[HOW TO] Guide to Feeding Young Scorpions

Introduction:
This guide responds to the multiple queries on how we should feed young scorpions such as 2.instar scorplings after they has dismounted from mom's back.

Common feeder choices for scorplings of 2 to 3.instar:
1) Roach nymphs
2) Newly hatched baby crickets ("pinheads")
3) Head-crushed juvenile crickets
4) Ripped-off hind legs of adult crickets ("cricket drumsticks")

Additional Feeding info for sub-adult - adult specimens:

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Feeding routine for scorplings ( 2 to 3.instar ):
- 2 or 3 times per week and quantity is one feeder for each time
- To prevent over-powering by the feeder, the size of feeder has to be specifically chosen
- The recommended size is half or no bigger than the mesosoma (body) length of the scorpion itself

Additional Feeding info for sub-adult - adult specimens:

Click here to view:

Things to note:
- Always try to use farm-bred feeders (bought from your local pet stores/ self-bred colonies) and none wild-caught as they might contain pesticide etc that might be harmful to your scorpion. One of the recommended feeder roaches are B.lateralis.

- The above feeding guide should only be used as a gauge. Most scorpion will slow down their feeding intervals as they get fatten up along with each meal they had.

- Remain with the above feeding interval as long as they continue eating, once the scorpion starts to reject/ ignore the presence of feeder, it simply means that they are not feeling hungry at that point of time. Simply, wait a longer time interval before offering the scorpion food again (e.g. from offering food 2-3 times a week to a reduced feeding of only offering food once a week)

- Once your scorpling is looking all plump-up and fat, be prepared that they might be molting soon. Hence, do not leave uneaten feeder (cricket/roach) "hanging around" the scorpion's enclosure at this point of time

The appropriate sized feeders:(5-10mm +/-)
1. Pinheads (Newly hatched baby crickets)

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2. Roach nymphs

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3. Another choice would be Fruitflies

Availability of appropriately sized feeders :
Pinheads, roach nymphs and fruitflies are ideal for feeding 2.instar due to their appropriate size of less then 10mm which is not overwhelmingly large for the scorplings. However, they might not be readily available in your neighboring pet-stores.

Alternative choice:
I believe crickets are the more comonly found feeders in the market, however, the issue lies in getting the small ones to feed the little 2.instar scorplings!

Well, not to worry if you can't get your hands on pinheads, an alternative choice would be incapacitating an adult cricket!

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Head-crush it with a pair of tongs and removed it's hind legs:

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Now, place them gently onto the substrate and wait for the little scorplings to pick up it's scent and start working on them...

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They should take the cricket's drumstick fairly fast and the hungry ones will not hesitate to work on the bigger plate of food on the table!

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There's a saying.. "To each his own..." seems to be ideal descriptive of what's happening here! haha

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Every individual scorpling has their own personality. Some just likes it alone.
Like a cheetah dragging it's kill away from the main attack party..

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Others scorplings just couldn't care less about who's eating right next to them.
Eat the food while it's HOT!

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An overview on the choices:

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Regards,
GS