Heterometrus swammerdami

Scorpionking20

Arachnoknight
Old Timer
Joined
May 31, 2010
Messages
158
I'm interested in this species, and was wondering if you've ever seen it in the trade? I've looked around on the web and sale sections, but have not found anything.

I found an article on wikipets about them, but it didn't provide much information.

If they are available, how might I go about finding them? And also, if you have experience with them, might you share any pertinent information please? Such as housing, temperament, or anything else I should be aware of? I've heard their sting isn't too bad, so that's great.

As a last note...how do they compare in size to Emperors? Are they at all communal? I've owned many Emperors through my life, as well as a few flat rocks.

Thanks!
 

Quixtar

Arachnobaron
Old Timer
Joined
Sep 22, 2007
Messages
513
I'm interested in this species, and was wondering if you've ever seen it in the trade? I've looked around on the web and sale sections, but have not found anything.

I found an article on wikipets about them, but it didn't provide much information.

If they are available, how might I go about finding them? And also, if you have experience with them, might you share any pertinent information please? Such as housing, temperament, or anything else I should be aware of? I've heard their sting isn't too bad, so that's great.

As a last note...how do they compare in size to Emperors? Are they at all communal? I've owned many Emperors through my life, as well as a few flat rocks.

Thanks!
This species is difficult to find in the US. There are a couple of people on the forum, myself included, who have it. You would have better luck trying to get it from Europe or wait for the user Galapoheros to raise his to maturity and start breeding them.

I only have a lone adult female. Housing is the same as with any Emperor or Asian Forest Scorpion. They are defensive similar to other Heterometrus sp., and I've found them to like it a bit drier than H. spinifer, laoticus, longimanus, etc. They are not a communal species.

They are on average about the same size as the "forest" Emperors, the larger variety. They are not necessarily larger than Emperors on average, though the largest measured individual H. swammerdami beat out the largest measured P. imperator by a fraction of an inch and is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest scorpion species.

My female is 6.5" from the prosoma to the tip of the telson outstretched.
 
Last edited:

Scorpionking20

Arachnoknight
Old Timer
Joined
May 31, 2010
Messages
158
This species is difficult to find in the US. There are a couple of people on the forum, myself included, who have it. You would have better luck trying to get it from Europe or wait for the user Galapoheros to raise his to maturity and start breeding them.

I only have a lone adult female. Housing is the same as with any Emperor or Asian Forest Scorpion. They are defensive similar to other Heterometrus sp., and I've found them to like it a bit drier than H. spinifer, laoticus, longimanus, etc. They are not a communal species.

They are on average about the same size as the "forest" Emperors, the larger variety. They are not necessarily larger than Emperors on average, though the largest measured individual H. swammerdami beat out the largest measured P. imperator by a fraction of an inch and is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest scorpion species.

My female is 6.5" from the prosoma to the tip of the telson outstretched.
Wow! Thanks for the GREAT first hand information! I think I'd like to get one at some point, but your' post has made me decide to do a Emperor communal (55 gallon). I really will want to pick one up at some point though, so I'll try to check back in the future on these guys. Thanks, really, for your' post!
 

G. Carnell

Arachnoemperor
Old Timer
Joined
Oct 27, 2003
Messages
3,611
Hey

Just to say its an awesome species, and very easy to keep!

i found that they were very communal, never had any fights when i kept my ones, had something like 3-4 females and 2-3 males, the females were also very good mothers for some reason, big clutches, never difficult to separate them from the babies

a couple of pics!, really awesome species

second pic compares a swam female with an emp female, both adult, but ofc the emperor is one of the smaller versions.

http://www.chaerilus.co.uk/swamkiss.jpg
http://www.chaerilus.co.uk/empswam.jpg
 

Scorpionking20

Arachnoknight
Old Timer
Joined
May 31, 2010
Messages
158
Hey

Just to say its an awesome species, and very easy to keep!

i found that they were very communal, never had any fights when i kept my ones, had something like 3-4 females and 2-3 males, the females were also very good mothers for some reason, big clutches, never difficult to separate them from the babies

a couple of pics!, really awesome species

second pic compares a swam female with an emp female, both adult, but ofc the emperor is one of the smaller versions.

http://www.chaerilus.co.uk/swamkiss.jpg
http://www.chaerilus.co.uk/empswam.jpg
Oh my! The comparison is awesome. I always thought Emperors were tanks...now they look like humvees instead! Totally cool...Does anybody know the cost of one of these behemoths?
 

Bazzgazm

Arachnoknight
Old Timer
Joined
May 31, 2008
Messages
217
like the above poster there are 2 sizes of emperors out there. Some of 4-5" like you see in most pet shops, then there are the jumbos that i have seen upwards of 7"

the female i have is between 6.5 and 7" to telson and she is quite bulky, I would say on average they are about the same size. with outstanding individuals in each group growing above the norm.

Either way it's a bad little scorpion and i'd definitely get some next time they're up for trade.
 

cannabeast

Arachnosquire
Joined
Jun 29, 2010
Messages
143
they said its hard to find in the U.S. Anybody know a European dealer for this species???
 

psychofox

Arachnoknight
Old Timer
Joined
Jul 24, 2005
Messages
185
Bugzuk.com has large H. swammerdami for only 16£, that's definitely cheaper than certain German dealers:rolleyes::)
 

Galapoheros

ArachnoGod
Old Timer
Joined
Jul 4, 2005
Messages
8,982
Hey those are some cool pics! I haven't gotten tired of seeing pics of adults yet, thanks for the pics. I wonder if more people have them in the US than we know and maybe are just not saying anything or don't even visit forums much.
 

Myrmeleon

Arachnoknight
Joined
Jul 27, 2017
Messages
206
Are you selling them at the moment? I started a conversation with you please get back to me if you can't reach me on this forum you can email me at Superbadkneegrow@gmail.com
If you want something, why not post in the wanted section of this forum? I'm not sure that people might respond to old threads from 7 years ago... You will probably get more replies in the wanted section or at least more views from people who could potentially obtain these scorpions.
 

Galapoheros

ArachnoGod
Old Timer
Joined
Jul 4, 2005
Messages
8,982
I think there is a requirement or two to post in the classifieds for people knew to this site, I've never looked it up, somebody will know. I have many swammerdami but I'm not ready to sell yet so at least I should have some available later. Others probably have them but they may not go to this site.
 
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