What are the essential conditions for keeping scorpions at normal temperatures?
Light: The scorpion shed should be built on high ground with ample sunlight. In places with sunlight, scorpions rarely suffer from diseases, and mites cannot survive.
Humidity: The water content in a scorpion's body is about 40% of its body weight, and under normal circumstances it will not develop physiological abnormalities due to lack of water. During long periods of rain or drought when the air is dry, water can be added to the reservoir above the scorpion mound to keep the nest soil moist; during heavy rain, cover the scorpion shed with plastic sheeting to prevent water from accumulating inside and washing out the scorpion mound. Remember: scorpions replenish water by absorbing moisture and are not suited to drinking water directly. The scorpion activity area should be slightly on the moist side, with a relative air humidity of about 80%. The humidity of the resting burrows should not be too high; during hibernation, frost damage must be avoided, and the humidity should be about 10%-12%. The moisture content of the soil in the nest directly affects the survival of scorpions.
Temperature: The suitable temperature for the growth and development of scorpions is between 20-39°C. When the temperature is between 2-39°C, they have the strongest appetite, grow quickly, molt smoothly, and this is the most suitable temperature for mating and reproduction. In natural scorpion farming, plastic sheeting must be used in late spring and late autumn to raise the temperature and shorten the hibernation period. When the temperature is below 10°C, scorpions stop growing and enter hibernation. If the temperature is between 8-15°C, scorpions appear half-asleep, sometimes active. After emerging from dormancy in spring, most scorpions have dry bodies and drooping tails, move slowly, lack appetite, and have a high mortality rate. 3-6°C is the optimal temperature for hibernation.
Feed: Scorpions like to eat insects that are high in protein, low in fat, soft-bodied, juicy, and active. They do not like to eat insects that are rotten, have special odors, are dead, or are sluggish. Yellow mealworms reproduce quickly, have a short growth cycle, do not require high breeding equipment conditions, are simple to raise, and are rich in nutrients, making them the best feed for scorpions. Ground beetles, woodlice, and similar creatures can only serve as supplementary feed.
Growth and development: As long as temperature and humidity are suitable, there is ample sunlight, and tasty feed is available, scorpions will reproduce and grow in large numbers. To succeed in scorpion farming, attention must also be paid to the ecological environment of the scorpion shed site, the quality of the scorpion stock, the management of birthing, molting density, disease prevention and control, escape prevention, and defense against natural enemies, none of which can be neglected.
Practice has proven that the scorpion farming cycle takes two years, with benefits seen year by year. To save on daily expenses, beginners can simply feed the scorpions in their spare time. Some advertisements claim that scorpions can reproduce 3-5 litters per year, with more than 50 per litter, guaranteed success and guaranteed buyback, and that after half a year the scorpions can grow to sellable size and make big money with especially quick returns; these are all exaggerated claims. No matter which farming method is used, scorpion farming must be carried out according to the survival characteristics and living patterns of scorpions. Only by studying farming techniques diligently, constantly innovating, striving for excellence, and persevering can one achieve great results.