Heterometrus spinifer

Heterometrus spinifer, commonly known as the Malaysian Forest Scorpion, is a large, terrestrial scorpion species found in Southeast Asia. it is one of the larger species in the Heterometrus genus and despite its intimidating look, Heterometrus spinifer has a relatively mild venom and often kept by many scorpion enthusiasts.

HABITAT

🌍 Geographic Range:

Heterometrus spinifer is distributed across much of Southeast Asia. Its range extends from Myanmar and Thailand through Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam, and into Malaysia and Singapore. It is also found in parts of Indonesia, particularly Sumatra and Java, as well as the Philippines. The species prefers tropical forests and humid habitats, often sheltering under logs, rocks, and leaf litter.

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🏡 Microhabitat Preferences:

Prefers tropical rainforests, where it can be found under logs, rocks, and within leaf litter. It thrives in humid environments with plenty of cover. Often located in the underbrush of dense forests, using its dark coloration for camouflage

GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE: Native to Southeast Asia, particularly found in countries such as: • Malaysia • Thailand • Indonesia • Singapore -------------------------------------------- HABITAT: Prefers tropical rainforests, where it can be found under logs, rocks, and within leaf litter. It thrives in humid environments with plenty of cover. Often located in the underbrush of dense forests, using its dark coloration for camouflage

Captive Care

📏Enclosure Size:

Minimum: 10 litres or more s plenty for one adult

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🌡️Temperature:

24–28 °C

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💧Humidity:

90%.

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🌱Substrate:

Water-retentive soil

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⏰Feeding schedule:

Once every week

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🥣Water Source:

Very important, Hetermetrus species drink a lot of water, water dish must always have water. Overflow water dish to soak the soil around the scorpion, this provides more humidity and allows the scorpion to more easily find the water source.

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🍃Ventilation

In order to acquire and maintain optimum humidity, you must decrease the ventilation. Too much ventilation such as reptile-like enclosures let out humidity too quickly and allow the substrate to dry out very quickly.

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🙈Hides:

Must use cork bark as other forms of hides are more prone to rotting under all the humidity. Cork bark is recommended as a hide material because of its natural resistance to rot and mold, which is crucial in a high-humidity enclosure Hides are also very Important as they reduce stress for the animal, which makes the animal more likely to eat, moult and birth in captivity.

Hides should fit snugly around the scorpion, with the sides and roof making gentle contact with its body. Spacious or open hides do not offer sufficient security and may leave the scorpion feeling exposed, reducing their effectiveness.

STATS

LATIN NAME:

• Heterometrus spinifer

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COMMON NAME:

• Malaysian Forest Scorpion

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TEMPERATURE

• 24°- 28°

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TEMPERAMENT:

• May pinch if bothered

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HUMIDITY:

• 90%

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COMMUNAL:

• 3/5

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SIZE:

• Up to 15cm

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ECOLOGY:

• Terrestrial

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SUBSTRATE:

• Water-retentive soil

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ORIGIN:

• Malaysia, Southeast Asia

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