Tetratrichobothrius flavicaudis

Tetratrichobothrius flavicaudis (formerly Euscorpius flavicaudis), known as the European yellow‑tailed scorpion, is a small but captivating species of scorpion found across Southern Europe and with a fascinating introduced colony in the UK which were accidentally introduced to the UK in the early 1800s.

HABITAT

🌍 Geographic Range:

Native: Mediterranean and Atlantic coastal regions of southern Europe including Portugal, Spain, southern France, Italy (mainland and some islands such as Corsica, Sardinia, and Sicily), parts of the Balkans (e.g., Croatia) and north-west Africa (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia).
Introduced: A long-established, self-sustaining population in Sheerness Dockyard on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent, United Kingdom, introduced in the 19th century in imported masonry. Small, temporary records have occasionally appeared in other northern European ports but rarely persist through cold winters.

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🏡 Microhabitat Preferences:

Prefers warm, dry to moderately humid coastal areas.
A terrestrial crevice-dweller, most often found in cracks of old stone walls, harbour masonry, piles of rubble, beneath flat stones, or between blocks in rocky coastlines.
In the UK it is almost entirely tied to the mortar gaps of dockyard walls and similar sheltered man-made structures.
Active mainly at night, retreating deep into narrow crevices by day; these micro-habitats provide stable humidity and protection from temperature extremes.

Physical Description

📏Size:

Adult Tetratrichobothrius flavicaudis is a small scorpion, usually 35–45 mm (3–4.5 cm) in total length, including the tail. Females are often slightly larger and more robust than males.

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🎨Coloration:

Body: deep dark brown to black carapace and mesosoma.
Legs & telson (tail tip): distinctly yellow to yellow-brown, giving the species its common name “yellow-tailed scorpion.”
Claws (pedipalps): dark like the body, sometimes with lighter joints.
Juveniles tend to be paler brown until their final moults.

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Captive Care

📏 Enclosure Size:

A single adult does well in a 5-gallon (≈20 × 20 × 20 cm) terrarium or larger with more floor space than height. Provide 3–5 cm of substrate for stability and to hold some moisture. The key feature is lots of tight horizontal crevices: stack flat stones, cork bark, or slate to mimic gaps in harbour walls and create several snug hides.

🌡️ Temperature:

Keep the enclosure at 18–24 °C most of the time; short night-time drops to 15 °C are tolerated. Avoid prolonged exposure below 12 °C or above 28 °C. Usually no extra heating is needed in a centrally heated home; if the room is cool, use a low-wattage side-mounted heat mat to warm one corner, never the whole tank.

💧 Humidity:

Needs moderate humidity around 50–70 % with good airflow. Lightly moisten one corner or the lower substrate layers, leaving other areas drier so the scorpion can choose its preferred retreat. Mist lightly once or twice a week if the substrate dries out.

🌱 Substrate:

Use a firm, slightly moisture-retentive mix—for example, loamy soil or coco-fiber blended with sand and a little clay so it holds shape under stacked hides. 3–5 cm depth is usually enough; keep the bottom slightly damp and the surface mostly dry to prevent mould.

⏰ Feeding Schedule:

Feed adults about every 10–14 days with small live prey such as:

Woodlice (ideal, also help as clean-up crew)
Small crickets or roach nymphs
Occasional mealworm or waxworm larvae (not staple)

Juveniles can be fed once per week on smaller prey. Remove uneaten food within 24 h. Adults may fast for weeks, especially before moulting or in cooler seasons—this is normal if they appear otherwise healthy.

STATS

LATIN NAME:

• Tetratrichobothrius flavicaudis

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COMMON NAME:

• Yellow-legged Scorpion

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TEMPERATURE

• 18°- 24°

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TEMPERAMENT:

• Shy

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HUMIDITY:

• 50%

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COMMUNAL:

• No

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SIZE:

• Up to 5cm

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ECOLOGY:

• Terrestrial

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SUBSTRATE:

• Top soil

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ORIGIN:

•Southern Europe, France

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