The Desert Whip Scorpion is an extremely unique arthropod. Extremely versatile, they can be kept by beginners, intermediate keepers, or experienced hobbyists The Desert Whip Scorpion, also known as the "Giant Vinegarone," and the "Grampus," is quite calm. Even though they are most closely related to spiders and scorpions they are often mistaken for insects as their front pair of legs look like antennae to the untrained eye. The Desert Whip Scorpion does not have a stinger and generally does not bite. Their main means of defense is an emission of "vinegar" (actually, acidic acid) that it uses to scare away predators. They do not have stingers; rather they have long whip-like tails that do not sting at all. Their "vinegar" spray is actually harmless to most humans, unless one is sprayed in the eyes, in which case, they should be flushed immediately, or one has an allergy. They can be held, however, as with all scorpions, you should be extremely careful. Handling of any type of Whip Scorpion is not recommended. They nocturnal desert dwellers, and their captive habitat should closely mimic that of their natural habitat. They should have a dark and warm environment. A ten-gallon tank should give amble space for housing. For substrate, use four to six inches of sand mixed with non-fertilizer 'earth', they are burrowing creatures in nature and it is important to provide enough substrate for them to mimic this behavior in captivity. For decorations, use rocks, driftwood, and cork bark, which will make good hiding places. Use a heat pad on their tank to keep temperatures at around 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Humidity needs to be between 75 to 85%. Adults seem to do well on a diet of insects including larger crickets and locusts; babies need to be fed smaller insects such as pinhead crickets. Adults may drink from a shallow water dish. The Desert Whip Scorpion is described as being docile and calm, making him a suitable kept for all arachnid fanciers. The Desert Whip Scorpion has small relatively weak pincers on their mouths and a long whip-like tail. They have eight legs, though their front legs are often mistaken for antennae. At maturity, the Desert Whip Scorpion will grow to a length of up to eight inches including front legs and whiptail. They are commonly seen in brown, gray or black. |