Help needed on Emperor Scorpion Problem...

[Dave Escobar]

Hi everyone, I have a problem with my Emperor Scorpion and was hoping some of you might be able to help?
Theinside/top surface of each segment of his tail is coated with a thin white 'dried liquid'/'powdery' substance and he seems to have a split (exoskeleton) on the side of the closest segment of the mesosoma to the tail (7th), the split is about 5mm wide, dark and coated with the same white layer.. it also looks possible the split may instead be caused by something eating away at the exoskeleton, but the edges are very uniform..

If anyone can help I will be exceedingly grateful... lil mum-ra has got me really worried!

 

[Juliancito]

....

Hi, for what you say..maybe you're dealing with some type of fungus,..or it could be an infected wound....do you think, you could be able to take some pictures, that will be really helpful, for everyone on this forum.
Make sure to take pictures of your enclousure,sbstrat etc....the more the pictures the better...
Good luck.

 

[Dave Escobar]

Photo's of damaged area...

Hi Julian, thanks for such a quick reply, I have absolutlely no idea what has/is happening here?!
I will get hold of a decent digital camera and post some photo's in the next 24hrs...

Thanks,
Dave

 

[Dave Escobar]

Pictures

Managed to get a digital camera, hope these might help.. The coating looks thinner and drier in real life, their seems to be some sort of damage either side of the end of his mesosoma, I thought there might be a break in the exoskeleton but it looks more to me like its either just got this coating on it or the damaged areas have been eaten away/eroded by something!? Things look a lot wetter in the photos than they are in reality..

Thanks
Dave

 

[Arlius]

Tail it, take it to the sink, and try and wash it off with warm water?

 

[Normski2020uk]

Dave

Do not mean to worry you, but this looks Fungus like, and this could explain the crack, as fungus does sap moisture from whatever it is liveing on leaveing it brittle and prone to fractures. Has this just apeard or has it gradually spead?, The patter it is forming reeks of a fungal growth. You say its powdery, does it rub off, and if so does it leave a faint scare on the shell? How humid is your tank? The top soil looks quite wet, Try droping the humidity right down, I'm not sure what would be a safe level for your Scorp, but you would need it to be dry for 5-7 days. If it is funguss this will reduce the groth. But unfortunatly warm moist enviroments are perfect for funguses to live and breed, and once you have one its near imposable to get rid of. Uless some else has dealt with them before sucessfully.

 

[chris73]

Looks like there is some on the inside of the enclosure as well. Clean out that whole enclosure, try and wipe some of the crap off the animal, up the ventilation and see how it goes.

 

[Prymal]

Dave-

As has already been suggested above - try to remove as much of the fungus from the scorp as possible, thoroughly clean the entire enclosure with hot water, mild dish detergent and a capful or two of bleach and rinse the enclosure thoroughly and allow it to dry.
Add a thin layer of dry substrate and insure the enclosure has unrestricted airflow. Introduce the emp back into the enclosure and keep it dry for a few days (4-7). Feed the emp a just a few crickets during this time to provide some hydration. This short dry period should not harm the emp.
And remember, emps DO NOT NEED saturated substrates and extremely high RH to thrive (that keeping methodology is just plain BS). I've been keeping emps for more than 10 years and have successfully bred this species countless times and none of mine have ever seen RH above 80% (rarely) and nothing but slightly moist substrate. Many of my guys and gals are well over 10 years old and still going strong! In the future, just keep temps and RH moderately high, provide a slightly moist substrate, do not restrict more than 70% of the lid of the enclosure, and add a water bowl and your emp will be just fine. Good luck!

Luc

 

[Dave Escobar]

Hi all,
Thanks for all the help guys, I'm going to switch him over to his previous enclosure whilst I clean out this one.. I'll make sure the substrate is only slightly moist and give him that 4-7 day dry period. I'm going to have fun cleaning him! It will be the first time I've handled him directly! Up until now I've transferred him between enclosures in a container whilst both the enclosures are in the bathtub! Does anyone have any tips on handling scorpions with modified forceps/tweezers? or even any examples of home-made or modified/bought tools for handling scorpions?

In response to Normski, I did not notice the coating gradually appear, it seemed to just be there one day. I may have not noticed it for a couple of days, but I am pretty certain nothing was there before that. His tail doesn't look anywhere as bad as it does in the picture, but the two triangular white areas either side of the tail end plate of his mesosoma do look eaten away/damaged to me - it is difficult to tell if it is apparent or real - I will find out when I clean him! The substrate is quite damp, it won't pool water if you press it with your finger, and I am pretty certain its no damper than any of his previous substrates, but it from what Barkscorpions said it seems that I can get away with a much drier substrate and it may be that this current substrate is to damp.

Thanks again!

Dave

 

[fiveohatch]

when i move mine, i just make him go into the top of a 100 pack cd-r case (the almost clear cover thing). i just sort of corner him and after a few minutes he goes in it and i can move him around no problems. i've moved mine around from multiple containers that way. it also works well for keeping him when i'm cleaning out his tank.


this is a semi-drunken post so i'm not sure if it makes total sense or not. lol

 

[Normski2020uk]

Dave

I keep Emps. and from what i have learnt and been told, i keep my top soil dry, about 5 - 10mm, misting it 1 or 2 times a week, the sub soil is moist, so if i press on it my figer is left moist not wet. My humidity is kept betwen 75 - 85, i have found by placeing a water dish against the side of the tank that you have your heat mat the water evapourates keeping the air sutably humid. My Emps are relatively passive and will climb on my hand, but to help clean yours if shes a bit jumpy, try useing a soft haird artists paint brush, first wet, then dry. She will still jump around but it will save your fingers if she gets to stressed.

 

[Juliancito]

......

try useing a soft haird artists paint brush, first wet, then dry. She will still jump around but it will save your fingers if she gets to stressed.

Hey that's a great idea.. i like that one, it's better than use q-tips cuz....q-tips could leave some cotton on the scorp.