Species: Imperial scorpion Pandinus imperator

Expected lifespan: 10 - 12 years

Keir

DOB: Unknown

Keir is a very impressive looking animal with his large claws and sharp sting, this species of scorpion tends to be docile but Keir is the opposite. He will often rear back, open his claws and get his tail in position to sting if he thinks someone is about to put their hands into his tank. He been with us for 3 years and and his old companion died whilst trying to moult, we are on the lookout for a nice lady scorpion to live with Keir but are hoping to purchase a captive bred individual.

We are still unsure as to whether Keir was captive bred or wild caught. Imperial scorpions are relatively easy to breed in captivity and many are born in the UK every year. The females carry the young around on their backs after giving birth to them and will feed them until they are large enough to leave her.

Keir will quite happily scoff any hapless bug which wanders into his path and is normally fed of crickets and cockroaches as these tend to attempt to hide when placed in the tank (often in the same place as Keir). We used to feed locusts but found they always climbed the sides of the tank to sit on the lid and Keir could not get to them there.

Imperial scorpions are one of the largest scorpion species in the world and come from the rainforests of Africa. Although many people associate scorpions with desert environments they live quite happily in other habitats as well.

Keir lives in a large plastic storage tub with a cork bark cave hide that is lined with enough moss and organic compost for him to burrow in. If we ever got any more scorpions to live with him we would need to invest in a larger enclosure.