What Do Scorpions Eat?
One of the biggest questions about scorpions is: what do they eat? These venomous arachnids are not picky eaters but need a regular diet to stay healthy. They can survive up to a year without eating, but to maintain optimal health, You must feed them at least twice a week. Although they are not fussy eaters, keeping them in a communal tank is important to avoid cannibalism and overfeeding.
The main source of food for scorpions is insects. Many species of these animals feed on prey that is active at night. They are excellent predators of insects and are often found outdoors. They will eat moths and crickets. However, it is important to choose your prey wisely. It is best to avoid feeding them with moths because they may be harder to catch than others.
Prey for scorpions is varied and depends on the species you own. Ideally, the prey items for scorpions are large enough to grasp with their pincers. However, they should not be so large that they may harm you or your pet. Common prey items include mealworms, crickets, waxworms, and hornworms. Some species will also feed on super worms.
What Should I Feed My Scorpion?
A scorpion’s diet consists of live crickets, which are easily accessible to them. Buying crickets at a pet store is an excellent way to provide live food for your scorpion. You can also buy a few crickets and place them in their tank. It is essential to regularly feed the crickets to keep the nutrition levels high enough for your scorpion.
You should purchase crickets or mealworms from the pet store to feed your pet scorpions. These are inexpensive and can provide an abundant supply of nutrition for your scorpion. However, if you don’t have a local pet store, you can also buy worms in the wild.
Most scorpion species eat insects and rodents, but some species are more selective than others. Some mother scorpions kill prey items for their young. Their young will usually remain with their mother for up to two years before leaving her to establish their territory. However, some species can reach maturity in as little as six months or even seven years.
Rather than conventional jaws, scorpions have toothed pincer-like appendages. These appendages chew their prey with the help of digestive fluids in their midgut. These teeth and digestive fluids liquefy the soft parts of the prey, which are then sucked into the scorpion’s stomach. The entire process can take hours.
Final Thoughts
While many people think of scorpions as scary creatures, these species are not. They are common in the western United States and are found as far north as the southernmost tip of Illinois. The best way to protect yourself from scorpions is to educate yourself about the creatures in your area.
While most scorpion species are not harmful to humans, several species bite humans and cause severe pain. The most common victims of scorpion bites are children and people with severe allergies. Most scorpions kept as pets are slow to sting and are generally docile.
