Vinegarone with eggs

[Galapoheros]

I was digging through some old photos I have that I took before digital cameras were in the stores. I had to scan this photo. Here is a female Mastigoproctus giganteus that had young. I was lucky enough that she had made her room right next to the glass. That was very interesting to watch. She hung upside down in that chamber for several months. She kept it clean in there and ate the bad eggs. They need enough substrate to enable them to make a chamber between the size of a tennis ball and a softball. This one hung upside down from a flat rock it dug underneath. She hung upside down for 8 to 10 months while the young developed.

 

[David_F]

Great pic. Were you able to raise the young? You said she ate the bad eggs...How many eggs were laid and how many developed completely?

 

[Randolph XX()]

two thumbs up!
this is my first time seeing real photo of Vinegarone with eggs

 

[Galapoheros]

This photo is about 10 years old. I've raised them since then but this was the first time I had done it. I'm trying to remember. Seems like there were about 27 babies and about five or so eggs that didn't hatch. So, about 35 eggs(?). I did count the young because it was the first time I had seen it happen and thought it was pretty neat. They hatch and cling to the mother like a scorpion. They look like a miniature adult after the first molt. Even after the first molt, they stayed in the "room" for a long time. They hung on the mother and walked around a little. Finally, after about a year, they started slowly digging out...time to get out on their own. This all happened in a fish bowl! I filled the fish bowl with as much dirt as I could without filling it to a level that would allow her to climb out. Then I put a round flat limestone/sandstone rock on the top of the dirt that was about 6" in diameter. That's the biggest rock that would fit through the top. I came home the next day and she had dug under and blocked the entrance. She was constantly feeling around, picking up little pieces of dirt and sticking them to the wall. Pressing and packing it down. Making sure everything was just right. It was weird! That's how I was able to see what was going on. If I put too much light on the window of glass that I could see her through, she would go grab some dirt and cover the glass with it. I guess instinct was just telling her that there is a hole there. Pretty interesting. I just made sure I didn't let it dry out in there. Twenty-five to thirty babies, all easy to raise. At first, I would just kill a large insect and drop it in. They would all feast on it. Then they started fighting so I separated them and let them go on some property my mother inherited that has allot of rocks on it in east tx. Rocks aren't common in east Tx. but there are areas. Trying to start a colony so I don't have to go so far to find them! Don't get me wrong. I'm 41 and don't live with my parents! But they are a couple of hours away. Vinegarones like to dig underground to molt. Then, they slowly get real fat. I think they get moisture from condensation because they keep getting fatter and fatter as the days go by and eating nothing. I've seen them get dirt and chew on it through the glass. Maybe getting moisture out of it(?). Well that's some of my Vinegarone experiences.

The picture of that priest cracks me up...good one!

 

[carpe scorpio]

Nice pic(scan) and great achievment!, I'm really a strictly scorpion guy, but I've always been somewhat fascinated by these. What humidity level is ideal for their proper keeping?.

 

[Galapoheros]

Nice pic(scan) and great achievment!, I'm really a strictly scorpion guy, but I've always been somewhat fascinated by these. What humidity level is ideal for their proper keeping?.

Bottom line....I don't know....HEY, wait, where you going? I do know that they do occupy areas of Florida where it is hot and very humid. And they inhabit the desert S. west. Obviously pretty adaptable. I keep the substrate moist enough to not cave in. I give mine about 6 or 7 inches of pesticide free dirt and access to water. They will touch the water like a scorpion and drink like a scorpion. The behavior is very similar. They will eat scorpions. I find Centruroides vitattus in my house often and feed them to the vins. They grab the scorpion and will search for the stinger with the other pincer so they won't get stung. Their behavior reminds me of a cross between a scorpion and a mantis. Very deliberate in their movements. I also made the mistake of putting a Texas Banded gecko I caught in the same place I had a Vini. The Vini grabbed it and ate it like a cricket. A hungry WC will eat a pinky in a hurry. And it has been my experience that they are resistant to predatory mites but, not mite proof. I just discovered this site and I am learning allot from all of you. I was having a problem with mites. Killed my Imps. and WC heros centipedes but the Vinegarones/Vinegaroons are pretty resistant to mites. I've always thought it might have something to do with the acetic acid they produce. I know the source of the spray is at the base of the tail but, like I said, just a guess. Can't figure it out. My Heros is having no problems now since I lowered humidity. I think the Vinegarone needs to burrow and cut itself off from the surface to create a chamber to molt. That's what all mine have done for the 15 years I've been keeping them. I've never kept a CB to adulthood though. I could have, just haven't done it. I wonder how long they live. I have one CB that is two years old. I'm going to hang on to it to see how long it will live. My guess is 5 to 7 years. Anybody know? I do have a female that is not quite ready to mate and she is in bad shape. If she molts, I think she will be ok. I have a big male. If I get another batch of babes, anyone that wants one, let me know and I will send one to you if you pay for shipping which will probably be about $5.00. A "give back" for the great info I've gotten on this site! If you like scorpions, you will like these.

 

[David_F]

Thanks for sharing your experience, Galapoheros. These are some interesting arachnids.

 

[Nick_schembri]

I've never seen one of those, are they native in the states?