Giant desert hairy scorpion (Hadrurus arizonensis)

Short answers

Giant desert hairy scorpion: How big does the enclosure need to be?

From 40×30 cm floor space for a single animal; choose the height so that 15–25 cm of substrate fits in with air space above it (i.e. from about 40 cm total height). Otherwise height is of no importance for this ground dweller.

Giant desert hairy scorpion: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 28–32 °C (warm side up to ~35 °C), at night 20–24 °C.

Giant desert hairy scorpion: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Not needed (nocturnal). A spot lamp is only for heat, not lighting; avoid bright light all day.

Giant desert hairy scorpion: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: females 15–20 years, individual animals over 25 years; males only a few years after their maturity moult.

Giant desert hairy scorpion: Is it suitable for beginners?

Partly – manageable with some prior knowledge (difficulty: Beginner with some knowledge).

Climate

Daytime temperature

28–32 °C (warm side up to ~35 °C)

Night temperature

20–24 °C

Basking spot

—

Humidity

30–50 % (dry); a shallow water dish

UVB

Not needed (nocturnal). A spot lamp is only for heat, not lighting; avoid bright light all day.

Enclosure

Minimum size

From 40×30 cm floor space for a single animal; choose the height so that 15–25 cm of substrate fits in with air space above it (i.e. from about 40 cm total height). Otherwise height is of no importance for this ground dweller.

Substrate

Dry, diggable sand-clay mix, filled 15–25 cm deep and lightly moistened and compacted so the burrow holds its shape; only the bottom layer in one corner kept damp. Flat stones and pieces of bark as hides.

Feeding

Food

Live insects: house crickets, crickets, roaches, locusts

Feeding interval

Adults every 10–14 days; juveniles weekly; remove leftovers after 24 h

Key facts

Adult size

approx. 11–15 cm total length (the largest scorpion species in North America)

Life expectancy

females 15–20 years, individual animals over 25 years; males only a few years after their maturity moult

Origin

The deserts of the south-western USA (Arizona, Nevada, California, Utah) and northern Mexico

Protection status

No CITES; may be kept freely.

Brumation

Not mandatory. German husbandry reports recommend two to three months at 5–10 °C without food to prepare for breeding; English-language care guides keep the animals at room temperature year-round. Anyone not breeding can skip this.

Cohabitation

Keep them strictly singly – territorial and cannibalistic. Never keep them together.

Notes

The commonest keeping mistake: too humid or poorly ventilated → fungal infection and death. Venomous (mildly, but painfully) and very defensive – do not touch it. It needs dry, deeply diggable substrate.

Do you keep this species?

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

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Related species

• Black hairy scorpion (Hadrurus spadix) – Intermediate
• Asian giant forest scorpion (Heterometrus longimanus) – Beginner
• Asian black scorpion (Heterometrus petersii) – Beginner
• Asian forest scorpion (Heterometrus spinifer) – Intermediate
• Brazilian yellow scorpion (Tityus serrulatus) – Expert
• Dictator scorpion (Pandinus dictator) – Intermediate
• Italian scorpion (Euscorpius italicus) – Beginner
• Flat rock scorpion (Hadogenes troglodytes) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Giant desert hairy scorpion (Hadrurus arizonensis) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (From 40×30 cm floor space for a single animal; choose the height so that 15–25 cm of substrate fits in with air space above it (i.e. from about 40 cm total height). Otherwise height is of no importance for this ground dweller.), substrate (Dry, diggable sand-clay mix, filled 15–25 cm deep and lightly moistened and compacted so the burrow holds its shape; only the bottom layer in one corner kept damp. Flat stones and pieces of bark as hides.), a heat source with a thermostat, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.