Malaysian Blue fat, premolt or pregnant?

[BriDia3]

I bought this female Malaysian Blue in December 2023 from a pet store. She had just recently arrived and was housed with a male. Not for long though. There is a chance that they mated though. According to one of the employees "they danced". Here we are 10 months later. She has not molted in my care. I feed her and my Congo Emperor Female equally and the Congo Emperor is a Super Model compared to the Malaysian Blue.
Also, I just noticed her digging for the very first time since I've gotten her.
Can anyone tell me if she's pregnant, in premolt or overweight?

 

[MorbidArachnid]

It's always hard to say for sure with Heterometrus and Pandinus, you usually wont see embryos until they're damn near about to go. I'd like a side pic as well, but from what I can see I'd say pregnant. Also I would recommend learning/using the scientific names, it helps clear up confusion (Asian forest scorpions are frequently misidentified, and all of the common location names such as Malaysian blue, Thai forest, Laotican giant, ect ect usually don't reflect where the scorpion actually came from). Emperor scorpions (Pandinus imperator) for example aren't found in the Congo, but "Congo Emperor" is sometimes also used for Pandipalpus viatoris or Pandinoides cavimanus (which are also both not found in the Congo).

 

[BriDia3]

It's always hard to say for sure with Heterometrus and Pandinus, you usually wont see embryos until they're damn near about to go. I'd like a side pic as well, but from what I can see I'd say pregnant. Also I would recommend learning/using the scientific names, it helps clear up confusion (Asian forest scorpions are frequently misidentified, and all of the common location names such as Malaysian blue, Thai forest, Laotican giant, ect ect usually don't reflect where the scorpion actually came from). Emperor scorpions (Pandinus imperator) for example aren't found in the Congo, but "Congo Emperor" is sometimes also used for Pandipalpus viatoris or Pandinoides cavimanus (which are also both not found in the Congo).

I purchased the other from an Expo. The Seller told me "Congo Emperor". The lid said P. viatoris. The one in question is from a petstore. She looked a lot more blue at the time. They didn't know the scientific name. With my Tarantulas I am better versed in the scientific names.
As for a side picture, she's back to hiding in her log. I don't wanna dig her up and stress her in case she is pregnant or molting. If she comes out, I'll try to take a better picture. Thank you for the fast response. I really appreciate it!

 

[Brewser]

Heterometrus spinifer commonly referred to as Malaysian Giant Blue & Asian Forest.
Range includes Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

 

[xenesthis]

"Asian Forest Scorpion" can be about 4 different species of Heterometrus.

 

[Brewser]

"Asian Forest Scorpion" can be about 4 different species of Heterometrus.

spinifer, silenus, laoticus, longimanus, petersii... 5 and counting

 

[BriDia3]

Here are the requested side pictures

 

[BriDia3]

It's always hard to say for sure with Heterometrus and Pandinus, you usually wont see embryos until they're damn near about to go. I'd like a side pic as well, but from what I can see I'd say pregnant. Also I would recommend learning/using the scientific names, it helps clear up confusion (Asian forest scorpions are frequently misidentified, and all of the common location names such as Malaysian blue, Thai forest, Laotican giant, ect ect usually don't reflect where the scorpion actually came from). Emperor scorpions (Pandinus imperator) for example aren't found in the Congo, but "Congo Emperor" is sometimes also used for Pandipalpus viatoris or Pandinoides cavimanus (which are also both not found in the Congo).

I posted side pics

 

[adam james]

I just wanted to say that this appears to be a Heterometrus silenus. A good clear shot of the chela could at least confirm if its a male, ruling out pregnancy.

 

[BriDia3]

I just wanted to say that this appears to be a Heterometrus silenus. A good clear shot of the chela could at least confirm if its a male, ruling out pregnancy.

It is definitely a female

 

[MorbidArachnid]

Here are the requested side pictures View attachment 484187 View attachment 484188

Agree with silenus, again *loooks* pregnant to me but still a wait and see kinda thing.

 

[Joey Spijkers]

Looks like H. silenus and very likely gravid.
Definitely not H. spinifer as was suggested above.

 

[CRX]

Take this with a grain of salt because its just my half baked input, but I believe this is either a silenus or laoticus, the smoother looking claws give it away from what I remember.

 

[adam james]

Take this with a grain of salt because its just my half baked input, but I believe this is either a silenus or laoticus, the smoother looking claws give it away from what I remember.

I believe H.laoticus has smoother tergites and carapace, whereas the H.silenus has more granulation in those locations (bottom of tergites, lower area of carapace below median eyes), as above.

 

[BriDia3]

I'm really not worried about identifying what exact species she is unless it is vital in answering my original question, which was fat, pregnant or premolt
However, I'm always happy to learn and appreciate everyones input.

 

[Diao]

Almost certainly H. silenus, and a quite gravid one at that. Give her a little extra heart and you'll have a back full of babies in no time.

 

[BriDia3]

Aaaaahhh!!!!! I am a Grandmoooooother!!!! Now what?!?!

 

[MorbidArachnid]

Congratulations! Just leave her for a bit, in about two weeks theyll molt again and start to come off, then you can feed her. They share food with the babies but you can also leave some extra prekilled around for them to scavenge off of. At younger instars they're pretty gregarious so no need to separate them immediately, you have some time to figure out rehousing or selling them after they've molted.

 

[BriDia3]

Thank you! I've been checking every day after work. Hopefully not too many get eaten the day they leave mom and I get home. Getting deli cups ready

 

[BriDia3]

Found her original Order confirmation. She is H spinifer. Just read to keep them communally until the end of the 5th instar. Guess instead of deli cups I will need much bigger enclosure.

How long/which instar until I can find them homes?