A General Overview of Three Scorpions of the Genus Parabuthus in the Pet Trade

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Appropriate temperatures varies according to the origin of the species, but are always high. During the day a temperature gradient of 85-95°F [30-35°C] is good for P. liosoma, P. mossambicensis and P. transvaalicus. A nighttime temperature drop is essential to good development. An overnight temperature of approximately 77°F [25°C] is suitable for the three species. As with most species that winter or aestivate each year, a resting period (cooling) in captivity is favorable to the development, longevity and breeding of Parabuthus species. However, simulating the appropriate environment can be difficult and is not essential.

P. mossambicensis with young Parabuthus scorpions will eat a variety of appropriately-sized prey items; crickets, locusts or cockroaches make for a good staple diet. Second instar "scorplings" can be fed with a young cricket or cockroach once or twice each week, juveniles specimens with one adult cricket or young cockroach per week, and adults and subadults with one adult cricket every week or two, or a locust or adult cockroach every month. Young Parabuthus are usually voracious after molting and can be fed more frequently or with larger prey during these periods.

Gender Determination

Adult males and females can be easily distinguished as the base of the male's chelae is generally much more bulbous than that of the female. This character is sometimes visible in subadult malesÐthose within two molts of maturity. Size is extremely variable but males are commonly smaller than females. Sexing can also done by counting pectine teeth (e.g., 29-36 pectine teeth in female P. mossambicensis and 33-41 in males).

Longevity

Parabuthus longevity varies according to husbandry conditions (temperature, humidity, food, and whether a resting period is used), but they typically have a life span of about 4 or 5 years. With sufficiently high temperatures young Parabuthus often grow quickly. According to the senior author's experience, the rearing of P. transvaalicus seems to be the easiest of the three species with almost zero mortality between 2nd instar and adulthood. P. mossambicensis appears to be a little bit more difficult to raise, with occasional unexplained deaths, and P. liosoma seems to be the most difficult. Depending on species and gender seven to eight molts (approximately 2 years) are necessary to reach adulthood.

Breeding

Breeding generally occurs without any difficulty. Males are usually very courageous and do not hesitate to seek out the females, which are often much larger, at the bottom of the females' burrow (or under their hiding places). Females are rarely aggressive to the males, neither before nor after mating. A flat stone must be put in the terrarium for the spermatophore fixing. Under ideal husbandry conditions gestation lasts 4 to 6 months. As with many buthid scorpions, the brood is rather large—occasionally more than 50 young. However, the number of young produced varies with the condition and age of the female. For example, the senior author observed a brood of 38 P. transvaalicus produced by an old female that had previously had young, whereas a young female had a brood of 67 on her first laying. A P. mossambicensis bore 68 scorplings.

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