Gresham Pet Supply Pet Care Guide
Asian Forest Scorpion
Heterometrus & related spp. (check the tag)
Why We Love Them: Asian Forest Scorpions are visually striking, glossy black giants. When placed under a UV blacklight, their entire exoskeleton glows a brilliant, neon cyan-green! While they are often confused with Emperor Scorpions, Asian Forest Scorpions have slightly smoother, glossier claws and tend to be a bit more defensive.
Lifespan
5-8 years
Adult Size
4-6 inches long
Enclosure
10-Gallon Tank
Warm / Basking
78°–85°F
Cool Side
70°–75°F
Humidity / Water
70-82% (High)
Species Profile & Temperament
| Trait | Overview |
|---|---|
| Origin | Tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia |
| Diet Type | Insectivore (Crickets, Roaches, Mealworms) |
| Activity | Nocturnal (Spends most of the day hiding in deep burrows) |
| Temperament | Shy and fossorial. More defensive and skittish than the Emperor Scorpion. |
| Handleability | Not recommended. They are prone to pinching and stinging when stressed. |
| Venom | Medically insignificant (Comparable to a bee sting, unless allergic), but the sting is painful. |
| Defense | Massive, powerful claws (pedipalps). They pinch hard, and Josh's Frogs notes they "will readily sting." |
| Difficulty | 2/5 — Easy (Straightforward care, but they require high humidity) |
| Hardiness | 4/5 — Hardy (Robust, provided they don't dry out) |
Safety Information
Venom/Defense: Their venom is mild, but a sting will still cause localized pain, swelling, and redness. They pinch hard and will readily sting. A pinch from an adult Asian Forest Scorpion is incredibly strong and can easily break the skin.
Handling Precautions: Do not handle this species. Handling causes them immense stress and puts you at risk of a painful pinch or sting. Always use long (10-inch or 12-inch) feeding tongs when performing tank maintenance.
No Cohabitation: Asian Forest Scorpions are highly territorial. Keep one scorpion per enclosure, always. Keeping multiple in the same tank will inevitably lead to cannibalism.
Housing & Enclosure
Enclosure Type & Size
- Type: Terrestrial / Heavy Burrower (Fossorial).
- Minimum: A standard 10-gallon glass aquarium is perfect for a single adult.
- Ventilation: Good ventilation is required to prevent mold in their high-humidity environment, so a screen lid is recommended.
Substrate
- Recommended: Coconut fiber (Eco Earth), peat moss, or a jungle soil mix.
- Depth (CRITICAL): Provide 3 to 6 inches of substrate. These scorpions are fossorial, meaning they need to dig deep, elaborate burrows to feel secure and regulate their temperature/humidity.
Décor & Enrichment
- Hides: Provide multiple hides (curved cork bark, flat rocks, or half-logs). They will often use a piece of cork bark as the "roof" for their burrow entrance.
- Leaf Litter: Adding a layer of magnolia or oak leaf litter on top of the soil helps trap moisture and mimics their natural forest floor habitat.
- Water Dish: Provide a wide, shallow water dish with a few clean pebbles in it so neither the scorpion nor crickets drown. Keep it filled with dechlorinated water at all times. Do not put sponges in the water.
Temperature
| Zone | Temperature |
|---|---|
| Ambient | 75–80°F (24–27°C) |
- Heating: They do best in a warm environment. If your house drops below 72°F, you must use a heat pad. CRITICAL: Mount the heat pad on the SIDE of the tank, never underneath. In the wild, scorpions dig deeper into the earth to escape the heat. If the heat pad is on the bottom, they will dig down, get trapped against the glass, and cook to death.
Humidity
- Target Range: 70–82% (High).
- How to Maintain: Because they are from the rainforest, they need high humidity to survive and molt properly. Keep the substrate consistently damp (it should clump together when squeezed, but not drip water). You can achieve this by pouring water directly into the corners of the soil, rather than just surface misting.
Diet & Nutrition
Asian Forest Scorpions are great eaters. They often wait at the entrance of their burrow and ambush passing prey.
Primary Diet
- Live crickets, dubia roaches, or mealworms. Ensure the prey is appropriately sized.
Feeding Schedule
| Life Stage | Frequency | Prey Size |
|---|---|---|
| Juvenile | Every 3–5 days | A cricket about the length of the scorpion's head |
| Adult | Every 7–10 days | A cricket or roach about the length of the scorpion's head |
Pre-Molt Fasting
- If they seal themselves inside their burrow and refuse food for weeks, they are likely preparing to molt. Do not dig them up.
Molting
During the Molt
- Like tarantulas, scorpions must shed their hard exoskeleton to grow.
- DO NOT disturb the scorpion while it is molting.
- Remove any live crickets from the enclosure immediately. A live cricket will eat a molting scorpion alive while its new shell is soft.
What We Use & Recommend
These are products we use and recommend for this species. Stock varies by store, so ask us what we have in store today.
| Category | Product | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Enclosure | Aqueon 10-Gallon Glass Aquarium | Perfect size for one adult |
| Substrate | Zoo Med Eco Earth (Coco Fiber) | Minimum 3-6 inches deep for burrowing |
| Heating | Zoo Med ReptiTherm UTH (Small) | MUST be mounted on the side of the tank, not the bottom |
| Hides | Zoo Med Natural Cork Bark | Excellent starting point for their burrows |
| Tools | Zoo Med 10-inch Feeding Tongs | Mandatory to avoid being pinched or stung |
Last updated: 2026-08-04
How We Keep Them at Critter Cabana & Gresham Pet Supply
- Oregon Winter Furnace Air vs. Molting Humidity: When Pacific Northwest furnaces kick on from October through April, indoor room humidity drops fast and dries out small enclosures from the top down. We keep the deep substrate damp like a wrung-out sponge by pouring water into one corner, and let the top dry slightly to stop mold. We mist the walls and decor, never the scorpion, and keep good airflow.
- Safe Room Heating in the Willamette Valley: If your house drops below 65°F on winter nights, never put a heat pad on the bottom of the tank. Scorpions dig down to escape heat and can cook. Use a low-wattage heat mat on the side of the tank, above the substrate line, on a digital thermostat. Aim for 75 to 80°F.
- Shopping at Newberg & Gresham: For enclosures, cork bark, substrates, springtails and feeders at Critter Cabana (Newberg) and Gresham Pet Supply, ask us what we have in store today.
Common Questions (FAQ)
How do I keep my Asian Forest Scorpion warm and humid enough during an Oregon winter?
Aim for 75 to 80°F with deep substrate kept damp like a wrung-out sponge. Pour water into one corner to keep the lower layers damp. Keep a shallow water dish with a few pebbles in it. Mist the walls, not the scorpion. Never put a heat mat underneath the tank.
What size enclosure does a Asian Forest Scorpion need?
An adult needs at least a 10 gallon tank. Floor space and deep, damp substrate matter more than height. Use a secure, latching lid, and keep one scorpion per enclosure.
Can I put isopods in a Asian Forest Scorpion bioactive enclosure?
Around molting tarantulas and scorpions, skip big, hungry isopods and stick to springtails, so a soft, newly molted animal is never nibbled.
Where can I find Asian Forest Scorpion, cork bark, and feeder insects in Oregon?
Ask us what we have in store today at our two exotic animal stores: Critter Cabana in Newberg (514 E First St, 503-537-2887) and Gresham Pet Supply (2185 NW Burnside Rd, 503-665-7606).
Shop supplies for this animal
Everything for your Asian Forest Scorpion setup, ready for pickup in store or shipped to you.
