let nature do it's thing, but in my opinion, I'd rather do this with species that have a far shorter gestation period. Others do as I said before, where they mate individuals. This is more practical in my opinion, because if your goal is to sucuessfully produce a clutch, you would want to eliminate anything that you would determine may harm your chances of doing so. It is also common after a while for the female to turn very aggressive and start eating tank-mates. So if you don't have the money to get new ones (if you so choose), your going to be left with your female, who will hopefully spit some slings out for you in a year or so.. but left with no other scorpions and still at risk to lose your juveniles. For example mine ate a male the other day, he never leaves his burrow so I took the divider out and it took 2 weeks but she finally decided to feast on him. Here is a pic from when she mated in september, this time I actually had a male in the tank and introduced her to him, rahter than the other way around... Took about a minute for them to start, and I snapped pics and went to bed to let them do they're thing.

 

[Emp. scorpion]

Brian S, do you separate the females once they become pregnant? What size tank do you use to house a colony of 1 male and 4 females? They breed well at 80 degrees F.? I always read 90-100 degrees F. How long is the gestation period at 80 degrees F.?
Thanks!

EAD063, What temp. do you keep your tanks at for breeding? What size tank do you use? Do you separate the male after the breeding process? How long is the gestation period with the enviroment you have set up for your emperors?
Thanks!

 

[Brian S]

Brian S, do you separate the females once they become pregnant? What size tank do you use to house a colony of 1 male and 4 females? They breed well at 80 degrees F.? I always read 90-100 degrees F. How long is the gestation period at 80 degrees F.?
Thanks!

No I leave 'em together. I keep them in a 55 Liter Sterlite Box and 85-90F is definitely better. They have a long gestation of up to a year. Thats why I focus more on Buthids. They are usually much faster although I did have a P transvaalicus take 11 months to drop.

 

[EAD063]

EAD063, What temp. do you keep your tanks at for breeding? What size tank do you use? Do you separate the male after the breeding process? How long is the gestation period with the enviroment you have set up for your emperors?
Thanks!

Mine was at 79 I belive. They were in a 20gallon long, but a 10 would have sufficed. I'm still waiting on how long partuation takes, it was when she gave birth the first time (I had only had males growing up, and when I got back into the hobby, I bought my first female who gave me a clutch a month later) Usually gestation takes 9-12 months, higher temperatures have yielded the theory that, the faster they grow, the faster they die. I divided the tank to seperate the male and then took it out about a couple months and she ate him, lol.. oops No worries though.

 

[EAD063]

No I leave 'em together. I keep them in a 55 Liter Sterlite Box and 85-90F is definitely better. They have a long gestation of up to a year. Thats why I focus more on Buthids. They are usually much faster although I did have a P transvaalicus take 11 months to drop.

Brian, while we are talking about gestation I figured I'd ask something I've been wondering thats inter-related... What species is being reffered to in Polis' book that takes 96 months to mature!!!???

 

[Emp. scorpion]

Brian S & EAD063 what type(s) of heating source(s) do you use to heat your tank(s)?

Thanks!

 

[Brian S]

Brian, while we are talking about gestation I figured I'd ask something I've been wondering thats inter-related... What species is being reffered to in Polis' book that takes 96 months to mature!!!???

I have that book but cant remember what it says about that. Could be a Hadogenes sp?

Brian S & EAD063 what type(s) of heating source(s) do you use to heat your tank(s)?

Thanks!

I heat the entire room. I put some tanks close to my baseboard heater which warms them up to around 85-90F when its kicked on. I usually keep my desert species next to it unless I have them out in the garage for a "cooling" period

 

[Emp. scorpion]

I have a question, but it is not related to breeding. When emperors molt does the peat moss stick to the newly molted scorpion?

 

[EAD063]

They clean themselves regularly regardless.