General background

Scorpions, like spiders, are arachnids with four pairs of true legs. They have pincer like pedipelps (claws) and have an elongated abdomen with a telson (sting) on the end. Scorpions are found all over Australia in habitats as diverse as deserts, salt lakes and rainforest trees. All scorpions are predacious but are not aggressive to humans unless provoked. In Australia scorpions are almost entirely nocturnal.

Obtaining scorpions

They are mainly distributed from pet shops and everything you need from enclosures to food can be easily obtained from the shop also. Care sheets are available but its best to do some book or internet research to give the scorpion the best chance of survival. Only native species can be kept as pets, due to the strict and expensive import laws. No foreign species are kept live in Australia outside of scientific circles. Scorpions cannot be imported or exported from Western Australia. Licensed operators capture scorpions from national parks in the wild and sell them to pet shops/hobbyists. It is advisable to buy from pet shops, but due to lack of information identification can still be an issue. You may get something other than what you are told you are buying. Almost all scorpions are bought fully grown.

Feeding

Scorpions eat only live food like crickets, roaches and even baby mice. This is easily and cheaply obtained from pet stores. They are fed depending on the size once or twice a fortnight, more when they are a bit more active. They can be hand fed, but if placed in the right conditions they will predate live food dropped into the enclosure. Scorpions eat by sucking out the insides of the insect and the body pressure of the live insect helps them to do so. The scorpion will only sting if the food cannot be handled with the pincers. It is recommended that owners feed gut loaded insects to scorpions. These are live insects with a high protein diet, very nutritious. Scorpions will drink from a cotton wool ball soaked in water.

Care and maintenance

Scorpions do not need a lot of space and a small glass terrarium is ideal. They need a heat source and a humid environment which can be easily met with a bulb or heat pad and a daily spray of water or a drip pipe. Scorpions do not need a great deal of habitat in the enclosure and can be happy and healthy in a small plastic container with a few rocks and leaves. They should be kept in separate well secured enclosures as they are great escape artists.

Health problems and longevity

The major problem with scorpions is mites. Live food must be checked to ensure there are no infestations before the food goes into the enclosure. They are known to live as long as nine years, but in captivity most only last for two to three. No one really knows how long they can live.

Behaviour

Depending on the species you can see a wide range of behaviour from scorpions including high surface activity, burrowing, eating, burrow hibernation and playing dead (surface hibernation). They are also known to be audible making sounds as they explore and tap on glass.

                                                                                     KeEpInG InSeCtS As PeTs!

Safety warning

There has been no confirmed deaths due to scorpion stings, although some reports have been made. It is unknown if the sting of any Australian species can cause death or serious illness. If stung the sting area may blister and a strong ache, similar to a wasp sting, is experienced lasting for a few hours. This is followed by pins and needles like sensation in the area that lasts for a few days. There is the potential that an allergic reaction may cause death or severe illness, especially in young children or the elderly.

Keeping Insects as Pets

Do you have an old terrarium lying around? Do you have a child whose pockets are full of slaters and ladybirds? Maybe it's time to put them together and get into some serious insect collecting.

Insects are low-maintenance pets, cheap, quiet, and just a bit different. While small insects such as slaters and ladybirds are readily accessible from the garden, larger insects can be bought by mail order providing a whole new level of interaction.

Insects which are fascinating while still easy to keep include larger beetles such as the rhinoceros beetle, a bizarre-looking insect which features a horn-shaped "nose", hisses when touched but is actually quite harmless. They don't bite but they can fly so ensure the room is sealed when handling them. They breed well in captivity, producing a larvae like a thick white grub. Scarab beetles are another attractive, easy-care option.

Stick insects have also long been a favourite of insect pet-lovers. There are spiny, leafy and twiggy stick insects, a popular mail order choice being the spiny leaf insect.

Housing and space

Terrariums and old aquariums make ideal insect houses as long as they are securely covered. Fly screen is a good option keeping the insects in and allowing air circulation. Cheap plastic pet containers cost around - from pet shops, or even larger kitchen canisters or bowl can be used if combined with a mesh lid. Stick insects like to climb branches so a taller (rather than wider) container is recommended.

Beetles are easy to look after as most live on top of, and breed in, potting mix. Look for a potting mix that doesn't have added fertiliser but with a high ratio of sawdust. Layer to about 5cm then just put in your insects. Lightly mist the air with water each day.

For stick insects or spiny leaf insects it's best to have a fairly tall container as a vase or jar of water is needed in the bottom to hold small branches of leaves. Use a layer of potting mix on the base, then the jar, then the leafy branches into the jar. Cover the top of the jar as insects have been known to drown in their own vase. Lightly mist the insects and leaves each day with an atomiser filled with water.

Further information

Contact The Australian Insect Farm, PO Box 26, Innisfail 4860, phone (07) 4063 3860.

Health and breeding

With all insects it's VITAL to avoid plants and leaves which have been sprayed with insecticide and NEVER use fly spray or similar insecticides in the same room as a pet insect. Remember to board your pets away from home for a few days if it is being sprayed by a pest controller.

Most individual insects will live only a few months or years but many can breed in their indoor shelters and provide another generation to enjoy. The Australian Insect Farm supplies comprehensive information sheets with each insect supplied, which details feeding, breeding, housing etc. for each type.