Flat Rock Scorpions

Flat Rock Scorpion, Hadogenes troglodytes
Banded Flat Rock Scorpion, Hadogenes paucidens
(Scorpiones: Liochelidae or Hemiscorpiidae)

Flat Rock Scorpions (Hadogenes species) are the longest scorpions in the world, to 19 or 21 cm (Fouskaris 2001, Leeming 2006). Males have much longer tails than females. These scorpions are native to southern Africa and prefer a dry climate. As their name implies, they are very flat, allowing them to fit into small crevices. Hadogenes sp. have a tendency to climb and can be somewhat defensive. Although they usually don't sting, they can give a painful pinch. However, they have a mild venom and make good pets for beginner and expert scorpion keepers. H. troglodytes are a chocolate brown in color, while H. paucidens are darker with yellow bands.

Housing:	10+ L cage for large adults
Communal:	No
Diet:	Crickets, cockroaches
Substrate:	Rock, sand
Decor:	Flat slabs of slate, water dish
Temperature:	23.9 to 29.4° C (75 to 85° F)
Humidity:	Low
Temperament:	Skittish, may be defensive or docile
Considerations:	Good for beginners

I got SoCo in Sept. 2001. She is over 17 cm long when stretched from pinchers to tail. She seems tamer than flat rocks are supposed to be but she can be moody. I really love SoCo because she is not only impressive to look at, but she really has a personality. Sometimes I take her out and she climbs my arm or something. She is usually pretty docile, but when she gets moody she spins in circles and snaps her claws at me (however, I avoid handling my creatures on a regular basis since I don't like to disturb them). SoCo enjoys squeezing herself in the small spaces between the rocks in her cage. SoCo is one of my favorite animals.


Feb. 21, 2002		Mar. 6, 2002


SoCo under blacklight		May 2002	On my foot


Photo by C.H. Colored by E.T.	SoCo upside-down in her cage Dec. 19, 2002		Apr. 11, 2003

I got Snippy on November 11, 2002. She is a little thing, and more defensive than SoCo. She is living in her own cage, of course, so as not to be eaten. Following are some pictures that I scanned of her, comparing her size to a quarter and to SoCo. I made sure not to let SoCo get too close to the little one when I took the picture of the two of them or Snippy might have been dinner.


Snippy Nov. 17, 2002	SoCo & Snippy Nov. 17, 2002	Post molt Jan. 21, 2004

I got this lovely female H. paucidens from Krazy 8's Invertebrates at ATS 2005. I picked up an adult male at ATS 2006, so expect more photos soon!!! I was actually stung by Bluff but it didn't amount to anything. That said, she doesn't always like having her picture taken :)