Invertebrates

What’s the Longest Scorpion in the World?

~ BackwaterReptiles

Have you ever wondered what the longest scorpion in the world is? If so, you’ve come to the right place because we’re not only going to unveil which species is the largest scorpion in the world, but we’ll also touch on some interesting facts about it, including how to care for it in captivity.

What's the longest scorpion in the world?
Meet the Flat Rock Scorpion (Hadogenes troglodytes), the longest scorpion in the world.

The Flat Rock Scorpion (Hadogenes troglodytes) is in fact the longest scorpion in the world. It might not qualify as the biggest in terms of overall body and limb size, but from pincer to tail tip, it is the longest. While it’s very common for the Flat Rock scorpion to be five to six inches long, it can actually can reach a length of up to eight inches!

Found only in Africa, this species of scorpion got its name from its body shape, which is long, flat, and segmented. This makes it ideal for squeezing into tiny crevices between rocks where it likes to make its home.

Large Flat-rock scorpion
Here is a top view of the flat rock scorpion showing how flat and long its body shape really is.

Like all scorpions, the flat rock eats insects. In captivity, they should be fed crickets, roaches, and other appropriately-sized invertebrates. A small water dish should also be provided.

Because flat rock scorpions are ground-dwellers, their cage should have more horizontal space over vertical space. A substrate that mimics that of their natural environment, such as sand, is ideal, coupled with some rocks and hiding crevices.

These scorpions make good pets for both novices and experienced hobbyists due to the fact that they are overall fairly docile with a sting that is very low in toxicity. Although they can sting, they are slow (at least for a scorpion) and would generally rather hide than sting their handler.

Flat Rock Scorpion Pincers
Even the pincer claws on the flat rock scorpion are flatter than the average scorpion’s claws.

Backwater Reptiles has flat rock scorpions for sale. If you’re lucky, maybe yours will grow to hold the next record for longest scorpion in the world!

What Do Halloween Crabs Eat?

~ BackwaterReptiles

Wondering what to feed your Halloween crab? It might not seem like a crab would be a good pet, but hermit and Halloween Crabs are actually very common in the pet trade. Known for their colorful shells which are bright purple coupled with brilliant orange, Halloween crabs have simple care requirements and make low maintenance, easy-going pets.

What do halloween crabs eat
This Halloween Crab is not as bright and bold in coloration because it is probably a female.

So, now that you have your pet Halloween crab, you need to feed it. Well, you might be wondering, what exactly am I supposed to feed a crab? No worries – although Backwater Reptiles does specialize in reptiles and amphibians, we also keep invertebrates and we’ll tell you exactly what type of diet to feed your Halloween crab.

Gecarcinus quadratus
This Halloween crab is displaying its orange underbelly and purple claws, and is likely a male.

Halloween crabs come from the coasts of Mexico, Central America, and Peru. They are primarily rainforest dwellers who feed at night by scavenging the forest and beach floors. They actually spend most of their lives living on land, so believe it or not, they don’t need a “sea food” based diet.

What to feed your Halloween crab

You should primarily feed your Halloween crab foods that it would find in the wild. Because it is a tropical invertebrate, you can feed it fruits such as papaya, mango, and coconut. Be sure the fruit is cut into appropriately-sized pieces and that it is fresh because the crabs won’t eat spoiled or rotting fruit.

Halloween Crab
Top view of a female Halloween crab.

Vegetable matter of all types is acceptable food for Halloween crabs as well. They will even eat meat, but make sure that the meat is thoroughly cooked as it is dangerous to feed it to them raw.

Want to care for your own crab? Backwater Reptiles has Halloween Crabs for sale.

 

How to Pick Up a Scorpion

~ BackwaterReptiles

Ever wondered how to pick up a scorpion? Any pet that lives in a contained environment, whether it’s a traditional glass tank, a specialty vivarium, or even a wire or mesh cage, will need its enclosure cleaned from time to time. Because this is also true of venomous pet scorpions, this blog entry will demonstrate how to pick up and handle your scorpion when the time comes to remove it from its enclosure.

First of all, most people who keep scorpions as pets are aware that these invertebrates are not domesticated animals and are generally best left to their own devices. Scorpions are not pets that should be handled, petted, or otherwise coddled like traditional pets. They do best when observed and not disturbed. In other words, Backwater Reptiles does not recommend taking your scorpion out of its enclosure unless it’s necessary for the animal’s health.

When you pick up your scorpion, grab it at the tip of the tail just beneath the stinger using your index finger and thumb. This will prevent the animal from whipping its tail and injecting you with venom.

how to pick up a scorpion
Use two fingers to firmly yet gently grip the tip of the scorpion’s tail when attempting to move the animal. We squeeze on either side, just below the stinger.

Once you have a firm but not too tight grasp on the tip of the scorpion’s tail, gently but efficiently lift the animal up and transfer it to your desired destination. Be aware that the animal will more than likely wriggle, so it’s wise to move quickly for your own safety and to eliminate stressing the scorpion.

Bulky and hefty scorpions such as the Asian Forest Scorpion (Heterometrus longimanus) or the Emperor Scorpion (Pandinus imperator) are easiest to move using the two finger grab method because in general they are slower and less feisty than other species.

If you’re dealing with a species such as the Desert Hairy Scorpion (Hadrurus arizonensis) that tend to be rather aggressive, we advise using tongs or tweezers. This is because when the scorpion species is more agile, it can reach around with its front pedipalps or pincer claws and pinch your fingers, which is not a pleasant experience.

Handling a scorpion
Use tongs or tweezers when picking up feisty scorpion species such as this Desert Hairy Scorpion. Their claws can reach back above them.

If you’re interested in a pet scorpion of your own, Backwater Reptiles offers a variety of scorpion species for sale.

Have you developed any tricks for picking up your pet scorpion that we didn’t mention? Let us know your experiences in the comments!

Exportation Ban on Rose Hair Tarantulas

~ BackwaterReptiles

Did you know the country of Chile has recently banned the exportation of the Rose Hair tarantula? The beloved Rose Hair Tarantulas (Grammostola rosea) are known by several names – the Chilean Rose Tarantula, the Chilean Fire Tarantula, and even the Chilean Red-Haired Tarantula (specific color morphs only).

These tarantulas are very common pet spiders due to their docile nature and pink-colored hairs, however, due to the recent ban on importing these spiders from their native country of Chile, this could change.

rose hair tarantula ban
Coaxing our Rose Hair out of his temporary container for a photo shoot. This species (Grammastola rosea) was recently banned from exportation by Chile.

Chilean rose hairs were always inexpensive to import in the past, so many hobbyists would rather import new spiders than breed existing populations in the States. Now that the ban has taken effect, these spiders will more than likely virtually disappear from the exotic pet market until (or if) the ban is lifted.

Rose hairs are great pet spiders, especially for anyone new to the exotic pet world because they are so easy to care for. In addition to having very laid-back, calm, and overall agreeable personalities (for a spider anyways!), Rose hairs don’t require much in the way of maintenance. It’s recommended that single spiders be housed in a tank approximately three times as long as their leg span with an appropriate substrate and hide space. As far as feeding goes, crickets, mealworms, wax worms, and other insects make up most of their diet. Full-grown spiders with around four to five inch leg spans can also occasionally eat pinkie mice.

tarantula
Chilean Rose Hair Tarantula eating a wax worm.

Rose hair tarantulas can be handled, although it’s another matter as to whether or not they should. These spiders are venomous, although only slightly so. However, most people have no idea if they will have an allergic reaction or not, so just be aware when handling these spiders that there is always the chance the spider could bite, even if they are known for their reasonable temperaments.

So what will happen when all the Chilean Rose Hair Tarantulas that were imported before the ban took effect have been sold? Likely, another similar spider species will grow in popularity and take the place of the Rose Hair.

Chilean Rose Hair Tarantula

Backwater Reptiles still has some Rose Hair Tarantulas for sale. We recommend purchasing yours before the inevitable supply/demand price hike occurs due to the ban.

The Best Small Tarantula Enclosures

~ BackwaterReptiles

Are you looking for a top quality small tarantula cage? Any time you bring home a new pet, it’s essential that you also bring home everything your new pet will need – food, cage/kennel, toys, etc. Even though spiders are very low maintenance pets, you’ll still want to make sure your new arachnid has everything it needs to thrive, which is basically a good enclosure with the proper substrate and hiding places.

Guess what? Backwater Reptiles is pleased to announce that we now offer premium starter tarantula kits for sale! These aesthetically pleasing clear cube enclosures come with substrate(s), cork bark climbing/hiding accessories, silk plant decor, and even a miniature water dish.

tarantula terrarium kit
Pictured is the arboreal tarantula kit and all of the included components.

Because tarantulas are either arboreal and live in trees or terrestrial and live on the ground, we have two separate types of kits to suit either type of spider’s needs.

tarantula kit comparison
A comparison of the terrestrial and arboreal tarantula kits side by side.

The terrestrial kit is not very tall and has an air vent on top of the cube. Because your terrestrial tarantula won’t be doing any climbing, it provides plenty of crawling floor space for an animal with a leg span of four inches or less. The decorative cork bark piece provides a convenient hiding spot and the substrate provided is suitable for a land-dwelling spider.

terrestrial tarantula kit
The terrestrial tarantula kit fully assembled.

Vertical space is important to tree-dwelling spiders, so the arboreal kit is a bit taller and the air vent is positioned on the side of the cube. The decorative cork bark and silk plant pieces are tall and give the spider something to climb on.

arboreal tarantula terrarium kit
Arboreal tarantula kit fully assembled.

Overall, the goal with these tarantula kits is to provide an attractive starter home for your pet spider. The kit includes everything you need to give your spider a healthy environment in which to grow.

Keep in mind that as your spider does grow and mature, it will eventually require a larger enclosure. These kits are intended to be homes for spiders with leg spans of under four inches.

terrestrial tarantula terrarium
Terrestrial tarantula kit components.

In addition to these handy little kits, Backwater Reptiles offers plenty of feeder food for your tarantula to chow down on, whether it will be eating crickets or other invertebrates. We also recommend reading more about the best pet tarantulas.