Iurus dufoureius

[keks]

I could get this scorpion, subadult or adult. Has anybody here experience with this species? The web is not very informative, they seem to be rare. But they are beautiful and Eurpean scorpions.
The seller told me they are WC from Greece. You know, I am not best friend with WCs, but I consider to buy two of them, maybe I can try to breed some day. Even as I found out that the female can try to kill the male (can be avoid by sticking a chewing gum around the aculeus?)
So I consider what would be better: To purchase an adult and a subadult one, or two subadults, or two adults ... .

Would be nice if you can help me .

 

[drapion]

If the seller can sex them right i say buy 2 sub adults. That way when they molt to adult you can breed them.

 

[G. Carnell]

Hey

I have a similar species/genus: Protoiurus kraeplini

They seem to be slow growing, so it's risky buying subadults unless you buy quite a few

I waited 1 year for a subadult to take its final moult!

They should be easy to sex as the males have a massive notch in the claw, so maybe you can get an adult pair? Here's hoping Iurus have the same traits as Protoiurus (previously Iurus IIRC)

 

[keks]

Hey

I have a similar species/genus: Protoiurus kraeplini

They seem to be slow growing, so it's risky buying subadults unless you buy quite a few

I waited 1 year for a subadult to take its final moult!

They should be easy to sex as the males have a massive notch in the claw, so maybe you can get an adult pair? Here's hoping Iurus have the same traits as Protoiurus (previously Iurus IIRC)

Why is it risky to buy subadults because of they are slow growing? To buy a few of this scorpions is difficult, they are not the smallest scorpions and need space that I don't have. My new terrarium wall must wait, can't realize it just now. I barely have space to squeeze two scorps in my current shelf.

It wouldn't be a problem for me to wait 1 year+ for adult molt. It would be more a problem if a get a pregnant scorp and have many little scorplings in the next months. If I could be sure that they are available in one year, I would wait with buying them. But if not ... I know that I want to beat myself .

I have somewhere the description of the differences between male and female of this species. I'm going to search for it again. Have a little bit chaos on my laptop at the moment, only download in a file, but without sorting . I try try to avoid this, but it doesn't work always ^^.

 

[callum b]

If you have the opportunity to get hold of this species I recommend that you do!

I keep Protoiurus kraepelini, as George does, although they were all lumped into one genus with two species not so long ago (Iurus dufoureius and asiaticus). All 8 Protoiurus/Iurus sp. seem to be very similar looking and inhabit fairly comparable habitats throughout their range.

As George says, the males when adult can easily be distinguished from females by the large notch in the chelae. Basically, the middle of the ''scissors'' don't touch in adult males. They can also be sexed quite easily by looking at the genital operculum. Males' have a distinctly triangular shaped operculum, whereas the female has a squashed oval shaped one. This is the method to use if the scorpions aren't mature.

For me, P. kraepelini took around 3 years from birth to maturity. They don't give birth to very many young, but they are large and easy to care for from the start (keeping is quite similar to Euscorpius sp.). Breeding, however, has been slightly more difficult and for me has only be successful by simulating the seasons throughout the year. Unlike many other scorpions, it seems like you can't just dump a male and female together and they'll mate. I guess it adds to the fun of keeping this species as they're more of a challenge to breed. For this reason, I'd be inclined to get hold of an adult female if they're wild caught. This way you're very likely to end up with babies at some point which you can raise to create your own breeding colony with.

 

[keks]

Thank you Callum!
The file I thought there are the differences between male and female was an error, there is only upside and downside of the scorpion. So your description is very helpful. I will ask him if he can say/has male and female.

Thanks for your report about breeding too. Did you have any problems with female who killed the male? Maybe that have been a problem with wrong simulations of the seasons?

I write then the next mail to the seller ^^. And prepare enclosures .... .

 

[callum b]

I've not had a problem with the female killing the male. However, I have observed aggression on some mating attempts. Conversely, I've left male and female together over night and not found dead scorpions the next day.

Conclude whatever you want from that haha.

 

[keks]

Today my scorpions arrived. I got some pics, but they are not really good. My Nikon was striking, no idea what happend. And my phone cam hat problems with the light . But I hope you can tell me, that I got what I ordered, I don't have the experience to be sure.

The adult is in my opinion a female, I am happy. The subadult one I don't know, I couldn't take a look at the belly.

The probably female:


Without flash light




The subadult one.

 

[RTTB]

Where does this species live?

 

[keks]

The seller told me, that this ones are from Greece. There is another species in Turkey also, but I think that @callum b knows better and can explain better than me .
I am confused about old and new names, and I don't have experience enough with (European) scorpions. I only like them ^^. I can keep them without great effort, they have less venom, and they look great .

 

[RTTB]

That is a great looking scorpion:

 

[keks]

Today I have an update to my scorpions, but I am still not sure, if they really are Iurus dofoureius.
But they make a looooooooot of fun, I love them. They are beautiful, they are really chilled ones, I don't need nervous scorps.

My possible female is much thicker now, but I don't want to jinx it .... I'm waiting and hope that everything will be fine.
The little possible man is a coward, he first is hiding under the cork bark and flogs his cricket with his claws . But in the end he's catching it although. I think it is the conversion from his well known prey to unknown prey .

I keep them atm at 22°C, light moist, with water dish.
My probably female today ^^.


And this is a ventral side picture of the probably male, I hope somebody can read this pic?? Even if you don't know the species?

 

[miss moxie]

I can't sex or ID them, but that's a beautiful scorpion! I love that reddish-brown coloration.

 

[keks]

Thanks, I like this colours too ^^.

 

[callum b]

Is it possible for you to take a clearer picture of the pectines and genital operculum?

 

[keks]

Is it possible for you to take a clearer picture of the pectines and genital operculum?

I try to make some better pics, but this maybe could need some time. I need somebody to help me.