~~~~~ Centruroides limbatus ~~~~~


 

This species must be considered very cautiously by the keeper. Indeed, since Centruroides limbatus belongs to the Buthidae family, known for the dangerousness of most of its members, in particular among the Centruroides spp, keeping this species is inadvisable to the beginners.




Name - Distribution

- Centruroides limbatus (Pocock, 1898) - Costa Rica, Honduras, Nicaragua

(Underlined countries correspond to the countries of origin of the specimens kept by the author)

 

Description

Centruroides limbatus

6-11 cm. It is a polymorph species : the colour of the adult varies from dark brown to yellow.

Pectines of the female with 18 to 26 teeth, male's ones with 19 to 27 teeth.

 

Photo : Centruroides limbatus typical morph (adult male, Costa Rica). It is the yellow morph ; only the last two segments of the metasoma, the telson and fingers are darker.

 

Terrarium

A terrarium of 20 x 20 x 30 cm is enough for an adult specimen, as well as to keep a couple for breeding.

The substrate consists of humid peat. Compost could also be used, but with the disadvantage of being less ventilated than the peat. Pieces of cork will be put on the ground and against the walls to enable the scorpion to hide during the day. Lastly, the substrate being very humid, a drinking trough will not be essential.

 

Temperature - Hygrometry

Centruroides limbatus lives in the tropical forests of Central America where humidity is often very high, particularly during the rainy season. Thus, the keeper will regularly pulverize the peat to maintain a tropical atmosphere in the terrarium. On the other hand this last will have to be sufficiently ventilated to avoid a too high condensation on the walls, as well as the appearance of fungi on the substrate and the pieces of cork.

Regarding the temperature, 28°C during the day is enough for this species. In order to get close to the natural conditions, it must be turned down of a few degrees during the night, but it is not essential to the good development of this scorpion.

 

Food

This scorpion has a moderate size and can be fed with crickets and young cockroaches. A young specimen must be fed at a rate of a young cricket or a young cockroach one to twice per week, and an adult or subadult specimen can be fed at a rate of an adult cricket every week or every two weeks. Be careful, if the prey is not consumed in the two days following its introduction in the terrarium, it must be removed, the scorpion probably preparing a molt.

 

Breeding

For the moment, no data regarding the breeding of this species has been observed nor found by the author in the available bibliography.
However, like many tree-dwelling species of tropical environment (Centruroides spp, Tityus spp…), we advise to put barks (cork...) in the terrarium during any attempt of mating, to allow the hemispermatophore fixing by the male.

 

Growth - Longevity
The growth of this species seems to be very fast : kept in optimal conditions, 6 months will be enough for a scorpling (cf. photo) to become adult.
No data regarding the longevity of the species has been observed yet.

 

Sociability

No data regarding the sociability of this species has been found for the moment, but the genus Centruroides being usually rather sociable, we suppose that several specimens can live in the same terrarium if they have enough hiding places at their disposal and if they are sufficiently fed. Also, an adult couple will be probably able to cohabit without problem.

 

Behaviour

This species does not seem to be aggressive, but rather fearful, taking refuge quickly under a hiding place at the slightest warning. However, be careful to the speed of this species.

 

Toxicity

For the moment, no data has been found in the available bibliography, but the genus Centruroides comprising several very dangerous species, it is important to consider this species with a very great prudence.

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