SPECIES CARE GUIDE
Dark Creeper Scorpion
Cheloctonus intermedius
ENVIRONMENT
Core care conditions
Use these ranges as a starting point and adjust for life stage, enclosure ventilation and observed behaviour.
HUSBANDRY OVERVIEW
At a glance
- Taxonomic group
- Arachnida
- Origin
- Eastern South Africa (including Mpumalanga) and Eswatini
- Lifestyle
- Terrestrial burrower
- Adult size (body / total length)
- Around 8–9 cm
- Temperament
- Usually reclusive; do not handle
- Experience level
- Intermediate; suitable for careful observation, not handling
- Visibility
- Mostly hidden in a burrow; may sit at the entrance at night
- Burrowing
- True burrower; provide deep, firm, compactable substrate that can hold a stable burrow
- Growth rate
- Limited species-specific captive data
- Venom
- Not considered medically important; a sting can cause local pain. Avoid stings and seek medical advice if concerned.
CARE NOTES
Keeping considerations
A dark, ground-dwelling South African scorpion that excavates burrows in firm soil and may be found under rocks or at burrow entrances. Use a secure, well-ventilated enclosure with deep, compactable soil-based substrate; keep the surface mostly dry while retaining a little moisture deeper down. Provide stable, heavy cover resting on the enclosure floor, a shallow water dish and appropriately sized live prey. The African Snakebite Institute describes the sting as painful but not medically important. Scorpions should never be handled; use tools and care when servicing the enclosure.
SOURCES & FURTHER READING
Check the references
Care can vary by species, life stage and local conditions. Review multiple reputable sources before making husbandry decisions.
KEEP EXPLORING
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