Invertebrates
Asian Forest scorpion care guide
Heterometrus spp.
Humid forest floor: deep moist substrate, heavy cover and a big water dish.
Terrestrial — floor space first
New to reptiles? Check your keeper level first →Asian Forest scorpion enclosure size
Terrestrial — floor space first. An adult asian forest scorpion should live in at least 12" L × 9" W × 6" H; we build toward 18" L × 12" W × 9" H (1.5 × 1 × 0.8 ft, roughly 1.5 sq ft of floor and about a 8-gallon glass equivalent).
- Spiderling / sling
- 6" L × 4" W × 5" H recommended · min 4" L × 4" W × 4" H
- Juvenile
- 10" L × 8" W × 7" H recommended · min 8" L × 6" W × 6" H
- Adult
- 18" L × 12" W × 9" H recommended · min 12" L × 9" W × 6" H
Temperature and heating
Heat the room, not the enclosure. If the room drops below 68 °F use a thermostatted space heater or a heat mat on the outside of a side wall (never under the substrate) — heat mats under a burrow cook the animal.
- Basking / warm surface
- None — no basking site, no heat lamp
- Warm side (ambient)
- 72–80 °F ambient room temperature
- Cool side (ambient)
- 70–75 °F ambient room temperature
- Night
- Room temperature; a 5–8 °F night drop is fine
Lighting and UVB
UVB: None — invertebrates need no UVB and bright light stresses them. Run lights on a Ambient room light on a normal day/night cycle; keep the enclosure out of direct sun photoperiod, on a timer, and replace UVB bulbs on the manufacturer's schedule even while they still emit visible light.
Humidity
Target 75–85% ambient. Keep the substrate evenly moist (damp, not waterlogged), overflow the water dish and mist a wall rather than the animal.
Substrate and depth
Coco fibre, topsoil and sphagnum, kept damp. Depth: 3–5 in.
- Ventilation: Moderate ventilation — humid but never stagnant.
Enclosure tips and furnishing
- Cork bark hides and leaf litter
- Water dish large enough to drink from
- A dark hide at both the warm and cool end
Build list
- Front-opening terrestrial enclosure with a locking lid — Scorpions climb silicone seams; a loose lid is an escape.
- UV flashlight — Scorpions fluoresce — the easiest way to confirm one is out and healthy without disturbing it.
- Digital thermometer / hygrometer — Inverts are kept at room temperature — you need to know what the room actually does, not guess.
- Long feeding tongs and a catch cup — Every interaction — feeding, water top-ups, rehousing — should happen without your hand near the animal.
Asian Forest scorpion FAQ
How big should an adult Asian Forest scorpion enclosure be?
At least 12" L × 9" W × 6" H, and we recommend building to 18" L × 12" W × 9" H — about 1.5 × 1 × 0.8 ft, or a 8-gallon glass equivalent. Terrestrial — floor space first.
What temperatures does an Asian Forest scorpion need?
Basking or warm surface None — no basking site, no heat lamp, warm side 72–80 °F ambient room temperature, cool side 70–75 °F ambient room temperature, night Room temperature; a 5–8 °F night drop is fine. Heat the room, not the enclosure. If the room drops below 68 °F use a thermostatted space heater or a heat mat on the outside of a side wall (never under the substrate) — heat mats under a burrow cook the animal.
Does an Asian Forest scorpion need UVB?
None — invertebrates need no UVB and bright light stresses them. Photoperiod: Ambient room light on a normal day/night cycle; keep the enclosure out of direct sun.
What humidity does an Asian Forest scorpion need?
75–85% ambient. Keep the substrate evenly moist (damp, not waterlogged), overflow the water dish and mist a wall rather than the animal.
What substrate is best for an Asian Forest scorpion?
Coco fibre, topsoil and sphagnum, kept damp, at a depth of 3–5 in.
How big does an Asian Forest scorpion enclosure need to be for a hatchling?
Spiderling / sling: 6" L × 4" W × 5" H recommended, minimum 4" L × 4" W × 4" H. Scale up to the adult footprint as the animal grows.
Is there anything to be careful about when keeping an Asian Forest scorpion?
Far more defensive than an emperor and quick to sting — tongs only.
How much ventilation does an Asian Forest scorpion enclosure need?
Moderate ventilation — humid but never stagnant.
Sources
Put this guide to work
Apply these targets to your own asian forest scorpion record, then log feedings, sheds and weights against them.