Opistophthalmus carinatus
Opistophthalmus carinatus, commonly called the Robust Burrowing Scorpion, is a burrowing species from southern Africa. It is known for its striking coloration, typically showing a rich rust-orange to reddish-brown body, contrasted with a darker brown to black carapace and a heavily granulated. O. carinatus spends most of its time in deep burrows and is admired for its impressive build and vivid desert hues.
HABITAT
🌍 Geographic Range:
Opistophthalmus carinatus is native to southern Africa, where it occupies a fairly wide but regionally patchy distribution. It has been recorded in:
Namibia
Botswana
South Africa (mainly the drier western and northern regions)
Zimbabwe
Zambia
Angola
Mozambique (localized)
Its range overlaps heavily with arid and semi-arid ecosystems, especially interior regions with compact soils suitable for deep burrowing.
Within these countries, populations tend to appear in microhabitats with stable, diggable substrate, rather than being uniformly widespread.
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🏡 Microhabitat Preferences:
Like most Opistophthalmus species, O. carinatus is strongly fossorial, spending the majority of its life inside burrows it constructs in firm ground. Its natural habitat includes:
Primary Habitat Types
Arid and semi-arid savannas
Dry scrublands
Open grasslands with hard, compact soils
Transitional desert-edge environments
Soil & Burrow Needs
Favors hard-packed loam, clay, or sandy-clay soils that can hold the shape of deep spiral burrows.
Burrows commonly start beside large rocks or logs, which help stabilize the entrance.
In nature, burrows may reach 30 to 60 cm deep, creating a stable microclimate with higher humidity and cooler temperatures than the surface.
Microclimate
Surface conditions are typically hot, dry, and open.
Inside the burrow, humidity is slightly higher, allowing the scorpion to thermoregulate and avoid desiccation.
The species emerges mainly at night to hunt or to patrol the burrow entrance.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION
📏Size:
Opistophthalmus carinatus is a medium-to-large scorpion, typically reaching 9–12 cm in total length. Females are often slightly larger and more robust than males,
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🎨Coloration:
This species is known for its striking tri-tone appearance. The body ranges from rusty orange to reddish-brown, the carapace is often darker brown or nearly black, and the legs are usually pale yellow to tan. The contrasting tones give it a bold, earthy desert look, making it one of the more visually impressive members of its genus.
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💪Build:
It has a heavily built, muscular frame, characteristic of fossorial (burrowing) Opistophthalmus species. The pedipalps are thick and powerful, the carapace is strongly granulated, and the metasoma is stout with pronounced carinae (ridges). The body shape is compact, adapted for digging and pushing through firm soil.
CAPTIVE CARE
📏Enclosure Size:
Use a secure glass or plastic terrarium with a tight-fitting lid, this species is powerful and can push.
Floor space matters more than height. Something in the 5–10 gallon range gives room for a proper burrow and a warm–cool gradient.
Provide at least one large flat rock or slab firmly placed on the tank bottom; they naturally dig burrows beside or under such rocks in the wild.
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🌡️Temperature:
Warm, but not extreme, desert setup:
26–32 °C with 30–50% humidity Is a great temperature range, it can drop to the low 20's at night
Use a side-mounted heat mat or overhead heat source; avoid under-tank heaters because this is a deep burrower and can sit directly on dangerously hot substrate.
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💧Humidity:
O. carinatus as a species of drier regions, active on warm nights and hiding under rocks/bark by day.
Aim for 30–50% ambient humidity—essentially a dry enclosure.
Do not keep the surface substrate wet; this is a semi-desert scorpion.
Instead, occasionally moisten the bottom third of the substrate on one side, so the burrow has a slightly more humid “deep zone” while the surface stays dry.
No heavy misting is needed, just enough to maintain that deep gradient.
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🌱Substrate:
A firm sand–clay mix packed while damp, then dried, so the scorpion can make stable tunnels.
Good recipe:
2 parts sand : 1 part clay/loam (or topsoil with some clay content).
Mix with water until just damp, pack it down tightly, and let it dry fully before introducing the scorpion.
Key points:
Depth: 10cm (or more, if the tank allows).
Keep the top half dry; you can occasionally pour a little water down one side so the lowest layers are slightly cooler and more humid, mimicking a natural burrow gradient.
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⏰Feeding schedule:
Feed every 2 weeks. This species gain size very quickly as they spend most of their time underground they digest very slowly.
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🥣Water Source:
Provide a shallow water dish with fresh water.
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🍃Ventilation
Good cross-ventilation is necessary to prevent mold, especially with deeper substrates.
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🙈Hides:
Essential to provide deep substrate for burrow construction. You can also add flat rocks, cork bark, or artificial caves to simulate natural rocky crevices and ground litter shelters.
VENOM
💉Opistophthalmus carinatus possesses a venom that is considered moderate in strength but not medically significant for healthy adults. A sting from this species is typically described as sharp and often compared to, or slightly stronger than, a bee or wasp sting. Swelling, or redness that usually resolves within a few hours to a day.
Systemic reactions such as nausea or dizziness are uncommon and generally mild when they do occur.
Despite its intimidating appearance and strong defensive behavior, this species is not part of a medically dangerous group and serious envenomation cases are not associated with it.
As with all venomous animals, individuals who are allergic to insect venom or have underlying health issues may experience more intense reactions, so caution is always recommended. Because O. carinatus is a defensive burrower and dislikes disturbance, most stings happen when someone attempts handling, an activity best avoided for both keeper safety and the scorpion’s wellbeing.
STATS
LATIN NAME:
• Opistophthalmus carinatus
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COMMON NAME:
• Robust Burrowing Scorpion
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TEMPERATURE
• 26°- 32°
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TEMPERAMENT:
• Slightly Defensive
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HUMIDITY:
• 50%
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COMMUNAL:
• No
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SIZE:
• Up to 12cm
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ECOLOGY:
• Fossorial
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SUBSTRATE:
• Clay
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ORIGIN:
• South Africa
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