So, I've become the foster mother of 12 baby Emperor Scorpions. Mom seemed to be doing fine, and then.. not so much. She seems pretty dead, but I know Tarantulas can appear dead when they are in fact just moulting...I don't have as much experience with scorpions. Am I right in thinking it's highly unusual for a scorpion mother with babies on her back to start moulting?
They are only a week old, and from my understanding, they would typically hang out on mom's back another week or two minimum, before developing their exoskeleton and venturing off on their own. They have barely started to develop some color down the middle of their backs, and are rather pudgy, but I'm not sure how to get them to eat. I'm not mom, so the method of food delivery obviously doesn't seem right to these guys. Does she pre-digest any meals, or does she just kill things and stick them on her back for babies to eat? They don't even seem like they're capable of grabbing/biting, and definitely can't sting yet. I've offered cricket and mealworm insides, but really don't know if they've eaten anything.
I'm hoping they can go without food long enough, and develop an exoskeleton in time for me to offer fruit flies.
Any suggestions? Are they doomed?
Thanks guys!
Brit
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