My second scorpion! :)

[SkyeSpider]

I just got my second scorpion ever tonight (the first being an emp. that lived for about six months). I was told it was a desert hairy. Does that sound right to everyone else? How potent is the venom of this species? Are they that agressive (this one doesn't seem to be)? How exactly do I sex this critter? What's the lifespan?

Does it show that I'm new to scorpions?

I've named it Wimp Lo (any Kung Pow fans out there?) since the guy I got it from warned me it was very agressive and I can't get it to even pinch my clamps.

 

[Solar Dart]

Yeah, that's what it looks like to me. Desert Hairy Scorpion (Hadrurus arizonensis). The venom isent very potent, and wouldent really do much to you unless you had an allergic reaction or something.
So far as I know, they are supposed to be aggressive. Maybe you just got "lucky"? I'd watch out anyway, though, just in case.
I'm not sure how to sex them or what their lifespan is, but I would guess probably about 5-7 years.
Good luck. Getting new scorpions is always exciting - I got a new one myself today : )

 

[MrDeranged]

Originally posted by TheEternal

I've named it Wimp Lo (any Kung Pow fans out there?)

Bryan,

Please don't ever mention that movie again. I still have nightmares about it. I kept trying to turn it off while watching it, but for some reason it was like poking your tongue into a cavity, you just can't stop no matter how much pain it causes. If I had paid to see it, I think I would have thrown up over the waste of money.... ;P

Scott

 

[SkyeSpider]

Awww... No fair It's one of my favorite movies. I've seen it in every language it was released in (the voice actors for the German version are hilarious!).

-Bryan

 

[skinheaddave]

While I'm not overly familiar with Hadrurus, the general rules of sexing still apply. Basicaly, the most reliable method I've found for most species is to put them in a clear-bottomed container and take a look at their pectines and such. The males will have longer, more squared pectines and the females will have the shorter ones with different basal angles. That being said, unless you have two different sexes to compare, many species are really hard. Many species also have different subtle hints, but once again unless you know what you're doing, it is often very tricky.

As for the rest, I think the others have covered it. Not an overly dangerous species. Can be agressive -- wait until he has aclimatized to his new surroundings and then test him out. ;-)

Cheers,
Dave

 

[Kugellager]

Actually it looks more like a H. spadix(Nevada Desert Hairy). H. arizonensis(Giant Desert hairy) generally has a lighter coloration from the eyes to the chelicerae or front half of the head.

H. arizonensis
http://www.ub.ntnu.no/scorpion-files/h_arizonensis1.jpg
http://www.ub.ntnu.no/scorpion-files/h_arizonensis3.jpg
http://www.ub.ntnu.no/scorpion-files/h_arizonensis7.jpg

H. spadix
http://www.ub.ntnu.no/scorpion-files/h_spadix.jpg
http://www.ub.ntnu.no/scorpion-files/h_spadix1a.jpg

Their ranges overlap some with H.spadix being the more northern species. Either are fun to keep and easy to maintain.

My H.spadix seems to behave more aggressively than my H. arizonensis and I have heard other people mention the same observation though individual scorps can vary quite a bit in their temperment.

John
; ' /

 

[SkyeSpider]

Yeah, you seem to be exactly right H. spadix it is. It's amazing the small differences, though.

Wimp Low is still being a pussy. I can't get him to pinch anything, but he did strike his tail at my clamps when I poked his back with them. So far, that was his only sign of agression, and I think it was more of me just pissing him off

-Bryan