Congo Red Crocodile Back Scorpion

Red Crocodile Back Scorpion (scientific name: Hottentotta hottentotta), also known as Congo Red Crocodile Back Scorpion, is native to the semi-desert region of Congo in Africa. It has a fierce temperament and strong venom. Like other scorpions, it has crocodile-like markings on its back, but they are more pronounced than other species. The color of its body varies greatly, ranging from brown to dark red and dark purple. The color of juvenile scorpions is even more attractive. Generally, it is a relatively rare species of back scorpion.

Scientific name: Hottentotta hottentotta

Chinese name: Congo Red Crocodile Back Scorpion

English name: Congoredalligatorbackscorpion

Habitat: Semi-desert

Origin: Congo in Africa

Temperament: Aggressive

Venomous: Moderate

Growth rate: Moderate

Maximum size: Approximately 5 inches

Appetite: Large

Food: Dubia roaches, mealworms, crickets

Lifespan: Approximately 10 years

Difficulty of care for adult scorpions: Easy

Difficulty of care for juvenile scorpions: Easy

Method of care: Solitary

Congo Red Crocodile Back Scorpion: also known as Red Crocodile Back Scorpion, is a reptile belonging to the order Scorpiones, family Buthidae, genus Hottentotta. It is native to northern Africa, including Congo, Chad, Gambia, Syria, Cameroon, and Guinea. There are three subspecies, with the type species capable of reproduction through parthenogenesis, while the other two subspecies require sexual reproduction.

Likes to climb and is recommended for pet keeping. It is a common variety of crocodile back scorpion and has a reasonable price. Similar to other crocodile back scorpions, it has a distinctive wrinkled back resembling a crocodile. The body color varies greatly, ranging from brown to dark red or dark purple. The colors of the young scorpions are even more beautiful, but they become dim and less appealing after reaching adulthood.

1. Belly Disease

Caused by eating unclean and smelly food or drinking water. The abdomen of the diseased scorpion swells and turns black. The prevention and treatment method is to isolate the diseased scorpion in time, remove residual food, stop feeding water for several days, pay attention to food hygiene, and strengthen management.

2. Drying Disease

Caused by lack of water in the scorpion's nest, leading to excessive dryness. The tail and rear abdomen of the diseased scorpion turn yellow and gradually dry up and die. The prevention and treatment method is to timely supply water and maintain a certain humidity in the scorpion's nest, and it will recover after a few days.

3. Withering Disease

Symptoms include dry and dull body, flat front abdomen, inability to crawl, loss of balance, fear when encountering food, days without eating, and gradual death. This disease can be seen throughout the year and is often caused by long-term failure to change soil, excessively dry nest soil, or excessive feeding after scorpion hunger. Treatment can be done by feeding the diseased scorpion with 3 tablets of yeast tablets, 1 tablet of tetracycline, powdered and mixed with water, twice a day, for 3-4 days for recovery.

4. Black Mold Disease

Also known as fungal disease or black spot disease. This disease often occurs in autumn and is caused by fungal infection due to excessive or prolonged humidity of the nest soil. The main symptoms include the inability of the rear abdomen to curl, the softness of the whole body, sluggish movement, loss of appetite, and small black spots on the front abdomen. The treatment method is to feed the diseased scorpion with 0.25 grams of aureomycin, powdered and mixed with 400 grams of water, twice a day, for 3-4 days for recovery. The original nest room should be disinfected and the soil should be changed.

5. Numbness of Steps, Blackening of Foot Whiskers Disease

This disease is easy to occur when the scorpion is bitten by ants. After being infected, the steps of the diseased scorpion shrink and cannot be extended, losing the ability to move and losing the desire to eat. When encountering situations where it wants to run, it turns into chaotic jumping and rolling movements, and the diseased legs slowly turn black and dry to death. The prevention and control method is to strictly prevent ants from entering the scorpion's nest, and immediately remove them if found.

6. Hemiplegia

The symptoms of this disease are walking sideways, or walking with one ventral limb and the second dorsal limb, rolling and crawling, and the whole body is unconscious. During the day, it seems to crawl outside without fear of everything. The cause of the disease is too much humidity in the nest room and excessive steam in the hot weather. Therefore, attention should be paid to the humidity in the nest room.

7. Scorpion Lice

When the scorpions are disturbed, yellowish powdery mites appear on their bodies, hidden in the small seams of the foot whiskers, chest and abdomen, legs, and tail. This kind of mite is called scorpion lice. The cause of the disease is excessive humidity in the scorpion's nest. The prevention and control method is to keep the nest room dry, and at the same time, pay attention to isolation and spray disinfection with diluted bleaching powder.

Suitable temperature is between 25-32 degrees (it will not eat below 20 degrees), and the feeding box should be placed in a cool, ventilated, and quiet place.

Red Crocodile Back Scorpions generally have no problem with feeding. Just choose suitable-sized insects as feed, such as needle-headed crickets and cherry cockroaches, or feed them sliced mealworms. In case of refusal to eat, it may be due to nervousness, environmental issues, molting, pregnancy, or simply lack of interest in the food.