There are over 1,500 species of scorpions (Scorpionida) and only a small selection of them are available as pets. Some of these include: the Emperor Scorpion (Pandinus imperator), Forest Scorpion from Malaysia (Heterometrus spinifer) and the Asian Forest Scorpion (Heterometrus longimanus). There are 50 species of scorpion that have venom that is dangerous to man, and a number of deaths have been recorded. So you certainly wouldn’t want to keep these as pets. It’s highly unlikely that one of these would be for sale in your local pet store, but you should always check.

Fossils indicate that scorpions have been around for over 400 million years, and these creatures are built to withstand the harshest climates, from the Mojave desert to the Southwest Cameroons. The one climate that they don’t do well in is those with extended periods of cold. The habitats of scorpions are Mediterranean, Desert and Rain Forest. You should learn which of these is the natural habitat of your scorpion and then recreate the appropriate temperature and humidity: Mediterranean (70 degrees Fahrenheit, 50-60% humidity), Desert (80-95 degrees Fahrenheit, 0% humidity) and Rain Forest (70-75 degrees Fahrenheit, 70-80% humidity).

The Mediteranean Terrarium
Scorpions like to burrow, and you should have a substrate of at least four inches in depth. Suitable floorings for the substrate include gravel, peat and vermiculite. An alternative is to provide an artificial burrow by stuffing a hollow branch, or pot. When it comes to choosing your plants be prepared for your scorpion to destroy them pretty quickly! Choices can include ivy, and ferns, but it is probably not worth bothering with anything that flowers because the flowers won’t last long in a tank shared with a scorpion. You don’t need any artificial lighting for a Mediterranean set-up, and your room temperature should keep the terrarium at around 70 degrees Fahrenheit – if it gets colder in the winter then you can augment the set up with a heat lamp. If this is the case carefully monitor the temperature. Occasional spraying should be enough to maintain the humidity.

The Desert Terrarium
The desert terrarium’s best substrate option is of course sand. You can just use the sand that your local pet store sells for use with pet birds. Pour the sand to a depth of at least three inches, and above the substrate provide a rock, or burrow for shelter. Remember that scorpions are nocturnal so you need to provide something for them to hide under during the day. For a desert set up you don’t need any artificial lighting, and with humidity of around zero no misting is required.

The Rain Forest Terrarium
Of the three set-ups this is the one that requires the most work to maintain when keeping scorpions. The substrate should be at least four inches of dampened peat or vermiculite, and in addition to this you should create an artificial burrow above the substrate. In order to maintain the required humidity a good idea is to have some moss in the terrarium and spray it daily. In order to maintain the required heating it is recommended that you use heat lamps, as heat maps are not appreciated by scorpions when they burrow. With a heat lamp they can be above ground when they need warmth, and burrow when they want to cool down. No artificial lighting is required.