Fat Tail Scorpions

Fat Tail Scorpions * Common Group: SPIDERS, SCORPIONS & INVERTEBRATES * Common Name: Fat Tail Scorpion * Scientific Name: Androctonus sp.

Natural History

The Fat Tail Scorpion complex, the scorpions belonging to the genus Androctonus, is a particularly venomous group of scorpions that ranks among the most dangerous in the world. They naturally inhabit the desert and semi-desert areas of northern Africa and the Middle East; they can be found as far west as Mauritania, as far east as India, with the northern-most range ending in Turkey and the southern in Togo. They are characterized by a relatively large size, small pincers and an extremely large tail when compared with other scorpions. Color can range from light tan/yellow to solid black.

Size and Longevity

This is a relatively large species of bark scorpion able to reach an overall length of 4 inches (males usually possessing longer tails than females). Scorpions in general are not particularly long lived, but with proper care they can be expected to live several years depending on the age of the specimen. Housing

Fat Tail Scorpions require very little space and can be maintained in a small plastic terrarium (see Exo Terra Breeding Box). A one inch band of petroleum jelly around the upper inside part of the tank will help prevent escapes, as well as ants from getting in. Fat Tail Scorpions do well in an enclosure kept between 78-86 degrees Fahrenheit on the warm end and, being a desert animal, they seem to tolerate temperature drops reasonably well. The warm temperatures are best achieved through the use of an under tank heating pad either on the side or underneath of the cage (see Zoo Med heat pads). A 50/50 mixture of either coconut fiber and sand or peat moss and sand (use quartz or silica, not calcium sand) provide a substrate that is suitable for burrowing, will hold humidity and allow for adequate drainage simultaneously. Add stacks of cork bark to provide places for them to climb and hide in. Occasional misting will provide moisture to prevent dehydration. Nutrition

Androctonus species will readily take appropriately sized crickets, meal worms, cockroaches, grasshoppers and almost anything else that moves.

Handling

Fat Tail Scorpions are extremely dangerous and generally aggressive and should never be handled.