I THINK I HURT MY SCORPION

[Ashie]

I’ve had my Asian Forrest scorpion for almost a month and today I cleaned his enclosure for the first time. His name is Nebuchadnezzar and I love him so much. Today was also my first time holding him as I had to move him from his enclosure to a smaller holding container. Well he crawled up my arm and started to get defensive. I tried to pick him back up to put in his beautiful newly cleaned enclosure and he latched onto my tshirt. I was scared he would pinch me and didn’t let go. I think his tail was starting to rip off. I quickly let go as I love him and would never want to hurt him, and since then he’s been laying his tail pretty much straight out. Is he going to be ok? Should I do anything about it. Please help. I literally cried so hard at the thought that I hurt him.

 

[Poonjab]

Post pics. Also... I’m sure it’s fine. While it may seem cool and all, scorpions, tarantulas, etc really aren’t the type of pet you hold. This is due to risks to them and you. There also was no need to clean his enclosure so soon. Unless there was a mite infestation or something else that would cause harm to your scorp. But like I mentioned, post pics and let’s see if there was any harm inflicted.

 

[ignithium]

How hard did you pull lol? But it's probably fine, as long as the last segment of the tail is not also laying flat.

 

[Lubed Tweezer]

I hope your scorpion will be fine. Time will tell...
Pretty much all of us call it a 'tail', but in fact (strictly speaking) it is not a tail it is a metasoma.
The main difference between the two is that a real tail is just a simple appendage containing nerves, muscles and sometimes bones.
A metasoma (your scorpions tail) actually has intestines in it, it is part of it's digestive system and thus very important.
That digestive system is a canal running through the 'tail' up to it's anus that is located right behind the telson (the stinger bulb).
You can take a cat, dog, monkey, or a rat to a vet and amputate/remove the tail, these animals will be fine cause those are real tails without any intestines in it.
Your scorpion can not survive without it's tail, at least the digestive canal inside it and the anus need to work properly.
Here's a picture of that canal inside the metasoma.

I guess you'll have to wait and see how this works out.
They don't poop often, but if you happen to see it poop out of it's anus then i think the scorpion will be fine.
This species of scorpion doesn't really need to use it's stinger to overpower a prey if it is a adult scorpion.
And as others suggested, scorpions are not to be handled. They are to be observed, just like fish in a tank.
Surely there are (foolish in my own opinion) people out there that do handle them, it is dangerous for the scorpion.
And it can get pretty scary, this species have big chela (claws) and they can pinch awfully hard.
When it suddenly pinches your skin hard your instant reaction is to jerk your hand/arm away flinging the poor scorpion straight across the room.
Since scorpions are not good at flying and even worse at landing they get injured badly.
Nearly all scorpion injuries (in the hobby) are caused by people trying to handle them.
All invertebrates with their relatively simple invert brains will always be unpredictable,
they can suddenly change their mind and go defensive or even attack without giving you a notice up front.
Scorpions will always see you as a big animal that will possibly eat them. In their minds you (a human) is a great threat.
As you've noticed the scorpion does not enjoy being taken out of it's habitat/enclosure and will 'fight for it's life'.
It works better if you use a catch-cup to transport it to it's temporary enclosure, no need to even touch the scorpion yourself.
That's also how most other keepers do it when it comes species that have much more potent venom,
it would be very dangerous to try and catch those using your hands.
Let's all hope you spot it pooping normally, that's the sign that the scorpion will survive !

 

[Lubed Tweezer]

Oh and don't get me wrong, I'm not judging you.
We all made mistakes in the beginning, I myself sure did !
This is how we learn

 

[Ashie]

Post pics. Also... I’m sure it’s fine. While it may seem cool and all, scorpions, tarantulas, etc really aren’t the type of pet you hold. This is due to risks to them and you. There also was no need to clean his enclosure so soon. Unless there was a mite infestation or something else that would cause harm to your scorp. But like I mentioned, post pics and let’s see if there was any harm inflicted.

Yeah I’m not planning on handling him often at all. Just when necessary. When I got him his enclosure was premade and it was made very poorly so I just redid the whole thing. But in the future how often would you suggest a cleaning? He’s been hiding ever since it happened but if I can get a pic I will post

 

[Ashie]

I hope your scorpion will be fine. Time will tell...
Pretty much all of us call it a 'tail', but in fact (strictly speaking) it is not a tail it is a metasoma.
The main difference between the two is that a real tail is just a simple appendage containing nerves, muscles and sometimes bones.
A metasoma (your scorpions tail) actually has intestines in it, it is part of it's digestive system and thus very important.
That digestive system is a canal running through the 'tail' up to it's anus that is located right behind the telson (the stinger bulb).
You can take a cat, dog, monkey, or a rat to a vet and amputate/remove the tail, these animals will be fine cause those are real tails without any intestines in it.
Your scorpion can not survive without it's tail, at least the digestive canal inside it and the anus need to work properly.
Here's a picture of that canal inside the metasoma.
View attachment 341682
I guess you'll have to wait and see how this works out.
They don't poop often, but if you happen to see it poop out of it's anus then i think the scorpion will be fine.
This species of scorpion doesn't really need to use it's stinger to overpower a prey if it is a adult scorpion.
And as others suggested, scorpions are not to be handled. They are to be observed, just like fish in a tank.
Surely there are (foolish in my own opinion) people out there that do handle them, it is dangerous for the scorpion.
And it can get pretty scary, this species have big chela (claws) and they can pinch awfully hard.
When it suddenly pinches your skin hard your instant reaction is to jerk your hand/arm away flinging the poor scorpion straight across the room.
Since scorpions are not good at flying and even worse at landing they get injured badly.
Nearly all scorpion injuries (in the hobby) are caused by people trying to handle them.
All invertebrates with their relatively simple invert brains will always be unpredictable,
they can suddenly change their mind and go defensive or even attack without giving you a notice up front.
Scorpions will always see you as a big animal that will possibly eat them. In their minds you (a human) is a great threat.
As you've noticed the scorpion does not enjoy being taken out of it's habitat/enclosure and will 'fight for it's life'.
It works better if you use a catch-cup to transport it to it's temporary enclosure, no need to even touch the scorpion yourself.
That's also how most other keepers do it when it comes species that have much more potent venom,
it would be very dangerous to try and catch those using your hands.
Let's all hope you spot it pooping normally, that's the sign that the scorpion will survive !

This was so helpful thank you so much! I never even thought about trying to catch him in something rather than just “tailing” him and setting him in another container. I didn’t plan on really handling him in the first place, it was only to move him but I let him go and he was just chilling on my hand, but like you said, u predictable. I appreciate you sharing your knowledge! So he obviously was scared when this happened and he excreted something. Idk if scorpions pee lol I think he pooped on me idk. Maybe you could tell me something about that.

 

[Ashie]

How hard did you pull lol? But it's probably fine, as long as the last segment of the tail is not also laying flat.

Thank you!

 

[Poonjab]

Yeah I’m not planning on handling him often at all. Just when necessary. When I got him his enclosure was premade and it was made very poorly so I just redid the whole thing. But in the future how often would you suggest a cleaning? He’s been hiding ever since it happened but if I can get a pic I will post

I normally just spot clean if I need to. But I mean.... you could go a year + before doing a rehouse depending on size and just how grimy the enclosure is. I dont really have and set markers. Basically just when I feel her enclosure isn’t up to the standards that I feel a happy healthy scorpion should be living in. Starting to notice molds or mildew from keeping things damp for extended periods of time, etc.

 

[Lubed Tweezer]

So he obviously was scared when this happened and he excreted something.

Yes, they squirt out the white poop together with a small amount of moisture.
Normally after pooping they stretch their tail out and walk around for a few seconds, it's their way of wiping it's behind.
That only takes about half a minute, then they curl up the tail again to normal posture.

 

[SC Tarantulas]

Yeah I’m not planning on handling him often at all. Just when necessary. When I got him his enclosure was premade and it was made very poorly so I just redid the whole thing. But in the future how often would you suggest a cleaning? He’s been hiding ever since it happened but if I can get a pic I will post

I spot clean every time I fill water bowls, picking out any feeder remains mold growth, ect. Makes maintenance quick and easy.
I would also suggest using a simple catch cup if you ever have to move the animal. This would eliminate having to handle the Scorpion at all, greatly reducing the potential for injury.

 

[Ashie]

I normally just spot clean if I need to. But I mean.... you could go a year + before doing a rehouse depending on size and just how grimy the enclosure is. I dont really have and set markers. Basically just when I feel her enclosure isn’t up to the standards that I feel a happy healthy scorpion should be living in. Starting to notice molds or mildew from keeping things damp for extended periods of time, etc.

Awesome thanks! Yeah the way the pet store had it definitely wasn’t up to my standards for my baby

 

[Dr SkyTower]

what part of the tail was about to rip off? Halfway along it? Nearest to the body? Or was it the end (the stinger - telson) Its quite hard to "rip off" any part of an AFS's tail (metasoma) as you can pick them up by the tail and their full weight will easily hang from it. If the scorpion is pooping still, then very little to no damage would've been inflicted and it should recover.

Scorpions can't be tamed like cats or dogs unfortunately... they don't recognise you or anything and everything they do is pure instinct.

 

[darkness975]

Yeah I’m not planning on handling him often at all. Just when necessary. When I got him his enclosure was premade and it was made very poorly so I just redid the whole thing. But in the future how often would you suggest a cleaning? He’s been hiding ever since it happened but if I can get a pic I will post

You're better off using a catch cup and long tongs to coax it into the holding container.

 

[Ashie]

what part of the tail was about to rip off? Halfway along it? Nearest to the body? Or was it the end (the stinger - telson) Its quite hard to "rip off" any part of an AFS's tail (metasoma) as you can pick them up by the tail and their full weight will easily hang from it. If the scorpion is pooping still, then very little to no damage would've been inflicted and it should recover.

Scorpions can't be tamed like cats or dogs unfortunately... they don't recognise you or anything and everything they do is pure instinct.

It was towards the base of the tail but he seems to be doing ok

 

[darkness975]

It was towards the base of the tail but he seems to be doing ok

That's good.

For animals that are covered head to toe in an Exoskeleton they are surprisingly fragile and it does not take much to permanently cripple them.

Their predators out in nature have certainly figured that out ...