Handling & Stings

Handling a pet scorpion
Handling your scorpion is not recommended. There is a possibility of being stung or grabbed by the scorpions pincers. There is also a chance of losing, hurting or fatally injuring your pet scorpion. Scorpions can move quickly and will look for a dark place to hide. If it gets away it can run under furniture, air ducts, and other places where you may not be able to retrieve it. If a scorpion runs to the end of a table it won’t stop and will fall. A fall can easily injure or kill your pet. If you must handle or move a scorpion the safest way is to use a bowl or ladle and scoop up the animal.

The scorpion sting
All scorpions can sting you and all scorpions carry venom. Most venom from scorpions is not dangerous to humans. Of the 1,500 species of scorpions only about 24 are actually considered potentially deadly to humans. The toxicity of scorpion venom varies greatly between different animals of a species. Scorpions with larger pincers tend to have less toxic venom since they prefer to grab and crush their prey. Even though most are not dangerous, you should always try to prevent a scorpion sting. Everyone reacts differently to a scorpion sting. People allergic to bee stings may have a very adverse reaction to scorpion venom. Children under three, the elderly, those with hypertension, and sickly individuals may also react poorly to the sting of a scorpion.

Scorpion sting symptoms
The normal symptoms of a scorpion sting are similar to a bee sting and include slight swelling, immediate pain, and a stinging or tingling sensation. The symptoms of a severe reaction can be numbness, trouble swallowing, blurred vision, trouble breathing, thick tongue, salivation, or seizures.

Scorpion sting treatment
If you are stung or injured by accident while cleaning your pets cage clean the wound with antiseptic. Apply a cool washcloth or ice pack to the area at ten minute intervals. If you start having any type of severe reaction to a sting, seek out medical attention immediately.