Detailed Insight: The Tanzanian Red Clawed Scorpion
Overview of the Tanzanian Red Claw Scorpion
- Expected life span: 5-8 years
- 3-3.5 inch adult size
- Habitat: Tanzania
- Name: Pandinus cavimanus
Tanzanian red clawed scorpion is another common name for this species.
Housing the Tanzanian Red-Clawed Scorpion
Most pet scorpions require a terrarium, glass, plastic, or tank. For a Tanzanian red clawed scorpion adult, this should be at least 18″ x 18″ x 12″ in size. Prioritize floor space above height when purchasing a terrarium for a Tanzanian red clawed scorpion, as these creatures prefer moving around, digging, and burrowing. Check out these fantastic terrariums from Amazon.
You’ll need a substratum for your Tanzanian red clawed scorpion to burrow in. We recommend a minimum depth of 2-3 inches. The optimum underlayer for a Tanzanian red-claw scorpion is as follows:
Humus-block construction
Compost for use in planters (fertilizer-free)
Material that can decompose into compost (fertilizer-free)
Orchid bark mixed with peat
Moss is a common form of peat moss.
Furthermore, it’s a great idea to provide your scorpion with hides. Reptile hides can be purchased online on Amazon or from a local reptile store and made to look like pebbles or driftwood, or cork bark. In addition to being visually appealing, artificial plants provide an extra hiding place for your Tanzanian red clawed scorpion.
Generating Heat and Shining Lights
Tanzanian red clawed scorpions need to be kept at a constant temperature because these species are native to Africa’s hotter temperatures. You will need an electric heat lamp or heat mat for this. Between 75F to 82F during the day and a little lower at night is ideal. It is best to maintain a temperature level to avoid overheating.
Heating devices such as heat lamps or a heat mat can achieve this goal. For example, you can place two heat lamps at opposing ends or place one-third of the tank beneath the heat mat.
Keeping the humidity between 75 and 80 per cent is also essential. Include a dish of water in the tank and mist the enclosure daily to keep the levels balanced. The substrate should be damp but not soggy to avoid fungal and mold formation. If you have juvenile Tanzanian red clawed scorpions in your tank, ensure that the water dish is filled with stones or cotton wool to avoid drowning.
Feeding
Insects, tiny frogs, and even small rodents are common prey for Tanzanian red clawed scorpions in Tanzania’s tropical rainforest, where they commonly live on the forest floor.
Tanzanian red clawed scorpions are fed crickets, hoppers, or locusts that have been gut-loaded with food. Treats like Dubia roaches and super worms can be provided as needed. Red claws can eat a lot of food at one time, yet they only need to be fed every few days or so. Scorplings, on the other hand, must be fed every day. Pinhead crickets and mealworms are their favorites. After a couple of hours, throw away any food that hasn’t been consumed.
Tanzanian red clawed scorpions are carnivores, so don’t feed them fruit or vegetables because they’ll only eat live prey.
Handling
An aggressive Tanzanian red clawed scorpion will sting if it feels threatened. You should therefore avoid attempting to deal or carry. When cleaning, you should use a net or spoon to scoop up your scorpion. Alternatively, use the lid of a small plastic tub to entice the scorpion inside the container. Use a lid with air holes when moving your scorpion to a new terrarium for cleaning.
Health
You must maintain The right conditions at all times. A good thermometer that can measure temperature and humidity is essential for Tanzanian red clawed scorpion health and well-being. You can find them on Amazon.
A condition known as mycosis, which causes fungus to grow in the tiny lungs of Tanzania red-clawed scorpions, can be fatal under high humidity, even though they like a damp habitat. As a result, regular tank checks are necessary to ensure that no fungus has accumulated. You should also check your scorpion’s shell once a week to ensure no fungus or mold has grown on it. It would be best to keep the scorpion in a dry place for a week. It is essential; to use a damp cotton swab to remove any residue left behind.
Good health in a scorpion is alert and active, and its exoskeleton should show this as well. Tanzanian red clawed scorpions will eat regularly and maintain a healthy weight. However, if a scorpion is sick or infected, its look will be noticeably different. It’s common for a sick scorpion to show signs of malnutrition, but this isn’t always the case because scorpions often cease eating before molting. The following are signs and symptoms to watch out for:
A toned-down exoskeleton, swelling limbs, loss of appetite, strange faeces, and fatigue are symptoms of this condition.
If you see any of the above symptoms, it is best to consult a local exotic veterinarian for advice.
Solitary or Sociable, Tanzanian Red Clawed Scorpions?
When housed in captivity, you must keep Tanzanian red clawed scorpions apart from any other scorpions, including those of their species. It’s true that they’re capable of cannibalism and frequently engage in ferocious battles for survival.
It is possible to keep young Tanzanian red clawed scorpions together until their fifth moult, but after that, they should be separated to avoid fighting and maybe eating each other.
Breeding
Breeding Tanzanian red clawed scorpions can be exceedingly difficult for beginners due to their aggressive nature. During their mating ritual, these scorpions appear to be dancing. To prevent being devoured, the male must depart swiftly. To deposit his sperm, he must scheme her to a levelled area, depositing into her vaginal entrance.
Sexing Tanzanian red clawed scorpions is a must if you plan to breed this species in captivity. Comparing their genital openings to images obtained online is a simple way. The easiest way to see the scorpion’s sex organs is through a transparent glass or plastic container. Before introducing a male and female to each other, make sure they have been fed properly.
You must ensure that the sperm can be deposited on a flat surface in the enclosure. Grouping the duo and then leaving them alone is crucial. To avoid a conflict, you must keep an eye on the Tanzanian red clawed scorpions. According to the previous paragraph, the cannibalistic nature of this scorpion species has been documented.
Remove one of the duos if they begin to fight. It’s important to watch as they try to grip each other’s chelae and wiggle their tails when they’re about to mate. Mating occurs when the male leads the female across a level surface; when he does so, the mating process is finished. At this point, it’s best to get rid of the male Tanzanian red clawed scorpion as quickly as possible for his protection. After a few days, you can try again.
When you successfully breed two Tanzanian red clawed scorpions, you will see that the female grows in size during her pregnancy. While she is pregnant, she must be left alone, as scorpions typically gestate for over nine months. At one time, a Scorpion can have up to 30 scorplings, and they are known to give birth to live offspring.
After their first moult, they will clamber onto their mother’s back and remain there until the second moult. The moulting process might take up to a week or two; therefore, keeping the surroundings humid is essential. If the scorplings are still present on her back, the mother may refuse to feed. At this point, you should separate them from the female Tanzanian red clawed scorpion.
Tanzanian Red Claw Scorpion for Sale
There are numerous online marketplaces today which have Tanzanian red clawed scorpion for sale, here are some examples:
- https://www.backwaterreptiles.com/scorpions-for-sale.html
- https://ultimateexotics.co.za/product/black-forest-scorpion/
- https://www.myhomenature.com/cave-clawed-scorpion-pandinus-viatoris.html
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