Sichuan scorpion

Sichuan scorpion (scientific name: Mesobuthus martensii) is distributed in dry grasslands in China and Southeast Asia. It is 4-6 centimeters long and grows quickly. Suitable temperature is 25-32°C, suitable humidity is 45%-65%, and it can be raised in groups.

Sichuan scorpion (Mesobuthus martensii), the most common scorpion in China, is usually raised in rural areas for medicinal purposes and not kept as pets. Its body can generally be divided into three parts: the cephalothorax, the anterior abdomen and the posterior abdomen. The cephalothorax and the anterior abdomen are fused together to form the torso, which is flat and oval-shaped; the posterior abdomen is segmented and tail-like, also known as the tail. The entire body resembles a pipa (a Chinese string instrument) and is covered with highly chitinous hardened skin. Some also divide the scorpion body directly into the torso and the tail. In recent years, due to the continuous increase in scorpion prices, there have been price wars among medicinal scorpions, commercial scorpions, and regional concept scorpions like the Yimeng scorpion. In fact, from the perspective of medicinal herbs, their functions are basically the same.

Sichuan scorpion was crowned as the "first of the Five Poisons" thousands of years ago. After many years, it can only crawl in the dark because it is afraid of light, water, and even more afraid of wind... Humans condemn its ferocity, but it can't find an opportunity to defend itself because its offspring cannot escape from its pincers.

The East Asian scorpion is the most widely distributed species in our country's scorpion group. It has a small body and is only the size of an adult thumb. It is a cold-blooded animal, as we often say. Scorpions have been regarded as the first of the Five Poisons since ancient times. This is because they have a natural ferocity and venom. It is said that the female scorpion eats its newly born young scorpions, so people often use scorpions to metaphorize malicious women. Combined with its ugly appearance, it can be said that scorpions are almost universally despised. Although being stung by it is indeed painful and intolerable, causing unbearable suffering; although it is considered a bad omen in some places, causing people to be cautious. However, the true nature of scorpions is not as greedy as we subconsciously think, and maternal love also permeates around them.

Experienced people who love climbing pets recommend raising them. East Asian scorpions are not only a traditional Chinese medicine, but also a delicious delicacy with high economic value. According to measurements, the effective ingredient of scorpions is whole scorpion toxin (Buthotoxin), a toxic protein containing carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, chlorine, sulfur, and other elements, similar to snake neurotoxins. In addition, it also contains lecithin, trimethylamine, betaine, taurine, oleic acid, stearic acid, cholesterol, and ammonium salts. Animal experiments have shown that it has a certain anticonvulsant effect, but weaker than centipedes; when orally or intramuscularly injected with a preparation made from whole scorpions, significant and persistent hypotensive effects were found in dogs.

Sichuan scorpion, also known as scorpion disease, mostly occurs from June to August, often due to humid environment, high air humidity, and food mold, etc., and the pathogen is mostly green mold fungus. The infected scorpion often shows small brown or reddish-brown spots on the thorax and abdomen, which gradually enlarge into patches; then the scorpion's appetite decreases, and its growth stops; in the later stage, it becomes sluggish and eventually dies due to refusal to eat. Dissection reveals clusters of green mold-like mycelia in the body.

Prevention is the main method, and air humidity should be adjusted appropriately to eradicate the pathogens. ① The feeding and water plates should be cleaned frequently to eliminate moldy food; ② Disinfect the breeding area with 1% to 2% formalin or 0.1% potassium permanganate solution; ③ Isolate and treat the diseased scorpions, and promptly pick up and burn the dead scorpions; ④ Mix 18g of terramycin or 1g of chloramphenicol or 1-1.5g of long-acting sulfa with 1000g of feed, and feed it until they are cured.

Black decay, also known as body decay, can occur throughout the year, with a short course and a high mortality rate. It is mainly caused by feeding rotten feed, dirty drinking water, or accidental ingestion of black decay scorpions infected with black mold fungus. In the early stage of the disease, the abdomen of the scorpion swells and turns black, moves rarely, and has a reduced appetite; then black decay ulcers appear on the front abdomen, which can secrete black sticky fluid when pressed by hand, and eventually die.

① Keep the feed and drinking water fresh; ② Regularly disinfect the breeding area with 1% to 2% formalin solution; ③ Isolate and treat the diseased scorpions, and pick up and burn the dead scorpions; ④ Mix 1g of terramycin, 0.5g of erythromycin or 2.5g of small soda, 0.5g of sulfa tablets or 2.5g of rhubarb soda, 0.5g of terramycin with 500g of feed, and feed it until they are cured; ⑤ Use gallnut at the dose of 0.2-0.5g per kilogram of body weight daily to treat the diseased scorpions.

Hemiplegia, also known as limp disease, often occurs during the humid period of late summer and early autumn, due to long-term feeding of high-fat feed, causing a large accumulation of fat in the scorpion's body. The body of diseased scorpions is shiny, the limbs are enlarged, and their movement is difficult and sluggish. There is a red and fat-secreting mucous fluid in their mouthparts. They start to die 5-10 days after the onset of the disease.

① Do not feed or feed less high-fat feed; ② Adjust the environmental temperature and humidity appropriately; ③ Treatment can be done by fasting for 3-5 days or by feeding a mixture of 3g of rhubarb soda tablets, 50g of bran (fried until fragrant), and 60g of water until they are cured.

Abdominal distension usually occurs during the continuous rainy period in early spring and autumn, due to low temperature, causing indigestion in scorpions. Diseased scorpions have big bellies with green veins, slow reactions, decreased appetite, and they start to die 10-15 days after the onset of the disease.

① Maintain the breeding temperature at 25-39℃; ② Use multiple enzyme tablets and 18g of gallnut, 0.1g of sulfa tablets, and 100g of feed to mix and feed until they are cured.

Ant insects not only compete for food with scorpions, but also gnaw on the young, weak, and diseased scorpions.

① Crush and fry eggshells, and sprinkle them around the breeding area; ② After attracting ants with bones, sugar, etc., scald them with boiling water.

The Sichuan scorpion can be bred in various ways, including basin breeding, tank breeding, box breeding for small-scale breeding, and pond breeding, house breeding, honeycomb breeding for large-scale breeding. Regardless of the breeding method, the basic principle is to create a natural living environment that resembles the scorpion's natural habitat and provide comfortable living conditions. The following are the breeding methods of pond breeding, house breeding, and honeycomb breeding:

    Pond Breeding

    Build a pond with bricks indoors or outdoors (if outdoors, a shed should be built to prevent rainwater). The size of the pond depends on the number of scorpion seedlings to be introduced, generally requiring 1 cubic meter of space for 560 mature scorpions. The common size of the pond is: height of 0.5-1 meter, width of 1-1.5 meters, and length determined according to the actual situation. After the pond is built, the inner wall of the pond does not need to be plastered in order to maintain a rough surface, which is conducive for scorpions to climb, crawl, and inhabit. A small amount of mortar can be used to fill the gaps between the bricks on the outer wall of the pond to prevent scorpions from escaping through the gaps. Before the applied mortar on the inner side of the pond dries, smooth materials such as glass or plastic film can be embedded near the top of the wall to prevent scorpions from escaping through the top opening. The scorpion pool can be built into a multi-layer structure, with the feed for scorpions (such as mole crickets or yellow powder worms) placed in the first 1-2 layers close to the ground. There should be a spacing of 20-30 cm between each layer for operation and management. A brick, stone, or tile structure for scorpions to inhabit should be built in the center of the pond, with enough gaps left for scorpions to inhabit. The distance between the base of the false mountain and the pond wall should be approximately 15 cm to prevent scorpions from escaping through the false mountain.

    House Breeding

    There are many architectural styles for house breeding. It is generally a mud house made of adobe bricks, with a height of 2-2.5 meters, a length of 4 meters, and a width of 2.5 meters. The wall thickness is 23-28 cm, and the outer wall of the wall is coated with lime and other materials after being tightly closed with a three-layer soil mixture. It is best to use old adobe bricks, leaving gaps of different sizes of 0.5-2 cm between the bricks without plastering the inner wall of the wall, so as to provide hiding places for scorpions. Alternatively, a special mold can be used to make adobe bricks with holes on one side. 2-3 windows and a door can be opened on the south side of the wall. The top of each layer can be covered with fine wire mesh, then covered with plastic film, and bamboo or grass mats should be placed on the film. Alternatively, oil felt can be laid on the wire mesh to prevent enemy invasion and rusting of the wire mesh. Some small gaps leading to the outside of the layer can be left near the base of the wall, allowing adult and young scorpions to come and go freely. A circular protective ditch should be built around 1 meter away from the wall, using cement, sand, lime, and loess mixed and masonry. The width and depth of the ditch should be 60 cm each, and the distance from the bottom of the ditch to the inlet and outlet should be 60 cm and 40 cm respectively. The ditch should be kept filled with water all year round to prevent scorpions from escaping and ants from invading. In addition to drainage ditches and activity areas, devices for driving mice and birds may need to be installed in the breeding area, and insect traps can be installed in the activity area. Some broken stones should be piled up to create a suitable small environment for scorpion activities. Some wheat straw, rice straw, and bean vines should be placed in the activity area, mixed with appropriate amounts of bran, rice sugar, pig and horse dung, to breed some insects for scorpions to feed on.

    Honeycomb Breeding

    Traditional artificial scorpion breeding mostly uses box breeding (that is, placing multiple layers of tile in a smooth box), which has several fatal flaws: first, pregnant scorpions are mixed and bred together, causing interference from male scorpions and pregnant scorpions to birthing scorpions, making the birthing scorpions restless and unable to safely pass the period of absorption and molting, resulting in a large number of deaths; second, male scorpions, pregnant scorpions, and mother scorpions also eat a large number of newborn scorpions, resulting in a low survival rate of the newborn scorpions; third, the regulation of temperature and humidity is not easy to coordinate, often resulting in high humidity caused by high temperatures (too little spraying of water or excessive evaporation), seriously affecting the reproduction and molting of scorpions, resulting in the death of many juvenile scorpions due to unsuitable humidity. Many scorpion breeders have failed due to this. The honeycomb breeding method overcomes these shortcomings.