Post by brians on Dec 9, 2005 14:15:43 GMT -5
As the scorpion keeping hobby keeps growing more and more popular these days it is a good idea to start captive breeding programs. This thread is only covering the basics but will hopefully shed some light on this subject.
Some species from temperate climates will need about a month or 2 of cooler temps (around 50F) to stimulate a Winter cooling down period. After the cool period bring up the temps to 80-90F and slightly increase humidity. Humidity can raised by slightly misting enclosure. Be very very careful when doing this with the desert species. If it stays too damp for too long it can cause bacterial infections such as mycosis. The misting should be able to evaporate within a day.
Species from warm climates will not need a cooling period.
Be sure to use an enclosure that has adequate space for a pair of scorpions. An even larger area is needed for a communal set up which goes without saying. Also you must include a hard flat surface such as a rock, piece of wood etc.
If you have a pair, you can introduce them in the same enclosure. Keep an out on them for awhile to make sure romance doesnt turn into a duel to the death.
If and when the couple finds romance, it will begin when the male clasps the female's chela (claws) and they will do a little courtship "dance".
The pic below is of a Parabuthus liosoma pair in the courtship dance. Note how the female (left) dwarfs the male (right)
After the courtship, the male attaches a spermataphore to the rock, wood or whatever you use. He then pulls the female over the spermatophore which the female will take the sperm. Below is a picture of a male's spermatophore. It looks like a small stick
Gestation varies from species to species and temperature. Naturally warmer temps will bring on a faster gestatation period. Some species have especially long gestation periods up to about a year while others it can be just a few months.
Some species from temperate climates will need about a month or 2 of cooler temps (around 50F) to stimulate a Winter cooling down period. After the cool period bring up the temps to 80-90F and slightly increase humidity. Humidity can raised by slightly misting enclosure. Be very very careful when doing this with the desert species. If it stays too damp for too long it can cause bacterial infections such as mycosis. The misting should be able to evaporate within a day.
Species from warm climates will not need a cooling period.
Be sure to use an enclosure that has adequate space for a pair of scorpions. An even larger area is needed for a communal set up which goes without saying. Also you must include a hard flat surface such as a rock, piece of wood etc.
If you have a pair, you can introduce them in the same enclosure. Keep an out on them for awhile to make sure romance doesnt turn into a duel to the death.
If and when the couple finds romance, it will begin when the male clasps the female's chela (claws) and they will do a little courtship "dance".
The pic below is of a Parabuthus liosoma pair in the courtship dance. Note how the female (left) dwarfs the male (right)
After the courtship, the male attaches a spermataphore to the rock, wood or whatever you use. He then pulls the female over the spermatophore which the female will take the sperm. Below is a picture of a male's spermatophore. It looks like a small stick
Gestation varies from species to species and temperature. Naturally warmer temps will bring on a faster gestatation period. Some species have especially long gestation periods up to about a year while others it can be just a few months.
