Pandinus imperator
Emperor Scorpion
Emperor scorpions are calm, long-lived invertebrates that make an engaging low-maintenance display animal for keepers comfortable with an animal that should be watched, not held.
ScorpionidaeLifespan 6–8 yearsCare complexity 2/5Suitable for beginners
At a glance
- Scientific name
- Pandinus imperator
- Family
- Scorpionidae
- Origin
- Rainforest floor of West African countries including Ghana, Togo and Nigeria
- Lifespan
- 6–8 years
- Adult size
- 12–20 cm
- Weight
- 30 g
- Temperament
- Generally docile for a scorpion but should never be handled bare-handed
- Activity level
- Low to moderate; mostly nocturnal
- Social needs
- Can sometimes be kept communally with ample space and food, though risk of cannibalism remains
- Intelligence
- Basic instinct-driven foraging and burrowing behaviour
- Noise
- Silent
Housing and environment
- Housing
- Ventilated tank at least 45 x 30 x 30 cm with 10–15 cm of moisture-retentive burrowing substrate
- Space requirement
- Floor area with hides and deep substrate for burrowing
- Temperature
- 24–29°C
- Humidity
- 70–80%
- Exercise
- Provided by burrowing substrate and floor space
- Grooming
- Not applicable
Diet and feeding
Gut-loaded crickets, roaches and occasional waxworms
Behaviour and compatibility
Nocturnal foraging and burrowing, defensive claw raising and rarely stinging, maternal care of young
- With children
- Not a handling pet for children; the sting, while not typically dangerous to healthy adults, is genuinely painful and allergic reactions are possible
- With other animals
- Keep isolated from other pets that might prey on or provoke it
- Training difficulty
- Not applicable
Health
- Mite infestation
- Dehydration in low humidity
- Injury from falls, as scorpions are surprisingly fragile despite their armour
Specialist invertebrate veterinary care is very limited; prevention through stable husbandry is the main safeguard
Special care requirements
Always use feeding tongs and avoid direct handling; the sting is medically similar to a wasp sting but reactions vary between individuals