Asian forest scorpion (Heterometrus spinifer)

Short answers

Asian forest scorpion: How big does the enclosure need to be?

From ~30×30×30 cm (a single animal); deep substrate for digging.

Asian forest scorpion: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 25–30 °C, at night 22–24 °C.

Asian forest scorpion: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: No UVB needed (nocturnal); avoid bright light.

Asian forest scorpion: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: approx. 7–8 years.

Asian forest scorpion: Is it suitable for beginners?

Rather not – it is considered an intermediate species (difficulty: Intermediate).

Climate

Daytime temperature

25–30 °C

Night temperature

22–24 °C

Basking spot

—

Humidity

70–85 %

UVB

No UVB needed (nocturnal); avoid bright light

Enclosure

Minimum size

from ~30×30×30 cm (a single animal); deep substrate for digging

Substrate

A damp coco or sphagnum mix, 10–15 cm deep (diggable); a cork tube or hide, a shallow water dish

Feeding

Food

Live insects: house crickets, crickets, roaches, locusts

Feeding interval

Adults ~1×/week; juveniles 2–3×/week

Key facts

Adult size

~10–12 cm total length

Life expectancy

approx. 7–8 years

Origin

South-East Asia (Thailand, Malaysia, Sumatra)

Protection status

No CITES; may be kept freely.

Brumation

None (tropical).

Cohabitation

Keeping them singly is recommended as a rule. Group keeping is possible only with this genus and with experience (a large enclosure, plenty of hides, similarly sized and well-fed animals); cannibalism is possible, especially when sizes differ – beginners should keep them singly.

Notes

Keep it humid and warm (substrate damp, not waterlogged; good ventilation). Low in venom, but defensive with powerful pincers – do not touch it. Often traded as the "Asian forest scorpion" (the species attribution is often imprecise).

Do you keep this species?

Add your animal to Reptoria – Reptoria reminds you about feeding and shedding. Add your animal for free →

Look for Asian forest scorpion (Heterometrus spinifer) in the marketplace →

Related species

• Asian giant forest scorpion (Heterometrus longimanus) – Beginner
• Asian black scorpion (Heterometrus petersii) – Beginner
• Giant desert hairy scorpion (Hadrurus arizonensis) – Beginner with some knowledge
• Brazilian yellow scorpion (Tityus serrulatus) – Expert
• Dictator scorpion (Pandinus dictator) – Intermediate
• Italian scorpion (Euscorpius italicus) – Beginner
• Flat rock scorpion (Hadogenes troglodytes) – Intermediate
• Yellow-legged burrowing scorpion (Opistophthalmus glabrifrons) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Asian forest scorpion (Heterometrus spinifer) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (from ~30×30×30 cm (a single animal); deep substrate for digging), substrate (A damp coco or sphagnum mix, 10–15 cm deep (diggable); a cork tube or hide, a shallow water dish), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.