Hadrurus spadix
Encyclopedia
Hadrurus spadix is a large (around 15 centimeters / 5.51 inches) scorpion
native to the southern desert
s of North America
. It is a burrowing scorpion which spends a lot of time digging in the sand
and enlarging its burrow
. A similar species is the Giant desert hairy scorpion
.
. A mixture of peat
and sand
should be used for substrate
, though sand
should be the major component. The substrate should be humidified in order to stabilize it and permit burrowing, then dried before introducing the scorpion in the vivarium. A rock
or a piece of bark
should be provided so the scorpion
can dig its burrow
under it. No water is needed in the vivarium
and humidity should be quite low (30%) to prevent mycosis
. Hadrurus spadix requires high temperatures, and do best at 30°C-35°C (86°F-95°F) during the day, with a sharp drop in temperatures (to 20°C (68°F)) during the night to mimic desert conditions. As with all scorpions, this species can be fed most types of small insects, though cricket
s remain the most common choice.
are frequent. The toxicity
of its venom is usually deemed to be low, though its sting can be quite painful. This scorpion and its close relative Hadrurus arizonensis
make good pets for a beginner, as they are quite large, very active and typically eat a lot.
Scorpion
Scorpions are predatory arthropod animals of the order Scorpiones within the class Arachnida. They have eight legs and are easily recognized by the pair of grasping claws and the narrow, segmented tail, often carried in a characteristic forward curve over the back, ending with a venomous stinger...
native to the southern desert
Desert
A desert is a landscape or region that receives an extremely low amount of precipitation, less than enough to support growth of most plants. Most deserts have an average annual precipitation of less than...
s of North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. It is a burrowing scorpion which spends a lot of time digging in the sand
Sand
Sand is a naturally occurring granular material composed of finely divided rock and mineral particles.The composition of sand is highly variable, depending on the local rock sources and conditions, but the most common constituent of sand in inland continental settings and non-tropical coastal...
and enlarging its burrow
Burrow
A burrow is a hole or tunnel dug into the ground by an animal to create a space suitable for habitation, temporary refuge, or as a byproduct of locomotion. Burrows provide a form of shelter against predation and exposure to the elements, so the burrowing way of life is quite popular among the...
. A similar species is the Giant desert hairy scorpion
Giant desert hairy scorpion
Hadrurus arizonensis, the giant desert hairy scorpion, giant hairy scorpion, or Arizona Desert hairy scorpion, is the largest scorpion in North America, and one of the 8–9 species of Hadrurus in the United States, attaining a length of . Its large size allows it to feed readily on other scorpions...
.
Captive care
Hadrurus spadix can be housed in a big vivariumVivarium
A vivarium is a usually enclosed area for keeping and raising animals or plants for observation or research...
. A mixture of peat
Peat
Peat is an accumulation of partially decayed vegetation matter or histosol. Peat forms in wetland bogs, moors, muskegs, pocosins, mires, and peat swamp forests. Peat is harvested as an important source of fuel in certain parts of the world...
and sand
Sand
Sand is a naturally occurring granular material composed of finely divided rock and mineral particles.The composition of sand is highly variable, depending on the local rock sources and conditions, but the most common constituent of sand in inland continental settings and non-tropical coastal...
should be used for substrate
Substrate (biology)
In biology a substrate is the surface a plant or animal lives upon and grows on. A substrate can include biotic or abiotic materials and animals. For example, encrusting algae that lives on a rock can be substrate for another animal that lives on top of the algae. See also substrate .-External...
, though sand
Sand
Sand is a naturally occurring granular material composed of finely divided rock and mineral particles.The composition of sand is highly variable, depending on the local rock sources and conditions, but the most common constituent of sand in inland continental settings and non-tropical coastal...
should be the major component. The substrate should be humidified in order to stabilize it and permit burrowing, then dried before introducing the scorpion in the vivarium. A rock
Rock (geology)
In geology, rock or stone is a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals and/or mineraloids.The Earth's outer solid layer, the lithosphere, is made of rock. In general rocks are of three types, namely, igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic...
or a piece of bark
Bark
Bark is the outermost layers of stems and roots of woody plants. Plants with bark include trees, woody vines and shrubs. Bark refers to all the tissues outside of the vascular cambium and is a nontechnical term. It overlays the wood and consists of the inner bark and the outer bark. The inner...
should be provided so the scorpion
Scorpion
Scorpions are predatory arthropod animals of the order Scorpiones within the class Arachnida. They have eight legs and are easily recognized by the pair of grasping claws and the narrow, segmented tail, often carried in a characteristic forward curve over the back, ending with a venomous stinger...
can dig its burrow
Burrow
A burrow is a hole or tunnel dug into the ground by an animal to create a space suitable for habitation, temporary refuge, or as a byproduct of locomotion. Burrows provide a form of shelter against predation and exposure to the elements, so the burrowing way of life is quite popular among the...
under it. No water is needed in the vivarium
Vivarium
A vivarium is a usually enclosed area for keeping and raising animals or plants for observation or research...
and humidity should be quite low (30%) to prevent mycosis
Mycosis
A mycosis is a fungal infection of animals, including humans. Mycoses are common, and a variety of environmental and physiological conditions can contribute to the development of fungal diseases...
. Hadrurus spadix requires high temperatures, and do best at 30°C-35°C (86°F-95°F) during the day, with a sharp drop in temperatures (to 20°C (68°F)) during the night to mimic desert conditions. As with all scorpions, this species can be fed most types of small insects, though cricket
Cricket (insect)
Crickets, family Gryllidae , are insects somewhat related to grasshoppers, and more closely related to katydids or bush crickets . They have somewhat flattened bodies and long antennae. There are about 900 species of crickets...
s remain the most common choice.
Behavior
Commonly known as the black-back scorpion, it can be differentiated from the giant desert hairy scorpion by its completely black prosoma or cephalothorax. This scorpion is quite nervous and can display aggressiveness towards its keeper. It should not be kept communally, as fights and cannibalismCannibalism
Cannibalism is the act or practice of humans eating the flesh of other human beings. It is also called anthropophagy...
are frequent. The toxicity
Toxicity
Toxicity is the degree to which a substance can damage a living or non-living organisms. Toxicity can refer to the effect on a whole organism, such as an animal, bacterium, or plant, as well as the effect on a substructure of the organism, such as a cell or an organ , such as the liver...
of its venom is usually deemed to be low, though its sting can be quite painful. This scorpion and its close relative Hadrurus arizonensis
Giant desert hairy scorpion
Hadrurus arizonensis, the giant desert hairy scorpion, giant hairy scorpion, or Arizona Desert hairy scorpion, is the largest scorpion in North America, and one of the 8–9 species of Hadrurus in the United States, attaining a length of . Its large size allows it to feed readily on other scorpions...
make good pets for a beginner, as they are quite large, very active and typically eat a lot.
External links
- The page of Hadrurus arizonensis at the Scorpion files
- Desert Hairy Scorpion Husbandry accessed 07/08/2011
- Differentiating between H.arizonensis and H.spadix accessed 07/08/2011