(video) My small AFS is on its back and wiggling around, I'm concerned

[malaise]

View attachment 20240725_152350.mp4
I'm not sure of the instar of this little one but I've had him for about 30 days and he's never wanted to eat, which leads me to believe this might just be pre-molt behavior but I'm really not sure. I saw him like this about 20 minutes ago, I'm keeping a close eye on him but leaving him completely alone in case he's molting, but is this behavior normal for scorpions? I'm really concerned about if it's actually dying or in pain.

edit - I'll add that it's not possible this was a fall. There is zero elevated space in this enclosure except leaves about half an inch up that stay there for cover

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

Possibly dks . I’m not sure very sad I’ve never seen one molt, but that could be it. Check YouTube videos.

 

[malaise]

I'm keeping the enclosure very moist and hoping for the best

 

[MorbidArachnid]

Not molting, isn't nearly large enough for that. Dying, see if you can put some water on a paint brush or qtip and offer it to him.

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

Not molting, isn't nearly large enough for that. Dying, see if you can put some water on a paint brush or qtip and offer it to him.

Ehh is that water dish too high it’s probably dehydration…

 

[malaise]

Ehh is that water dish too high it’s probably dehydration…

I was told the dish just had to be in the tank at all for moisture but that i had to avoid the scorpion drowning, if that's the cause then i'll remember for next time but dang, that's really sad

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

I was told the dish just had to be in the tank at all for moisture but that i had to avoid the scorpion drowning, if that's the cause then i'll remember for next time but dang, that's really sad

Yeah you can just put rocks in a small dish , along with the big one . Too late now , yeah I’d be worried about drowning too it’s no spider .

 

[malaise]

Unfortunately just lost the little one. I will definitely try to keep these things in the mind in the future but this is a shame

 

[darkness975]

Scorpions molt rightside up for future reference.

 

[CRX]

Scorpions molt rightside up for future reference.

Adding on to this, woodchips are never ever a suitable substrate. It can pierce their sensitive undersides. You dont like to get splinters do you, so why would you make your bugs walk around on splinters?

I have a soil/peat 50/50 mix with a little sand. My AFS has a sprawling burrow system in his container. With woodchips this wouldnt be possible