Hottentotta hottentotta (Fabricius, 1787) Origin and occurrence: Africa Size of adults: Females (6.instar): 6 cm+/- Females (7.instar): 7 cm +/- Speed: Medium Maturity: Females can attain maturity (able to produce offsprings) at 6.instar or 7.instar Reproduction:
Hottentotta hottentotta are parthenogenetic.
It simply refers that a mature specimen of this specie is able to impregnate itself without having the need to mate.

Sexual dimorphism:
Hottentotta hottentotta which are circulating in the hobby are generally females. The occurrence of Hottentotta hottentotta males are very rare in the hobby and possibly only in the wild.

Growth Rate:
1.instar >> 2.instar: 04 days 2.instar >> 3.instar: 23 days 3.instar >> 4.instar: 26 days 4.instar >> 5.instar: 27 days 5.instar >> 6.instar: 35 days 6.instar >> 7.instar: 40 days

Duration to achieve reproductive maturity:
Female (6.instar): 115 days / 3 months 25 days
Female (7.instar): 155 days / 5 months 5 days

Brooding dates for adults:
- First brood: less then 90 days after attaining maturity

- Subsequent broods: between 60 to 90 days
- Total broods obtained from a single adult specimen: 3 to 4

Question: How Can I Tell a Male Emperor Scorpion from a Female?

If you are interested in breeding emperor scorpions, you will need to tell males from females. Just a note: if you do intend to breed them, please think about how you will find homes for all the offspring!

Answer: It takes some practice to tell the difference between male and female scorpions. When sexing emperor scorpions, it is best to examine the pectines -- these are small comb-like appendages on the ventral abdomen (underside) of the scorpion. The pectines (sometimes also called pectens) are thought to have a sensory function, primarily to vibrations. In males, these are larger and more prominent, although it may take some experience comparing males and females to use this as a reliable indicator.

There is an excellent photo here:

Adult males also tend to be a bit smaller than females, but this is unreliable as a tool to differentiate males and females.

First of all, as a rule of thumb: Hidden Scorpion = Happy Scorpion. They aren't flashy, attention seeking creatures like dogs or the rather annoying cat trying to sleep on my laptop right now. They hide while you're awake, and come out to play when the lights go out. You have to remember these are nocturnal creatures that also burrow.

Yes, when a female has babies she will be very protective of them until they're no longer riding around with her. The best thing to do, if possible, is to move her into a separate tank if you think she's gravid (she'll look ridiculously fat, with the "grey" skin like bits showing between the top plates- either fat or gravid, it can be hard to know). However, emps have a very long gestation period- 9 to 14 months, I believe (though 10 months is average). However, I know of several people who have been very successful just leaving the mother in with her buddies. I know one of the users here found that the female was cool with other females, but chased the male off.

No, do not take substrate away. Emperor scorpions are burrowing creatures, they because it's what they're told to do for survival, and it's how they live. Would you want to live in a smaller house? Probably not, and neither would your scorpions.

From what I've heard, the easiest method of breeding scorpions is to keep one male in with one or more females. They'll breed, really no need to worry about that. What you'll need to worry about is the babies, they need it to be warmer and more humid than the adults if you want them to thrive. Even then many won't make it, they're very delicate creatures as babies. However, I assume if you do it properly then you should end up with some surviving babies.

Like most pregnant creatures, momma scorp is going to be very munchy, so you'll want to feed her plenty. I've also heard that causing stress when she has her babies will make her more likely to eat them. So try to keep things relaxed when she has them.

Well, that's about all I can tell you, hope it can answer some questions. I'm certain others are much more informed than I, so do search around a bit!

For beginners, the most universally recommended species to keep as a pet is the Emperor scorpion, Pandinus imperator. It is fairly docile and its sting is said to be roughly the same as a bee or wasp sting (although serious anaphylactic reactions can occur). For other species, the sting can range from relatively harmless to very painful or even potentially lethal. Here is a brief summary of characteristics of some species available as pets.

Pandinus sp.
•Pandinus imperator - Emperor - large, fairly docile, and good for beginners
•Pandinus cavimanus (Tanzanian Redclaw) - smaller than emperors and can be more aggressive so not as suitable as emperors, but okay for beginners
•these are rain forest species that are easy to obtain and care for

Heterometrus sp.

•Heterometrus spinifer - Thai Black
•Heterometrus javanensis - Javanese Jungle Scorpion
•large rain forest species, but tend to be a little harder to obtain
•fairly benign stings (like wasp), okay for beginners
•both species are said to be easy to keep in groups, and worth the cost

•Not for Beginners•

Hadrurus sp. (Desert Hairy Scorpion)Quite Aggressive

•Hadrurus hirsutus
•Hadrurus arizonensis
•desert species
•painful sting
•fairly aggressive
•not for beginners

Bothriurus bonnariensis (Chilean Chocolate)

•more aggressive
•painful sting
•not for beginners

Species best avoided:

•Androctonus sp. - potentially lethal
•Vaejovis sp. - very painful
•Centuroides sp. - potentially lethal.
•also - Scorpio maurus - fairly dangerous itself, but sometimes young Androctonus australis (highly venomous - potentially lethal) are mistakenly identified and sold as S. maurus. Beginners should avoid both!

Scorpions are predatory arthropod animals of the order Scorpiones within the class Arachnida. They have eight legs and are easily recognised by the pair of grasping pedipalps and the narrow, segmented tail, often carried in a characteristic forward curve over the back, ending with a venomous stinger. Scorpions range in size from 9 mm (Typhlochactas mitchelli) to 20 cm (Hadogenes troglodytes). Scorpions are found widely distributed over all continents, except Antarctica, in a variety of terrestrial habitats except the high latitude tundra. Scorpions number about 1,752 described species, with 13 extant families recognised to date. The taxonomy has undergone changes and is likely to change further, as a number of genetic studies are bringing forth new information. Scorpion venom has a fearsome reputation, but only about 25 out of almost 1500 species are known to have venom capable of killing a human being.

The tarantula's appearance is worse than its bite. Tarantula venom is weaker than that of a honeybee and, though painful, is virtually harmless to humans. Tarantulas give some people the creeps because of their large, hairy bodies and legs. But these spiders are harmless to humans (except for a painful bite), and their mild venom is weaker than a typical bee's. Among arachnid enthusiasts, these spiders have become popular pets. Tarantulas periodically shed their external skeletons in a process called molting. In the process, they also replace internal organs, such as female genitalia and stomach lining, and even regrow lost appendages. There are hundreds of tarantula species found in most of the world's tropical, subtropical, and arid regions. They vary in color and behavior according to their specific environments. Generally, however, tarantulas are burrowers that live in the ground. Tarantulas are slow and deliberate movers, but accomplished nocturnal predators. Insects are their main prey, but they also target bigger game, including frogs, toads, and mice. The South American bird-eating spider, as it name suggests, is even able to prey upon small birds. A tarantula doesn't use a web to ensnare prey, though it may spin a trip wire to signal an alert when something approaches its burrow. These spiders grab with their appendages, inject paralyzing venom, and dispatch their unfortunate victims with their fangs. They also secrete digestive enzymes to liquefy their victims' bodies so that they can suck them up through their straw-like mouth openings. After a large meal, the tarantula may not need to eat for a month. Tarantulas have few natural enemies, but parasitic pepsis wasps are a formidable exception. Such a wasp will paralyze a tarantula with its sting and lay its eggs on the spider's body. When the eggs hatch, wasp larvae gorge themselves on the still living tarantula. The tarantula's own mating ritual begins when the male spins a web and deposits sperm on its surface. He copulates by using his pedipalps (short, leglike appendages located near the mouth) and then scuttles away if he can—females sometimes eat their mates. Females seal both eggs and sperm in a cocoon and guard it for six to nine weeks, when some 500 to 1,000 tarantulas hatch.

List of TARANTULA for Newbie's :)

Grammostola pulchripes (Chaco Golden Knee)
Grammostola pulchra (Brazilian black tarantula)
Grammostola Rosea
and most Brachypelmas (Except B.Vagans they're very mean sometimes :)
Most Aphonopelma species ( Except A. moderatum - they are a little bit scary! haha)
Eupalaestrus campestratus

You can ask freely. just put it down in the comment box. I'm very happy to help. Thank you have a nice day!

The most easiest way to know the gender of your T's

or Check this link. This can really help you
How to Determine the Sex of Your Tarantula

How to Tell if Your Tarantula Is Molting
If you are uncertain if your pet tarantula is about to molt, this article may help you. Although it is written more for rose-hair tarantulas, many of these steps apply for other species of tarantulas.

1. How is your spider acting? Tarantulas may get lethargic and stop eating before they molt. Some species even change colors!
2. Is your spider moving? Tarantulas often stop moving or don't move at all to conserve energy before a molt.
3. Is your tarantula eating? Before a big molt, tarantulas will stop eating for extended periods of time, ranging from a few weeks to a couple of months.
4. What position is the spider in? During a molt, a tarantula lays up-side down on their back to get out of the old skin easier.

Tarantulas comprise a group of often hairy and very large arachnids belonging to the Theraphosidae family of spiders, of which approximately 900 species have been identified. This article only describes members of Theraphosidae, although some other members of the same suborder are commonly referred to as "tarantulas". Most species of tarantulas are not dangerous to humans, and some species have become popular in the exotic pet trade. Click the link Tarantula Care Sheets