Detailed Explanation of Nutritional Requirements for 3rd-instar Scorpions and Adult Scorpions

Third-instar scorpions have entered the nutritional growth stage, with increased demands for feed palatability and nutrients, and should be fed mainly carnivorous food. Scorpions often eat live food, which not only allows them to develop quickly but also reduces feed costs. You can take advantage of insects' phototaxis by installing a black light lamp above the scorpion nest to attract insects for the scorpions to prey on. Under artificial rearing conditions, you can feed crushed bone meat or chopped meat scraps from livestock and poultry offal, grind them into fine mince with a meat grinder, mix with wheat bran and flour, then add chopped green vegetables and adjust into granular form for feeding. Feed each scorpion 1 pea-sized portion of food per feeding, generally feeding 150 grams per 2000 scorpions. It is best to feed artificially reared yellow mealworms (Tenebrio molitor); each scorpion can eat 1 yellow mealworm per week. Breeding scorpions have a strong appetite during the reproduction period and should be fed once every 2 to 3 days. Sufficient food must be provided and food variety must be ensured to prevent them from fighting over food and killing each other, losing mating ability and prolonging the gestation period.

When feeding, note that more food should be given at high temperatures and less at low temperatures; to prevent poisoning from spoiled, rotten or moldy food, leftover food that has not been eaten should be removed promptly the next day; feeding time should preferably be at 8 to 9 o'clock in the evening. After the end of October, as temperatures drop, @#@257@#@ gradually enters the hibernation period, not eating or moving, and growth and development stop. In early spring when temperatures stabilize, scorpions come out of their nests and become active, so food and water should be provided promptly to avoid overeating and overdrinking, which can cause bloating and death.