Dwarf Wood Scorpion

Looks how to spot one

exoskeleton

A small scorpion with a uniformly reddish to yellowish brown body, a yellow telson (stinger), and yellowish brown chelicerae. The carapace lacks ridges but has a straight median groove and is covered in tiny pits. The pedipalps (pincers) are granular, and the metasoma (tail) is sparsely hairy and finely pitted. Males have conspicuously curved chela fingers.1

Personality what they are like

Extremely docile and non-defensive. When disturbed they prefer to scuttle sideways or play dead by folding in their legs and claws. They rarely pinch or sting, making them one of the most gentle scorpions to keep.3

Daily activity how busy a day looks

Low activity. They are ambush predators that spend most of their time hiding in crevices or under bark. No special exercise requirements.3

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Minimal. They moult periodically and do not require grooming. Keep the enclosure clean with springtails or small isopods as a cleanup crew.5

Home where they are happiest

A small enclosure (10x10x10 cm to 20x20x20 cm) with a thin layer of moisture-retentive substrate such as coco coir or forest soil. Provide pieces of bark laid horizontally or vertically for hiding. Temperature 27-32°C, humidity 75-85%. Light misting every two nights is sufficient for hydration. No water bowl needed.36

Food basics what goes in the bowl

Small live or pre-killed prey such as pinhead crickets, redrunner nymphs, small roaches, or small spiders. Adults fed once a week, younger ones twice a week. They will also scavenge dead prey.36

Company who they like around

Can be kept communally as they live together in the wild. However, cannibalism can occur if food is scarce, especially among younger instars. It is best to separate scorplings after the second instar to prevent losses. Gravid females become irritable and should be isolated.36

The story where it all began

The Dwarf Wood Scorpion has been known to science since 1775 when it was first described by Fabricius. It is famous for being parthenogenetic, meaning females can produce offspring without males, so most wild populations are all female clones. In the pet trade it is occasionally available as wild-caught specimens, but because it reproduces so easily, captive breeding is encouraged to reduce wild collection. It is considered a good beginner scorpion due to its small size, docile nature and simple care.23