Why Is My Scorpion Not Eating?

Written by Anthony in Scorpions Last Updated May 15, 2023
Large-Clawed Scorpion

We are often asked why a scorpion is not eating by those who have become extremely concerned for the welfare of their pet scorpions. It is understandable to worry if you have no experience of taking care of these amazing creatures, but fret not. Scorpions can actually go a long time without eating, and it does not harm them in any way.

Know that scorpions do not need to eat every single day;Opens in a new tab. in fact, adults can go for up to a year without food in their natural habitat, if necessary. This is down to their ability to eat large amounts of food relative to their own body size. They also have the ability to slow down their metabolism, which enables them to survive up to the aforementioned year without eating.

How Often Should Pet Scorpions be Fed?

As touched upon above, in the wild scorpions can eat large amounts of food (up to a third of their body size in one meal). And if they do eat such large quantities of food, they can go for a long time without eating again. It is different when the scorpions are in captivity though and you should really get into the habit of feeding your scorpionOpens in a new tab. regularly, although not daily.

  • Black Fat-Tailed Scorpion
    Black Fat-Tailed Scorpion
  • Shiny Burrow Scorpion
    Shiny Burrow Scorpion
  • Giant Hairy Scorpion
    Giant Hairy Scorpion

How often you feed your scorpion will depend on the species of scorpion you have and whether it is an adult or a juvenile. Larger scorpions might eat small amounts every other day whereas smaller species could eat just once a week. One thing you do need to bear in mind though is that feeding young scorpions too much could result in them growing too fast. This becomes problematic if the body becomes too large for the exoskeleton between molting.

When you first get a scorpion, it is probably best to feed it twice a week. Establishing a regular feeding routine is key to keeping the scorpion contentedOpens in a new tab.. Remember that scorpions eat live food such as crickets. Consequently, it is best to provide live food which itself has been recently fed to ensure they are gut laden. Place the crickets into the scorpion’s tank at night as scorpions are nocturnal creatures.

Are You Feeding Enough?

If you notice that your scorpion seems to be pouncing on things or if it is skittering around the tank anxiously, it may be the case that it is not getting enough food. Try placing more food in the enclosure at the next feed.

If your scorpion is not eating and is leaving food in the tank, it may be getting too much. If so, do not feed it on the next scheduled feed day. Instead, wait a day or two before feeding again. As mentioned, scorpions have an amazing ability to go long periods of time without eating due to the way that their body handles nutrition.

Some species of scorpion, such as emperors for example, will fast as part of their normal life cycle so they can go for weeks at a time without eating anything. It is natural for inexperienced scorpion owners to worry when their pet is not eating, but for the most part these fascinating creatures will typically eat when they are hungry. If you are really worried and have noticed signs of ill-health, it is best to seek advice from a local reptile center.

  • Malaysian Black Scorpion
    Malaysian Black Scorpion
  • Emperor Scorpion
    Emperor Scorpion
  • Flat Rock Scorpion
    Flat Rock Scorpion

Photo Credits:

Anthony

I am a content creator by profession but exotic animals are one of my great passions in life. Over the course of my adulthood, I have had the pleasure of looking after stick insects, terrapins, an Egyptian tortoise, giant African land snails, a crested gecko, a Chilean rose tarantula, a couple of curly-haired tarantulas, and a selection of millipedes, centipedes and worms!

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