Sending...

Asian Forest Scorpion Care

January 31, 2023

Table of Contents

How to Care for an Asian Forest Scorpion

If you’re looking for a unique pet that is low maintenance the asian forest scorpion may be the pet for you! Asian forest scorpions are excellent beginner scorpions due to their hardiness. These scorpions are naturally found in India, Malaysia, and Indonesia. They are slow growers that typically grow to be between 5 - 6 inches long, and live to be 7 - 8 years old. They are readily available in many pet stores, as well as online, so it won’t be hard to find one. It should be noted that they are venomous, but their venom has a low potency and is usually harmless unless you have an allergy to it. Still interested? Let’s dive into caring for asian forest scorpions!

Asian Forest Scorpion Enclosure

Asian forest scorpions should be provided with a 10 gallon enclosure, though you can offer them a larger enclosure if you’d like. Make sure the enclosure you choose has a tightly fitting lid that is secured down with some sort of clamps or locking mechanism to ensure your scorpion can’t escape. The enclosure should be decorated with small branches, fake plants, and rocks. You should place a couple of small hides in the enclosure for your scorpion. Like any other living creature, asian forest scorpions should also be supplied with a water dish. The water dish should be wide and shallow to prevent drowning, and should be cleaned out often. They drink a lot, so I refill my asian forest scorpion’s water dish at least once a day.

An Asian Forest Scorpion

You should never house multiple scorpions together. Cohabitating asian forest scorpions can result in cannibalism.

Best Substrate for Asian Forest Scorpions

Substrate is the floor of your enclosure, and it is important because it is what your scorpion will be living on. Asian forest scorpions are avid diggers, therefore you will need to fill their enclosure about half way with substrate. I personally use coconut fiber for my asian forest scorpion. It's a loose substrate that allows for optimal digging, plus it's readily available at pet stores and online. You can also provide your scorpion with moss. It's an interesting texture that they’ll enjoy crawling over, plus it helps to hold in humidity. Stay away from sand as a substrate choice. It doesn’t hold humidity properly, and asian forest scorpions don’t tend to do well on it.

Asian Forest Scorpion Temperature and Lighting

Asian forest scorpions do best when kept between 72°F and 90°F. I keep my scorpion in my reptile room, so the temperature of the room is perfect for him without additional heating. If your house stays cool, you can supply your asian forest scorpion with a heat mat. The heat mat should be placed on the side of the enclosure, not the bottom. This is because a scorpion will naturally burrow to cool off. Placing the heat mat on the side creates a heating gradient across the tank. Your asian forest scorpion’s heat mat should be on a thermostat. A thermostat will regulate the temperature of the heat mat to ensure it doesn’t get too hot. If you keep your scorpion in a room that is at least 72°F there is no need to supply extra heating.

Do asian forest scorpions need lighting? All living things should be provided with some sort of lighting to help them create a day and night cycle. This lighting can simply be from leaving the blinds open. Scorpions do not need any sort of heat lamp or UVB lighting. Fun fact: asian forest scorpions glow a blue/green color under a blacklight! I keep a black light over my scorpions tank. I do not leave it on regularly, but it's nice to have so I can occasionally switch it on to see her glow.

Angry Asian Forest Scorpion

Asian Forest Scorpion Humidity

If you’ve kept any other reptiles or invertebrates, you’re very familiar with how essential humidity is. Asian forest scorpions are a tropical species, and therefore they need a high humidity range. The ideal asian forest scorpion humidity range is 70 - 80%. One way to achieve these levels is by dampening the substrate in the enclosure. Coconut fiber is excellent at holding in humidity, which is one of the reasons I highly recommend it. You can also mist your scorpions enclosure as needed. You will need a hygrometer to keep track of the humidity levels in the enclosure. A good hygrometer will give you an accurate reading of both the temperature and humidity so you never have to guess.

Feeding an Asian Forest Scorpion

When it comes to feeding, asian forest scorpions are low maintenance as well. Asian forest scorpions eat a variety of insects, from dubia roaches, to crickets, and even mealworms! Your scorpion will need to be fed every 1 - 2 weeks. I base my feeding off of the size of my scorpion. If she's looking thinner, I will feed her more often. If she’s looking nice and plump, I will cut my feeding back some. The insects that you offer your scorpion should never be bigger than half the scorpion's length. Always be sure to remove any uneaten prey within 24 hours to prevent the growth of mold.