This is a specific care sheet for African Yellow Leg Scorpions (Opistophthalmus carinatus), for more in this genus see Category:Opistophthalmus.
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Introduction
O. carinatus is most commonly referred to as the African Yellow Leg Scorpion and is a species of burrowing Opistophthalmus scorpion. There are 50 species of African Burrowing scorpions ranging throughout the southern and eastern third of Africa. These scorpions are obligate burrowers, prefering fairly hard packed soils in which they can dig relatively long, deep tunnels.
| Scorpion Information (for a more detailed Scorpion care review see Scorpion Care Sheet | |
| Regions Found: | Sothern and Eastern Africa |
| Class: | Burrowing species |
| Longevity: | unknown |
| Adult Scorpion Size: | 14 cm |
| Temperament: | Very defensive |
| Claws: | Strong pedipalps |
| Sting Potency: | Intensely painful venom |
| Opistophthalmus carinatus Housing Requirements | |
| Scorpion Housing: | Minimum 8 gallon tank with deep substrate levels |
| Temperature range: | unknown |
| Humidity range: | unknown |
| Special Requirements: | Deep substrate |
| Opistophthalmus carinatus Breeding | |
| Breeding Difficulty: | Difficult |
| Birth Size: | unknown |
| Danger to Male: | unknown |
| Opistophthalmus carinatus Diet | |
| A scorpions diet should consist mainly of livefood insects such as crickets, locust, butter worms, meal worms, superworms, houseflies and cockroaches. | |
| Recommended Pet Supplies for Opistophthalmus carinatus | |
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Habitat
As a burrowing species, the African Yellow Leg requires a large enclosure with a substantial depth of hard-packing substrate to enable the specimen to effectively engineer the tunnels and burrows that it would require in the wild.
Behaviour
All species of Burrowing scorpion (Opistophthalmus) will sting readily if cornered or restrained. This species, O. carinatus, is said to have very strong venom, whereas the others in the genus vary from mild to strong. Regardless of the species, their sting is intensely painful at the envenomation site for as long as 48 hours, but without any lasting aftereffects. The pain has been equated to that produced by bashing a finger with a hammer.