Anyone here able to give me advice about owning an Emperor Scorpion?

[BreweryYardRat]

I can't post in the Pets group because I'm not a donor.

My current living situation -- college student, busy as hell, and going to be moving around a lot in the relatively near future -- doesn't allow me to have any sort of high-maintenance pet like a cat, a dog, or even a reptile, but I'd like to have something around.

Fish are out. I hate having to transfer them to a smaller tank or even a jar when the water needs to be changed. It's a royal pain in the ass. Plus, I've had fish die or start showing symptoms of illness within a day or so of taking them home from the store, even though they looked healthy there.

Hermit crabs are also out. I had them once as a kid. Their food stinks, and if you keep two in the same tank, odds are pretty good one will eventually kill the other. (Learned from THAT mistake.) I don't have the space for two tanks, not unless I stuck them in a pair of fishbowls, and I don't think they'd be able to make a proper burrow in there.

I considered a tarantula, but from the research I've done, they're a little too fond of climbing. I'm pretty absent-minded, and my room's a mess. If it somehow got out of its tank, I'd have trouble tracking it down, and I'd be afraid I might step on it while I was looking for it.

I've done a little research, and an Emperor Scorpion might just do the trick. Can't climb very well, not very high-maintenance, fairly easy to feed. (Buy a box of dead frozen baby mice, thaw and feed once or twice a week. Crickets are also an option, but apparently there's some sort of protein/vitamin powder you need to feed them so the scorpion gets good nutrition.) Stings aren't supposed to be any worse than a bee sting, and so far as I know, I'm not allergic.

However, I'm in Florida, we're coming up on summer, and my room's air-conditioning isn't too great -- plus I've got a south-facing window, so the room really heats up even if I've got the fan going. Research I did said they like warm temperatures, but they're not fond of direct sunlight, and I get a lot of that. I suppose I could rig blackout curtains if I had to.

Anyone in here ever owned one before? Can you guys give me some advice to make sure this is the right pet for me?

[Captain Hilts]

1. Don't. nt

[Pierre.Suave]

2. Can I just ask one question?

Why even bother?

[RebelOne]

3. You are joking, I hope. Who in his or her right mind would

want a scorpion as a pet? Why not a snake? I owned 2 boa constrictors and they are very low-maintenance. You only have to feed them rats or mice every couple of weeks.

[southpaw]

4. Try a corn snake.

Same feeding regimen you describe for the scorpion, but more fun to pick up and play with.

Housing is pretty straigh forward. A 20 gallon aquarium with a mesh lid, an under-tank heat pad, water dish and a hide box or two and you're set.

Plus, they are beautimous.

[3.14158675309]

6. Yes, a corn snake would be good; I'd say a king snake would be even better

I've had boas and they are great, but can get large and need more space.

I would also suggest a bearded dragon. They are fantastic pets are will actually acknowledge your presence, which is nice. Snakes really don't.

[BlueJazz]

5. The question brings to mind "The Far Side" where somebody had set up a...

"Scorpion Petting Zoo"

:rofl: