Class Pet

I was wondering if you all would consider an emperor scorpion to be a safe classroom pet for both middle and high school age students. This would be for a science class. I am absolutely scared to death of spiders for some reason but they really freak me out big time. I have seen these scorpions in local pet stores and think they would make interesting pets for students. I am just wondering if there are any safety risks of having it in the classroom.

Hi,

Would you be letting people handle it? Some people might be alergic if it did sting - though the one I had was really quite reluctant to do so.


dr del

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Originally Posted by Ringo

I was wondering if you all would consider an emperor scorpion to be a safe classroom pet for both middle and high school age students. This would be for a science class. I am absolutely scared to death of spiders for some reason but they really freak me out big time. I have seen these scorpions in local pet stores and think they would make interesting pets for students. I am just wondering if there are any safety risks of having it in the classroom.

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Yes, this a perfectly good species to use. I use them for handling demos at schools and at shows.

Emperors are more likely to pinch (you do not want to get pinched-adults can do damage) than sting. There is always the risk of getting stung or pinched.
The other issue is the scorpion being dropped-regardless of age. if they do sting, it is pretty mild venom however, there can be reactions to the venom.

I rarely have had an issue but I recommend buying from a breeder (captive bred species) and not a pet store.

I have handled emperors from different breeders and I have only been lightly pinched once and it was a "I am done being handled" pinch.

Keep in mind that Emperors require humidity so you will need to mist their enclosure often.

It would not be handled only moved periodically for tank cleaning. I would not allow students to get it out. I would probably do all of the maintanance for this one if I decide to get one. It would be more of an issue convincing the principle of the school to allow this pet. I am still a student not yet a teacher I will be graduating in may after I complete student teaching. I have just been trying to get a collection of interesting species to keep in my classroom. I already have a veiled chameleon, leopard gecko, ball python, fire bellied toads, and fish. Just felt that a scorpion would be interesting addition to the collection.

My first real pet was an emporor named Stingy, and she was great but did not like to be handled. My first and only attempt to handle her was met with hissing and I knew that the unnessisary stress is not good for her, as stress is an important factor to consider for a scorps health. That being said I wouldnt allow students to hold the scorp becuse it stresses the scorp and is an unnessasary risk (low damage yes, but will some yuppie parent sue your ass? you better believe it). Also, I'd recommend locks on your enclosures if they are in a public school becuase kids are idiots as you will very soon find out (especially unmotivated idiots forced to be in school). Back to the scorpion, this website is a good resource to use but I really would like you to check out venom list, I swear when it comes to scorps these are the guys you want to know

What ever you get a lockable tank is a good idea. Kids do the strangest things nothing like the class pet riding home on the bus or hurt! Other then that it'd be a great pet! I can't wait to add one to my home as soon as i can tlk my DH into it LOL!