Flat Rock Scorpion

Description:
   This longest of all scorpion species, the Flat Rock Scorpion is sexually dimorphic. Males are easily distinguished from females due to a longer tail. Males show extreme elongation of the metasomal segments of the tail. This helps in not only making them longer than the female, but also makes this one of the largest and longest species in the world. They often keep these tails coiled around and close to their bodies. Some males have been reported to reach over can reach over 8" (21 cm), while a female typically reaches between 6 - 7"+ (15-20 cm).

Care and Feeding:
   In the wild, Flat Rock Scorpions feed almost exclusively on mollusks, but in captivity will switch fairly well to crickets and other insects including wax worms and mealworms.

Environment:
   This South African species is considered a lithophilic, or rock-dwelling species. Its long legs and compact body, with stiff setae and strong claws, help it to scurry quickly over rocks and stones in its rocky home. In nature, it is commonly found under stones in scraped out areas in the substrate.
   They can be kept individually in a 5 to 10 gallon terrarium with a 3 - 4" (8 - 10 cm) sand/soil substrate. Provide some sort of a shelter for them, ideally flat rocks such as slate can be used. Alternatively a piece of wood such as sheet of cork bark or similar shelter can be used. Also include a shallow bowl of water.
   The Flat Rock Scorpions are agile climbers so be sure the enclosure has a secure covering, preferably of glass.

Temperature and Humidity requirements:
   Keep the enclosure maintained at about at 75° - 95 °F with humidity of 70 to 75%.

Social Behavior/Activities:
   The Flat Rock Scorpion is semi-aggressive. Though babies can be kept communally with the mother for several weeks, adults are best kept individually.

Handling:
   Flat Rock Scorpions seem somewhat reluctant to sting and like Emperor Scorpion, tend to use their strong claws to pinch as a defense. They don’t seem to enjoy being handled and will try to escape by crawling off the hand using its strong legs and even pushing with its long tail. As with most invert pets, we suggest keeping handling (and thus stress) to a minimum.

Breeding/Reproduction:
   Females Flat Rock Scorpions, though as large and robust in body as the males, have tails that are much shorter than those of the males. The male quickly grasps the pincers of the female and begins a shaking action known as “juddering”. Then, after a short shoving match, the male deposits a spermatophore onto the substrate and positions the female over the packet of sperm. The female lowers her abdomen and picks up the spermatophore into her genital opening. The two separate and often beat a hasty retreat in opposite directions.
   A strange habit is noted in the reproduction of the Flat Rock Scorpion species H. troglodytes. This species, perhaps as a water conservation measure in its dry, arid habitat, does not produce a great deal of the moisture that is normally associated with the birth membranes of baby scorpions. Thus, the “ease” of birth is seemingly compromised and the birth of the twelve to eighteen small scorpions can take as long as ten days.

Ailments:
   Scorpions are generally quite hardy and adaptable if they are provided with the right environment. A few signs that may indicate that your pet is not acting or feeling normal are a loss of appetite, acting listless or sluggish, having an overly swollen stomach, and missing or deformed limbs. Another problem can be an infestation of mites.

• Molting: One of the most common reasons for the death in scorpions is the molt. The scorpion has a tough outer covering, a cuticle, that forms a rigid exoskeleton. All scorpions must shed their old exoskeleton and secrete a new one in order to grow, this is called the molt. Scorpions will molt from 6 to 10 times during their lifetime. This molting process takes a lot of energy and they are very vulnerable for a couple of days after the molt until their new skin hardens
     For about 24 hours prior to molting it is not unusual for a scorpion to get quite sluggish.
     A difficult molt can result in lost or deformed limbs, or death. This is thought to be related to humidity levels. There can be either too much humidity or too little, depending on the species. In captivity a lot of immature scorpions die during the molting process.
• Other Problems: Though many scorpions can go for long periods of time without eating, overfeeding can cause an overly swollen stomach as well as the loss of appetite, and even death. The stomach can be slightly swollen from regular eating, and this is not a problem.
     Another problem can be an infestation of Mites. Uneaten food can attract mites, which are very dangerous and stressful to scorpions. Be sure to remove old food.

Availability:
   Currently, Flat Rock Scorpions are being imported in large numbers from Africa. Unfortunately, there have been very few captive breedings of this species. Hopefully as interest in scorpions grows, more and more specimens will be available as small, healthy captive-hatched scorpions.