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Thai Forest Scorpion
Photo: Nathan Laurenz, CC BY 4.0
Scorpion
Beginner
Heterometrus laoticus
Lifespan
5-8 years
Adult size
Body 10-12 cm
Temperament
Often fairly docile, can be defensive
Temperature
20–29°C
Humidity
60–80%
Vivarium
45 x 30 x 30 cm (one adult)
Wikipedia →
A large, jet-black forest scorpion from humid, peaty forest in Laos and Vietnam. Adults reach about 12 cm, and females are slightly larger than males. It is one of the Asian forest scorpions most often sold in UK and US shops, and it is hardy and easy to keep. The sting is mild and not medically significant for healthy people, but it will pinch.
Care information is provided for educational purposes only and does not replace professional veterinary advice.
🔥 Heating
Aim for 24-27°C, and never let it regularly fall below 18°C or rise above 29°C. Room temperature is often enough; otherwise use a heat mat on one side wall run on a thermostat, not underneath.
💡 Lighting
No UVB needed. It is nocturnal, so ordinary room daylight provides the day/night cycle.
🪨 Substrate
Moist coco fibre or a soil mix at least 10 cm deep for burrowing, kept lightly damp but never swampy.
🍽 Feeding
Juveniles 2-4 small crickets a week; adults appropriately sized crickets or roaches every 7-10 days. Prey should not be much wider than its body, and fatty larvae are treats rather than a staple.
💧 Water
Provide a shallow water dish, and mist the sides and décor about twice a week so it can drink droplets. Keep some airflow so the substrate does not go sour.
🏠 Enrichment
Cork bark hides, pieces of wood and leaf litter. Live plants and springtails help keep a damp enclosure healthy.
🩺 Health Considerations
Mould, mites and mycosis develop in stagnant, wet enclosures, while dehydration and stuck moults follow if it dries out.
🤲 Handling
Hands-off is best: it can pinch hard and sting when stressed. The venom is mild, but any scorpion venom can cause anaphylaxis in allergic people, especially those allergic to bee stings.
⚖️ Legal Restrictions
No licence needed in the UK. It is in the Scorpionidae, not the Buthidae, so it is not covered by the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 schedule (which lists scorpions only as 'Family Buthidae: All species' and Hemiscorpius lepturus); it is not CITES-listed and not on the GB invasive species list.
📋 Additional Notes
Also sold as Laos forest scorpion, Laotian black forest scorpion and Vietnam forest scorpion. Group housing works only with closely size-matched animals and is risky, so one per enclosure is safest. It is farmed in Vietnam for food and scorpion wine.