A big, glossy-black rainforest scorpion that tolerates watching better than handling.
The Emperor Scorpion (Pandinus imperator) is a 6-8 inch African species with a calm reputation and a mild sting, living 6-8 years in captivity. Its size and relatively placid nature make it the most commonly kept scorpion.
It is still a display animal: handling stresses it and risks a sting or tail damage, and it needs high humidity that many beginners under-provide. It is non-native, so releasing it is illegal and some regions restrict possession.
They typically live 6-8 years in a warm, humid setup, with females often outliving males by a small margin.
What do Emperor Scorpions eat?
Feed 2-3 crickets, roaches, or mealworms weekly and keep a shallow water dish topped up. They often eat less in cooler months and before a molt.
Enclosure setup
Use a 10-20 gallon tank with 4-6 inches of coco fiber and a cork-bark hide, 75-85°F and 70-80% humidity via regular misting. A secure, vented lid prevents escapes.
Common mistakes with Emperor Scorpions
Main errors are humidity too low (failed molts), a hide that is too small, handling that stresses or injures the tail, and co-housing two scorpions, which can end in cannibalism.
Beginner mistakes to avoid
Humidity too low, causing a fatal failed molt.
Too small a hide, leaving it exposed and stressed.
Handling it, risking a sting or a damaged tail.
Keeping two together, which can lead to cannibalism.
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