~~~~~ Androctonus spp ~~~~~

Name - Distribution

- Androctonus australis (Linné, 1758) : - A.australis (Linné, 1758) - Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Libya, Mauritania, Somalia, Sudan, Tunisia, Israel, Saudi Arabia ?, Yemen ?
- Androctonus australis (Linné, 1758) : - A.a. "hector morph" C.L.Koch, 1839 - Algeria, Tunisia
- Androctonus australis (Linné, 1758) : - A.a. "libycus morph" (Hemprich & Ehrenberg, 1829) - Lybia
- Androctonus bicolor Ehrenberg, 1828 - Algeria, Egypt, Eritrea, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon ?
- Androctonus bicolor "aeneas morph" C.L.Koch, 1839 - Algeria, Libya, Tunisia
- Androctonus mauritanicus (Pocock, 1902) - Morocco, Mauritania

(Underlined countries correspond to the countries of origin of the specimens kept by the author)

Description

Terrarium

A terrarium of 30 x 20 x 20 cm is enough for an adult specimen, as well as to keep a couple for breeding.

The substrate usually consists of fine sand, the ideal thing being that this sand keeps a not too fluid consistency after humidification and drying. Indeed, this kind of sand makes it possible to pre-dig hiding places that will keep their shape for a long time. Thus, we advise the red sand used for reptiles and found in pet shops. The sand could also be mixed with peat or clayey ground at a rate of 1 share of peat/clay for 2 shares of sand, this for two reasons : first, in order to "darken" the substrate and to allow the dark species such as A.mauritanicus or A.bicolor to camouflage themselves ; second, to accentuate the cohesion of sand grains between them (with clayey ground).

Usually, Androctonus spp do not dig but often hide under stones, pieces of wood or various refuses. Thus, some flat stones (eg. slates) should be placed in the terrarium, and the substrate should be slightly pre-dug under them.

A drinking trough is not essential since the high temperature required for Androctonus spp induces the evaporation of the water, its condensation on the walls, and thus a high hygrometry (harmful to these scorpions) in the terrarium if this last is not sufficiently ventilated.

Temperature - Hygrometry

As previously said, temperature must be sufficiently high to enable Androctonus spp development and breeding. With too low temperatures, a young scorpion will never molt and will die, and a pregnant female will never lay and will also die. During the day, a temperature of 30-35°C will be enough for an Androctonus. On the other hand, in their biotopes, nights are very fresh, and a fall in temperature of about ten degrees (20-25°C) is essential for a good development. A resting phase can also be provided to these scorpions which, in their natural environments, winter several months during the year. Thus, the scorpion will be maintained at 15°C for one or two months, without food and always in a dry place (so, not in the cellar !). This period, very favourable to the development, the longevity and the breeding of Androctonus spp, is not easily realizable in captivity and is not essential.

A too high hygrometry can cause the appearance of mycosis on the scorpion, often leading to its death in the long term. Thus, the substrate must be completely dry, and some little pulverizations one or twice per month in bottom of one of the walls will enable the scorpion to drink (the major part of water necessary to the scorpion being already provided by the preys). On the other hand, it seems that females need a little more water during gestation.

Food

These scorpions can eat various preys (arthropods, lizards, young mice…) but crickets, locusts or cockroaches will be an excellent food. A young specimen must be fed at a rate of a young cricket or a young cockroach one to twice per week, and an adult or subadult specimen can be fed at a rate of an adult cricket every week or every two weeks, or of a locust or an adult cockroach every month. Be careful, if the prey is not consumed in the two days following its introduction in the terrarium, it must be removed, the scorpion probably preparing a molt. Be careful also to not feed the scorpion too much, if the tergites are not in contact any more because of the obesity of the scorpion, then it is better to stop feeding it during some times.

Breeding

	Breeding is usually quite easy and occurs without difficulty. The presence of a flat stone is essential for the hemispermatophore fixing.
	In ideal captive conditions, gestation lasts from 4 to 6 months. The brood is often very significant, with 40 to 90 scorplings for A.australis "hector", and 30 to 40 scorplings for A.bicolor. On this photo, 75 scorplings A.mauritanicus were counted, among which about ten were found died without having done their first molt.

Sexing A. mauritanicus with the "notch" on the pedipalp fix finger : - Female on the left - - Male on the right -

Growth - Longevity

With sufficiently high temperatures, scorplings will molt and grow without problem, rather quickly. Seven to eight moults (A.australis) are necessary (about 2 years) to reach the last instar.
The longevity of Androctonus spp can vary according to the provided temperature, the presence or not of a resting phase during the winter, the frequency of feeds, etc… but they usually live 4 to 5 years.

Sociability

Androctonus spp are usually not very sociable. If they are sufficiently fed and if they have many hiding places, the scorplings can live a few times together, but as soon as the first observations of cannibalism, it is advised to separate them quickly. On the other hand, an adult couple put together for breeding can cohabit without any problem, but it is advised to remove the male from the terrarium before the female gives birth, this last being able to eat its brood following the stress caused by the presence of the male.

Behaviour

Toxicity