African Fat tailed Scorpion Care Guide

Where do fat tail scorpions come from?

As the name implies the African fat tailed scorpion comes from northern Africa and the Middle East. However they have spread throughout Africa via humans.

These scorpions live in arid desert regions and love lots of rocks and places to provide cover for them to hide during the day.

Fat tail scorpions are also very common around villages and towns. The reason is our buildings provide the scorpions with ample places to hide and where you find people you can generally find other pest insects like cockroaches which makes up a large portion of the scorpions diet.

Housing Fat Tailed Scorpions

Scorpions don’t need anything elaborate as far as caging requirements. What’s important is the temperature and the humidity.

I like using Kritter Keeper cages because they come in various sizes, stack well and have a secure snapping lid. You don’t want small children to be able to open the cage and risk being stung.

Play sand works well for a bottom substrate. African fat tails love to hide so provide plenty of rocks and pieces of slate built into caves.

Heating the cage is simple and I would suggest an undertank heater for several reasons.

• temperature is stable and consistent around 78 F
• It’s safe compared to using heat lamps which can cause fires
• multiple cages can be placed on one heat mat
• use very little electricity

I have been using the seed germination mat below for years and they work fantastic. The great thing is for around $11.00 you can heat 6 tanks by placing the cages halfway on the mat.

If you were to buy a reptile heater at a pet shop you would pay close to $40 for a heat mat that is 10 inches by 20 inches.

Money Saving Tip! Buy the Seed Germination Mat Below

What to feed your African fattail scorpion?

Depending on the size of your scorpion you have will determine what you feed it. Crickets are the easiest and are fairly inexpensive. Your scorpion will not eat a lot so unless your keeping other insect eating pets I wouldn’t bother raising roaches.

My fat tail scorpion is full size and normally eats two large crickets a week.

You can tell if your scorpion is well fed as their body will be nice and plump.

Don’t be shocked if your scorpion does not eat for a week or two. I’ve noticed mine depending on the season and if it is going to molt this will stop eating.

It’s best to keep feeder insects out of the enclosure while your scorpion is molting.

Scorpions will get their moisture through the insects they eat. However I like to include a small cap of fresh water in the cage. The scorpion may not drink out of it but the crickets will.

Are African Fat tailed Scorpions Dangerous?

This is one scorpion you do not want to mess with and should not be kept by anyone under the age of 18. People do die from the sting of the African fat tail scorpion every year in Africa.

I did find a post that goes into more depth on the death rates and also brings up that depending upon the region the scorpion lives can determine their toxicity level. Dangerous scorpion fauna of Mali

If you are stung try to remain calm and seek immediate medical attention.

If your just starting out with scorpions I would advise starting with a less aggressive and dangerous species like the Asian Forest scorpion