Caring for Flat Rock Scorpions

The Flat Rock Scorpion is supposedly the longest scorpion in the world. Many keepers claim that they are the best scorpion species to keep as pets, making for a great pet for beginner, intermediate, and advanced keepers. Personally, if I were to get a pet scorpion, it would be the common Black Emperor Scorpion, but the Flat Rock Scorpion is an interesting choice, as well.

They are considered long-lived.

Flat Rock Scorpions have a flat body that allows them to fit in just about any crevice or crack.

The cool thing about the Flat Rock Scorpion is that they do come in a variety of colors. Many people think that depending on where the initial scorpion was caught, determines the coloring of it and its offspring.

Flat Rock Scorpions are fairly popular amongst enthusiasts. You can find them at some pet stores, private breeders, and many reptile expos.

Temperament:

Although the Flat Rock Scorpion seldom stings, they are still considered semi-aggressive and nervous, so you want to keep handling to a minimum.

Remember, just because they seldom sting, it doesn't mean that they won't pinch you. Some people claim to handle their Flat Rock Scorpions, but you really shouldn't (see below about scorpion venom).

Diet:

Babies and juvenile Flat Rock Scorpions will eat pinhead crickets, and other small insects.

You can feed adults adult sized crickets, large insects, and occasionally pinkie mice.

Adults may drink from a shallow, wide water dish. You can use Gatoraid tops or jar tops for smaller scorpions.

Full Grown Size:

They typically grow an average of 5.5 to 7.5 inches.

Enclosure Size:

You can house babies in plastic kritter keepers with lids. Adults should be housed in a minimum enclosure of a 5 to 1- gallon tank. Because they are terrestrial, you want to make sure that you have floor space versus height. Babies can live in a clear plastic deli-container with air holes. Adults can live in a 5 to 10-gallon tank. Floor space is more important than height.

Temperature:

75 to 85F

The best way to get the appropriate temperature is by using an under tank heater.

Humidity:

70 to 75%.

Substrate:

You want to put at least 3 to 4 inches of sand, peat moss, or potting soil (without vermiculite- the white balls) in the bottom of the enclosure. Some people recommend a minimum of 1 to 2 inches. You may want to consider using mostly play sand as the substrate, but adding a small area of peat moss or dirt.

Décor

You don't need to add any decoration or accessories to the enclosure. You may consider adding a few clean rocks or wood décor.

Even though many people keep scorpions as pets, it doesn't mean that they do not have venom.

ALL scorpions have some amount of venom.

In regards to the Flat Rock Scorpion, most people aren't affected by their stings, but you may not be so lucky. Some people can be allergic to the venom, making it potentially dangerous to have them as pets, much less to handle them.

The affects of the scorpion's venom will vary per person, so you should consider all scorpions dangerous, and if you choose to have them as pets, you want to minimize handling.

You don't want to find out if you're allergic the hard way.