Is my Emp fully Mature?

[vjkk]

Is my emperor scorpion fully adult? I had it since 2i, last molt was Sep 2023 to 7i - this would be the 5th molt since 2i and it has not molted since. Will it molt again or is this fully adult? Since then it has less of an apetite and only eats about 2 crickets every 2 weeks or so. Also my emperor generally hates any form of moisture in the substrate, when I put some water, and some water comes into her burrow, she exits it.

Molt History

• 2i > 3i
  • Molted 26th - 28th Nov 2022
• 3i > 4i
  • Molted 5th Feb 2023
• 4i > 5i
  • Molted 26th Mar 2023
• 5i > 6i
  • Molted estimate between 16th to 18th June 2023
• 6i > 7i
  • Molted on 30th Sep 2023

 

[adam james]

I can not see the telson very good but it appears to be dark? If so I think that is one sign it is now mature.

 

[Joey Spijkers]

Juveniles have a pale/white telson. Adults have a dark reddish one.

 

[darkness975]

Is my emperor scorpion fully adult? I had it since 2i, last molt was Sep 2023 to 7i - this would be the 5th molt since 2i and it has not molted since. Will it molt again or is this fully adult? Since then it has less of an apetite and only eats about 2 crickets every 2 weeks or so. Also my emperor generally hates any form of moisture in the substrate, when I put some water, and some water comes into her burrow, she exits it.

Molt History

• 2i > 3i
  • Molted 26th - 28th Nov 2022
• 3i > 4i
  • Molted 5th Feb 2023
• 4i > 5i
  • Molted 26th Mar 2023
• 5i > 6i
  • Molted estimate between 16th to 18th June 2023
• 6i > 7i
  • Molted on 30th Sep 2023

View attachment 477025

Take a picture of the telson.

 

[vjkk]

Attached pics with Telson in view.

 

[Diao]

Yes, that individual is mature.

 

[paumotu]

Wow, two years is much faster than I would have thought to raise a 2i imperator to this size.

 

[darkness975]

You shouldn't handle them. But yes your Emp is fully mature and will not grow anymore.

 

[paumotu]

You shouldn't handle them. But yes your Emp is fully mature and will not grow anymore.

Do scorpions have a finite number of molts, or are they like tarantulas and continue to grow throughout their lives ?

 

[adam james]

Wow, two years is much faster than I would have thought to raise a 2i imperator to this size.

Tell me about it. I am still waiting for my 4i (?) AFS to molt for the past 9 months.

 

[paumotu]

Tell me about it. I am still waiting for my 4i (?) AFS to molt for the past 9 months.

Something I have observed is that forest scorpions like Pandinus and heterometrus grow much faster when kept communally. Same with amblypygids.

 

[darkness975]

Do scorpions have a finite number of molts, or are they like tarantulas and continue to grow throughout their lives ?

Finite. It won't molt anymore now that it is mature.

 

[darkness975]

Something I have observed is that forest scorpions like Pandinus and heterometrus grow much faster when kept communally. Same with amblypygids.

I haven't noticed that. What I have noticed is regular access to food and higher temps will definitely affect their growth speed.

When I've kept them communally they still grew noticeably slower if the temps were lower, even the times they'd share food and blow up like sausages.

 

[Diao]

I haven't noticed that. What I have noticed is regular access to food and higher temps will definitely affect their growth speed.

When I've kept them communally they still grew noticeably slower if the temps were lower, even the times they'd share food and blow up like sausages.

Higher temps and consistent food supply is definitely the biggest contributor to speedier growth. I have noticed that keeping Scorpionidae species communally will speed growth a tad, but nothing in comparison to heat and food. Even so, I think it's just that in keeping them communally it just encourages individuals to more often take advantage of the food that is available, basically from them wanting to eat available food before someone else does. So again, more food = faster growth.