BajaNomad - A Baja Pet of a Different Type

A Baja Pet of a Different Type

Paulina - 5-19-2007 at 01:04 PM

This is our Baja pet Scorpion. Her name is "Kicky". We've had her for going on 5 years now. She was very small when we found her, and has grown quite a bit over the years. She is also very docile now as compared to when she first came to live with us. We feed her crickets, and keep a bottle top of water in her house. When she drinks it, her rear end sticks up in the air while she holds on to the edges with her pincers. She hangs out under her log during the day, coming out at night to kick her baja sand about. That is where she got her name. We heard the strangest noise every night and couldn't figure out what it was at first until we realized it was Kicky throwing sand and small rocks against the sides of her house. We bring home fresh dirt for her almost every time we go to Bahia. She's not a climber. We put an ocotillo stick in there for her, but the crickets soon found out that they could all climb to the top and not be eaten. She wasn't the least bit interested in climbing the stick, so it was removed. Dern will touch her, but not me. Here's some photos of her.

Here she is while her house is being cleaned.

Dern pointing her out.

A little closer up. She likes to hang in her log cave during the day.

This photo will show you her size compared to a quarter.

[Edited on 19-5-2007 by Paulina]

Natalie Ann - 5-19-2007 at 01:11 PM

That's quite a remarkable pet, Paulina. I'm rather surprised by Kicky's ability to live so long in captivity. You have a daughter, don't you? How does she feel about Kicky?

Nena

Paulina - 5-19-2007 at 01:23 PM

We were surprised at how long we've had Kicky as well. It didn't occur to us that almost 5 years have gone by since we found her. We've talked about taking her "home" this summer, but I'm concerned that she's been in captivity for so long now, that it might have adverse effects on her. She's very used to having her meals handed to her, and she may let her guard down back in the wild and become someone else's meal.

Any bug people out there with opinions on this?

Cody doesn't pay much mind about Kicky. She's been warned about scorpions from day one, so the curiosity factor isn't there. We make sure Kicky is out of sight-out of mind if Cody has any friends over however.

Bob H - 5-19-2007 at 02:02 PM

Wow, unbelievable story. I've never known anyone who has a pet scorpion. I'm a Scorpio to boot (Oct 26th)
Nice post.
Bob H

DENNIS - 5-19-2007 at 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Paulina
When she drinks, her rear end sticks up in the air.

I had a girlfriend like that once.

woody with a view - 5-19-2007 at 04:32 PM

Dennis-

only one? shame. :moon:

[Edited on 5-20-2007 by woody in ob]

DENNIS - 5-19-2007 at 04:36 PM

Yeah Woody---

One at a time.

Sallysouth - 5-19-2007 at 07:41 PM

I have to agree with Lencho, never seen a scopion soooo fat! Tell us what is the point of keeping a creature such as this in a captive state? Can't be the cuddle factor or companionship? :wow:

Paula - 5-19-2007 at 07:47 PM

I wonder how she would react to another scorpion in her house. Have you tried it?

Natalie Ann - 5-19-2007 at 08:09 PM

Likely I'm gonna be sorry I asked this, but how do you know Kicky's a she? Inquiring mind... :?:

Paulina - 5-19-2007 at 08:48 PM

Sallysouth, when we found her in our garage, she was very small. Most people squish them. We scooped her up and put her in a small bug catcher with a magnifying glass to take a close look at her. She went from the bug catcher to a larger butterfly type bug catcher with a bigger magnifying glass, then to her larger house where she lives now. She is a curiosity, and it has been interesting watching her grow, learn how she eats, drinks water, and re-arranges her home. She makes interesting designs in the sand when she moves. Sometimes she carries her tail high and other times drags it behind her. (Probably like some of Dennis' girlfriends)

Paula, I believe that scorpions are territorial and would fight. We've become quite attached to her and would feel badly if she got hurt.

Natalie Ann, we've tried to look up info on scorpions and most of the photos that closely resembled Kicky were labeled as female. The males didn't seem to have such a large body or the stripes she has. I am hoping that a Nomad Bug Lover will be able to give us more info on her, or correct us if we've been wrong about her gender.

In regards to her size; we don't over feed her. We'll give her 5 medium to large crickets at a time at maybe a month, to a month and a half between feedings. If they aren't eaten then we'll give the crickets scraps of lettuce or apple to eat until the time comes when Kicky feels hungry. Sometimes the crickets die before she gets to them. We throw them out so they don't spoil her cage. So it's still hard to tell what her eating routine is. There are times that she chases them down, then other times when she just sits there and waits for them to walk on top of her, then she'll grab it with her pincers.

We've also tried switching up her menu, offering her different worms from the pet store (they burrow into the sand and turn into beetles that lie on their backs and kick their legs) She did like a big meaty moth once, but flies don't work unless they're the big, divebomber types. She can get those too when they poop out. We once gave her a big potato bug, but then I felt guilty and rescued it before it became dinner.

P<*)))><

First let me say that I am no expert...

vgabndo - 5-19-2007 at 10:33 PM

I didn't even stay at a Holiday Inn last night.

There are about 1800 species of scorpions world wide, but from the photographs, description, and where you found her I'm guessing that you have a critter from the Hadrurus family.
Does she have a lot of hairs especially on the "forearms" of her P-nchers (pedipalps) and on her stinger (telson)?

If so, she is likely related to the Desert Giant Hairy Scorpion. They are ground dwellers and don't normally climb. They are somewhat slower, and their venom is weaker than their smaller, long skinny tailed cousins who climb.

I'm pretty sure the six inch specimen in the photo is a Giant Hairy. Photographed just south of Bahia Conception.

I have an excellent taxonomy key on North American Scorpions, but it requires a dead "guest of honor" a good high power dissecting microscope, a lot more education than I have, and it still isn't a sure thing. :!:

Vgabndo,

Paulina - 5-20-2007 at 05:41 AM

"Does she have a lot of hairs especially on the "forearms" of her P-nchers (pedipalps) and on her stinger (telson)?"

I put on my super duper magnifying glasses this morning and could see some hairs, but not a lot. I've attempted to take a photo and break it down into three sections, hoping the keep the clarity. I've included one of her body to show her "stripes" to compare it to the one in your photo. I also put a ruler next to her. With her tail stretched out and her forearms stretched out she is almost 4" long. Other than that she does act as you described.

I hope the photos don't come out blurry...

aha baja - 5-20-2007 at 07:12 AM

I would venture to say that in any case she looks well cared for and certainly not missed many meals :lol:

Do you leave a stash of crickets or other insects when your not in bahia?

Nice pictures

vgabndo - 5-20-2007 at 04:27 PM

I'm sticking with my first (un-educated) guess. A great website called Scorpion Emporium was put up by Major Scott Stockwell who brags to have been stung by more species of scorpions than any living human, has been taken down by the Smithsonian Institutions because, unfortunately, Maj. Stockwell has been gone for a long time to Afghanistan and the Middle East.

The link below will take you to some other very interesting places.

Someone commented about it being unusual to keep a scorp as a pet, but a quick internet search will reveal that there is a busy group of people who keep the more harmless species as pets. :yes:

http://www.angelfire.com/tx4/scorpiones/buthidae.html

I had a pet Tarantula...

M - 5-20-2007 at 04:42 PM

A 'Red Kneed, something or other' that my assistant gave me for Xmas years ago. I called her 'Sarah'. BHL and I kept her for a couple years, then one time, when the 'Baja Boojum Broads' got together to head down to Guadelupe Canyon, I took Sarah with us. I let her out of her paper travel bag and boy, she did a little happy dance and literally left a little cloud of dust when she scuttled under a boulder.
I imagine she probably cross bred with some Baja arachnid gentleman down there and created a new breed. Maybe on Discovery Channel some night we'll be hearing about thenew spider discovery, found only in a little canyon in Baja.

Wouldn't that be a hoot?
Hugs,
M

jeans - 5-22-2007 at 12:33 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by M
BHL and I kept her for a couple years, then one time, when the 'Baja Boojum Broads' got together to head down to Guadelupe Canyon, I took Sarah with us.
M

Uh...M....that was Bodacious Baja BABES,

And you didn't tell us what was in the little brown lunch bag...I thought it was a sandwich...until it started scratching on the inside. :lol:

ursidae69 - 5-22-2007 at 08:59 AM

I think your scorpion is gravid. I used to keep them too, fun pets.

toneart - 5-22-2007 at 09:08 AM

Paulina,

Someday some cricket cuddler is going to report you and Kicky to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Bugs.

bajajudy - 5-22-2007 at 09:10 AM

Ah so we can expect pix of the little ones soon? Scorpionitas?

Paulina - 5-22-2007 at 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ursidae69
I think your scorpion is gravid. I used to keep them too, fun pets.

Holy smokes! How long is the gestation period for scorpions?

Unless there have been some wild bug parties in our house while I'm away, she hasn't seen another scorpion in almost 5 years!

P<*)))><

Natalie Ann - 5-22-2007 at 10:20 AM

Oh Paulina - congratulations!!!
I wonder how many scorpionitas are gonna be living with you and the fam and Kicky. :?:

You might have to expand the little house, put in condos or something. What fun. :lol:

El Camote - 5-22-2007 at 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Paulina
"Does she have a lot of hairs especially on the "forearms"

Again, reminds me of an old girlfriend.

I gotta say, Paulina, all the pictures I've seen of female scorps says she does look like she has a bug-in-the-oven. :tumble:

Maybe you've had some very creative gentlemen cucaraches visiting. :wow:

ursidae69 - 5-22-2007 at 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Paulina

Quote:

Originally posted by ursidae69
I think your scorpion is gravid. I used to keep them too, fun pets.

Holy smokes! How long is the gestation period for scorpions?

Unless there have been some wild bug parties in our house while I'm away, she hasn't seen another scorpion in almost 5 years!

P<*)))><

Interesting, sure looks gravid. Maybe you just feed him/her well?

Normally, the gestation period is anywhere from 6 to 18 months. Females can retain sperm from males they mated with a year before, but not five years as far as I know.

gringorio - 5-31-2007 at 07:48 PM

great story & photos! we used to catch scorpions in the desert by our house in phoenix when i was kid... i still remember sitting on a rock and feeling something on my leg and looking down to see hundreds (time leads one to exageration... ?) of baby scorpions on me - yikes!

always shake out your shoes in the morning...

gringorio

Paulina - 5-31-2007 at 08:07 PM

Thanks everyone for your comments and links to various scorpion friendly sites.
Gringorio, we've got the shoe thing down pat, as well as never putting our fingers into the tube on the toilet paper roll, always lift up the toilet seat to check under the rim before sitting down (found 'em there too). They like the drains on the kitchen sink as well as the shower. We've found them in curtains, clothes hanging in the closet, and behind wall hangings over our neighbor's bed. The kids know to be careful flipping over rocks and collecting wood for the campfire. It's a life style change, that's for certain.

Saludos!
P<*)))><

Wingnut - 6-1-2007 at 03:56 PM

I grew up in rural AZ and got bit many many times by scorpions. Not really bad unless you are highly allergic. Hated bee and wasp stings more than scorpions. Always found several near the ranch house on regular basis. Mostly just killed them, never thought of making a pet of one. Been interesting to listen to Paulina's story....