Hottentotta hottentotta care

Mr. X

Arachnoknight
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Sep 1, 2003
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172
Hi,
First of all, yes, they have quite a potent venom: about 3 on a scale of 5...not enough to be fatal but you dont want to be stung by them...

Second, that's true, they can be fed small to medium size crikets cause it's a small scorpion and if it's bigger than half its size it would'nt eat it.

But they are easy to care and fun to watch...The second scorpion I owned was a Hottentotta trilineatus wich is a little more venemous than hottentotta hottentotta but is kept in the same conditions and behaved like H. Hottentotta.

So if your responsible it's a good scorpion to have, often outside, eat alot, always sting its prey and easy to care but if you dont want to get one after reading this you could also get a Hardrurus Arizonensis or a Scorpio Maurus wich are desert species and not potent like hottentotta spp.

Peace

Xav
 

Mr. X

Arachnoknight
Old Timer
Joined
Sep 1, 2003
Messages
172
Yeah,
I got a p.liosoma too, but the sting is a little more strong from what i read.

It's a really nice specie and easy to care but my p.liosoma is not active like my hottentotta was. So in my case hottentotta should be a better choice.

Peace
xav
 

G. Carnell

Arachnoemperor
Old Timer
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Oct 27, 2003
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3,611
you wont want to get your fingers near it anyway, H.H are VERY aggressive if wild caught, i tryed to get one but my mum wouldnt let me cos it was so aggressive :(
hottentotta are bloody beautiful, theyre my favourite at the moment, the way they kill crickets !!!!!! you wait and see :O
 

fusion121

Arachnoking
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May 31, 2003
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2,015
meuhmeuh said:
I am worried about my Hottentotta Hottentotta. He seems to be frightened by everything, and he never leaves its hide, even at night. He does not hunt and wait for the cricket to walk right in front of him to catch it. I am giving him a cricket once every 10 days (I used to feed it more often but I was told it might be the reason why he is so sluggish). I am keeping him in a 1 gallon plastic box (23cm x 15cm x 17cm / 9.2" x 6" x 6.8"), with a mixture of peat and sand as substrat. Temperature is 26C / 78F during the day and 22C / 71.6F during the night (I tried to raise the temperature to 30C / 86F during the day to create a bigger day/night difference but it did not change anything). Humidity is always between 50% and 70%. I was told he is an adult male, so he is probably not going to mold. I keep him in a quiet room where he is usually alone all day long.

Is this frightened behaviour normal ? I actually saw a cricket climb on him one time, and he did not even react, he remained in his "frightened" position (I mean this position http://img50.exs.cx/img50/1750/hh2.png as opposed to the classical buthid "alert" position with claws wide apart and stinger raised). I was told H. Hottentotta was an agressive specie so I am worried he might have a problem. Or maybe I am doing something wrong ?

Thanks for any help
Behaviour in scorpions seems to be quite variable between individuals, I have two A.bicolor, which everyone says are exceedingly agressive, mine however are very timid and run to their hides the moment they see me move and will only take small crickets compared to their size. I suspect alot of it has to do with maturity, both my A. bicolor are juveniles prehaps they become braver when they reach maturity, my 3rd instar A. australis certainly seems to be in state of perpetual terror :rolleyes:
 

fusion121

Arachnoking
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May 31, 2003
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meuhmeuh said:
I was just wondering if perhaps it might have something to do with the size of his hide. I made him a wooden "house", which covers one-third of the length of the box and the whole width. Perhaps his hide is so big compared to his size that he does not feel the need to go out ? Does this seem plausible ?
Well if he can do all his hunting in there then perhaps he might not want to leave :), but all scorpions I've kept generally go for a wander each night, it may just be that he'll only come out in the dead of night when you'll need a UV light to watch him, thats perfectly natural, don't expect him to wander round in the middle of the day.
 

darrelldlc

Arachnobaron
Old Timer
Joined
Apr 1, 2004
Messages
329
I have two hottentotta spp. as well and they usually stay under their flat rock hides for the most part, sometimes they can be seen with a uv light at night though. They are very aggressive as well, the male will immediately smack the dirt with his tail and try to sting anything that gets too close. You made a good choice though they are beautiful scorpions.
Cordially,
Darrell.
 
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