juvenile scorpion help

[Nightmare13]

Hi,
I just bought a baby scorpion from a guy that didn't seem to know a lot about scorpions. He sold it to me as a heterometrus spinifer. He told me that when he received it, it's size was about 1/4". Since then he is living in a 12” x 12” x 12” vivarium with 2 hides, a small water dish and a heat pad.

Should i leave it in this vivarium or put it in something smaller like a deli cup? He also told me the substrate should be humid and the temperature should be around 25°C or 26°C, is this right?

I saw a lot of info on keeping adult scorpions but nothing on baby and juvenile.

Thank you very much for your help!

 

[Xanthopus]

I have a baby H spinifer and its in a small deli cup. But im going to transfee it into a tank meant for an adult, it would save me the trouble in the future and also it will be more comfortable for the scorp. But it will make hunting for the baby scorpion harder tho. I keep my juvenile and sub adult H spinifer and longimanus in temps around 25 - 28 degree celcius.

 

[inverts]

It would probably be best to relocate the scorpion to a smaller container. Because of its small size, it will have less difficulty catching prey in a smaller enclosure. As for the substrate, moist peat moss works well. A temperature of 25°C is fine, but you could warm it up to between 27-30°C. At these higher temperatures, the scorpion will be more active, eat more, and grow faster.

 

[AzJohn]

Are you certain of the spieces. I would think H spinifer would be bigger than 1/4" even a very small baby. I've never kept that species but that size more what I would expect from some of my smallest species as babies.

PS I'm measuring for tip of the tail to the tip of the head.

 

[OphidianDelight]

A smaller enclosure is important for smaller animals. As previously posted in the thread, it helps the scorpion in catching prey but it also reduces stress. Large enclosures can overwhelm a small scorpion; if it remains in its present enclosure then at least make sure that there are multiple shelter items covering the floor space to reduce this stress. Humidity can be better achieved in a smaller enclosure, as well, so there is less concern for dessication or molting problems. I am a little confused on the size; you phrased it as being 1/4" when he received it; is that its present size now? Do you have a pic? And can you trust his identification when you said he didn't seem to know a lot about scorpions? Maybe you can obtain the point of sale from him and they can give you more accurate info, as well.

 

[Nightmare13]

Thanks to all of you for your anwsers! No i am not sure of the species but i posted a picture so if you guys want to take a look at it and tell me if it really is a heterometrus spinifer. If i spray water in the morning and the evening does it make it humid enough?

OphidianDelight: No it is not that size now.... the guy that sold it to me received it this size.

Once again thanks for all your replies!

 

[llamastick]

It's definitely a heterometrus; unsure beyond that.

There's no need (but it won't hurt) to mist; just dampening the substrate is sufficient.