Tanzanian Giant Tailless Whip Scorpion

Photo: Acrocynus, CC BY-SA 3.0

Other Inverts Intermediate

Damon diadema

Lifespan 5-10 years, F outlive M

Adult size Body to 3 cm; span c. 20 cm

Temperament Shy and very fast, non-venomous

Temperature 21–28°C

Humidity 65–80%

Vivarium 30 x 30 x 45 cm (tall; height above leg span)

Wikipedia →

From Kenya, Tanzania and central Africa, where it hides in caves, rock crevices and under fallen logs. Not a spider or a scorpion but an amblypygid: a flat-bodied arachnid with spiny, grasping pedipalps and very long whip-like front legs, giving a leg span of about 20 cm. Its alien look, sideways scuttle and lack of venom make it a popular display animal. It is fast and fragile rather than dangerous.

Care information is provided for educational purposes only and does not replace professional veterinary advice.

🔥 Heating

Keep at about 21-26 °C; normal room temperature is often enough. If needed, fit a heat mat to the side wall on a thermostat.

💡 Lighting

Nocturnal, so no UVB is needed, but a regular 12-hour day/night cycle from room light helps.

🪨 Substrate

5-8 cm of moist, lightly packed coco fibre or soil mix that holds humidity.

🍽 Feeding

Slings: small crickets or roach nymphs twice a week. Juveniles: every 7-10 days; adults: 2-3 crickets or a roach every 1-3 weeks, adjusted to body condition, removing uneaten prey after 24 hours.

💧 Water

Keep a shallow water dish and mist part of the enclosure a few times a week, with good ventilation to prevent mould.

🏠 Enrichment

Wide vertical cork bark slabs for hiding, climbing and moulting, plus a mesh lid it can hang from.

🩺 Health Considerations

Moulting is the critical time: it needs enough height to hang and pull free, and must not be disturbed or fed for 7-10 days afterwards. Low humidity or lack of space leads to fatal mismoults.

🤲 Handling

Hands-off recommended: it is fast and delicate, so move it by coaxing it onto bark or into a container. It has no venom and rarely bites, but the spiny pedipalps can give small thorn-like punctures.

⚖️ Legal Restrictions

No licence needed in the UK. Amblypygids are not on the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 schedule, and this species is not CITES-listed or a GB invasive species of special concern. As a non-native animal it must never be released (Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, section 14).

📋 Additional Notes

Also called the giant amblypygid or whip spider; many in the trade are wild-caught, and some sold as D. diadema are D. medius, which needs higher humidity, so confirm the species. Sexing: males have longer pedipalps than females, and females carry their eggs and then their young under the abdomen. Lifespan is usually given as 5-10 years, though some care sheets claim females reach 15-20 years.