The Mediterranean Yellow Scorpion is widely distributed, and its presence can be found in the steppes and deserts along the Mediterranean region such as Albania, Greece, Yugoslavia, and Turkey. The Mediterranean Yellow Scorpions in Africa can be lethal, but compared to those in Africa, the venom of Mediterranean Yellow Scorpions in Europe is weaker and they have a gentler temperament.
Chinese name: 地中海黄蝎
Latin name: Buthus occitanus
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Arachnida
Order: Scorpiones
Scorpions first appeared on land about 430 million years ago in the Silurian period and belong to the class Arachnida. What sets them apart is their distinctive tail, which is high and curved like a lute. This tail is also their main weapon against enemies and should not be underestimated in terms of its lethalness.
Adult scorpions generally have a body length of 50-60 millimeters. The entire body surface is covered in highly chitinous exoskeleton, and the body is clearly segmented. The body of a scorpion consists of the head, thorax, abdomen, and tail. The body is yellow, with the abdomen and limbs being relatively lighter in color. The head and thorax are made up of six segments and are trapezoid in shape, with a dorsal shield on the back.
In the middle of the back of the body, there is a pair of median eyes, with 3 lateral eyes on each side of the front, and 6 pairs of appendages. The anterior abdomen is wider and is made up of 7 segments. The posterior abdomen is a slender and easily bendable part, consisting of 5 body segments and a stinger. Scorpions are dioecious, and overall, their bodies are mainly slender and segmented, with the tail being venomous when stinging.
It is recommended to keep Mediterranean Yellow Scorpions as pets for climbing enthusiasts. The distribution of Mediterranean Yellow Scorpion is relatively wide, and its presence can be found in the steppes and deserts along the Mediterranean region such as Albania, Greece, Yugoslavia, and Turkey. The Mediterranean Yellow Scorpions in Africa can be deadly, but those in Europe have weaker venom and are more docile in nature.
Black belly disease: The main symptoms are black abdomen, abnormal feces, inactivity, and loss of appetite in scorpions. This disease usually occurs in winter or early spring due to low external temperature and high humidity, resulting in excessive moisture in the scorpion's body. Raising the temperature of the scorpion nest appropriately and reducing humidity can prevent the occurrence of this disease.
Gastroenteritis: The main symptoms are swollen and black abdomen, loss of appetite, inactivity, and subsequent decay of the whole body, leading to mass mortality. This disease is mainly caused by deteriorated feed or unclean drinking water. It can be treated with antibacterial drugs such as loperamide and a small amount of yeast tablets. Pay special attention to maintaining environmental and dietary hygiene to prevent the occurrence of this disease.
Scabies: The main symptoms are extreme restlessness of scorpions, with yellow powdery mites lurking in the chest and abdomen, gradually tormenting the scorpions to death. This disease is mainly caused by excessive humidity in the dry scorpion nest. To prevent this disease, disinfect the scorpion nest with a 1% bleach solution and a 3.5% potassium permanganate solution, or with a 4.5% formalin solution.
Dehydration disease: The main symptoms are yellow tail, flat anterior abdomen, and lack of luster in the whole body of scorpions. This disease is mainly caused by long-term water shortage in scorpions. As long as you pay attention to water supply and maintain moderate humidity in the scorpion nest, this disease can be avoided.
1. Keep the temperature: When the temperature is below 15℃, the scorpion remains in a dormant state and stops or slows down its growth. When the temperature is above 40℃, the scorpion tries desperately to cool down, even to the point of death. Therefore, the optimal temperature for the growth and development of scorpions should be maintained at 25℃ to 30℃.
2. Control the humidity: Scorpions prefer dry environments and are afraid of moisture. The ideal relative humidity should be 45% to 50%. The moisture content in the sand should be between 15% and 20%, so that the sand is not too dry or too wet, and humans do not feel the air in the scorpion room is stuffy. It should be noted that the sand should not be too wet, otherwise the scorpions may get infested with mites and die.
3. Provide sufficient drinking water: The success of scorpion breeding relies on having adequate drinking water. If there is a lack of water, the scorpions may become dehydrated and die from mutual attacks. Therefore, you can use a sponge to absorb clean or cold water and put it in the scorpion's enclosure every day. Every 3 days, you can add an antibiotic medicine (such as tetracycline, sulfonamide, etc.) to the scorpions' drinking water. Dissolve one tablet of medicine in about 4 kg of cold boiled water, mix it well, absorb it onto a sponge, and put it in the scorpion's enclosure.
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