RecoveryInvertebrates
Asian Forest scorpion care guide
Heterometrus spp.
Humid forest floor: deep moist substrate, heavy cover and a big water dish.
Terrestrial — floor space 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 a 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 a 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 a 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 a Asian Forest scorpion?
Coco fibre, topsoil and sphagnum, kept damp, at a depth of 3–5 in.
How big does a 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 a Asian Forest scorpion?
Far more defensive than an emperor and quick to sting — tongs only.
How much ventilation does a 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.