Scorpions are striking, ultra-low-maintenance pets for older, careful keepers who love to observe. The emperor scorpion is large, docile, and a good beginner — but every scorpion can sting, so they're strictly a watch, don't handle pet. They glow under UV light, which is half the fun.
Is a scorpion a good pet for kids?
Quick answer: Scorpions are best for older kids with an adult helping. Scorpions are striking, ultra-low-maintenance pets for older, careful keepers who love to observe.
- 👍 Best for: amazingly low-maintenance and cheap, allergy-friendly
- 👀 Keep in mind: every scorpion can sting — never handle
- ⏳ Lifespan: 5–8 years
- 💲 Ongoing cost: about $8–$20/mo (setup & vet extra)
📋 Scorpion at a glance
Should I get a scorpion?
💚 Why you'll love a scorpion
- Amazingly low-maintenance and cheap
- Glow under UV light
- Allergy-friendly
- Long-lived and fascinating
⚠️ Things to know
- Every scorpion can sting — never handle
- For older, careful keepers only
- Eat live insects
- Hide and burrow a lot
The honest answer: Only if "never handle, not even once" is a rule your household will actually keep — then an emperor is a striking, near-effortless pet to watch.
👍 Get one if…
- You want a quick blacklight glow show
- Your calm teenager follows a rule exactly
- You want a display tank that runs itself
👎 Think again if…
- You have an under-five who could reach in
- You'd bend the never-handle rule even once
- Your kids need a pet that's actually visible
- You're shopping for something rarer than an emperor
✅ Am I ready for a scorpion?
Wanting one and being ready for one are different questions. These are the ones worth answering honestly before you decide — there are no wrong answers, and a "not yet" is a perfectly good result.
The golden rule: scorpions are NEVER held. Not once, not gently, not "just this time." Can you truly promise hands-off forever?
- Hands off, always — eyes only
- I'd be tempted someday
- I'd want to hold it eventually
If that one gave you pause: If "never hold it" feels disappointing, a scorpion isn't your pet. Emperor scorpion stings are mild (like a bee), but the rule is still NEVER.
Is a grown-up fully on board to supervise — including feeding and tank cleaning around a venomous animal?
- Yes — a grown-up is my scorpion co-pilot
- They said "maybe"
- Haven't asked
If that one gave you pause: Scorpions are a team pet: kid + grown-up. Get a real YES (and a plan for who does what) before anything else.
How to care for your Scorpion
Scorpion care in depth
A "watch, don't hold" pet — every scorpion can sting
Scorpions are striking, hardy, and almost unbelievably low-maintenance, but the headline rule is non-negotiable: every scorpion can sting, so you never handle them. They're strictly an observation pet for older, careful keepers. The best beginner species is the emperor scorpion — large, docile, with venom generally likened to a bee sting — but even a calm emperor should stay in its enclosure. As a rough guide, big-clawed, chunky scorpions tend to be milder; slender, thin-clawed ones tend to be more potent. A few kinds — bark scorpions, the deathstalker and their relatives — are genuinely dangerous, especially to a child, and aren't pets for a family home. Treat every scorpion as hands-off.
A warm, humid burrow
Match the enclosure to the species, but most popular scorpions (like the rainforest emperor) want warmth (around 78–85°F) and higher humidity, with deep substrate (several inches of coco fiber or soil) to burrow, a hide, and a shallow water dish. Desert species need it drier instead — so research your exact species before setting up. Keep a secure lid, and don't over-clean: scorpions like a stable, undisturbed home and spend much of their time tucked away.
Feeding, glowing, and a long, quiet life
Feeding is minimal — a few appropriately sized insects (crickets, roaches) each week, and they can fast for a while, so remove uneaten prey. Here's the fun part: scorpions glow bright blue-green under UV (blacklight), which is one of the best reasons to keep one — a quick blacklight makes for a magical night-time view. They're molting animals, so leave them undisturbed while they're soft after a molt. Quiet and undemanding, emperor scorpions live around 5–8 years.
Pet scorpions (like the calm emperor scorpion) are quiet, long-lived display pets — strictly 'look, don't touch,' since they can sting. Emperors can live 6–8 years.
✅ Before you bring a scorpion home
🗓️ Your routine — easy chores to remember
- Check warmth, humidity, and the water dish
- A quick, hands-off look that it's okay
- Feed an appropriately sized insect
- Remove uneaten prey
- Check humidity
- Refresh substrate as needed
- Watch for molting (don't disturb)
- Deep-clean occasionally
💰 Monthly cost: Low: a small tank, substrate, and a few feeder insects.
🤩 Fun facts about your Scorpion
Scorpions glow blue-green under a UV black-light — and no one fully knows why.
❓ Common questions about scorpions
How much does a scorpion cost per month?
Plan on roughly $8–$20 per month for food and supplies. Low: a small tank, substrate, and a few feeder insects.
Are scorpions good pets for kids?
Scorpions rate 2/5 for kid-friendliness — they're often more of a watch-and-learn pet for younger children. Strictly hands-off — observe only, ideally with a UV light for their glow.
How long do scorpions live?
Scorpions typically live 5–8 years. Make sure your family is ready for that commitment before bringing one home.
Are scorpions allergy-friendly?
No fur or dander, so allergy-friendly. A watch-only pet — never handle.
Should I get a scorpion?
Only if "never handle, not even once" is a rule your household will actually keep — then an emperor is a striking, near-effortless pet to watch. Get one if: You want a quick blacklight glow show; Your calm teenager follows a rule exactly; You want a display tank that runs itself. Think again if: You have an under-five who could reach in; You'd bend the never-handle rule even once; Your kids need a pet that's actually visible; You're shopping for something rarer than an emperor.
Are scorpions good pets?
For older, careful keepers who want to observe rather than handle, yes. The emperor scorpion is large, docile, hardy, and extremely low-maintenance. But every scorpion can sting, so they're strictly a watch-don't-hold pet, not suitable for young children.
Can you hold a pet scorpion?
No. Every scorpion can sting, so they should never be handled. Enjoy a scorpion as an observation pet in its enclosure — ideally with a UV blacklight, since scorpions glow, which is half the fun.
What is the best scorpion for beginners?
The emperor scorpion — large, calm, hardy, and with mild venom generally likened to a bee sting. As a rough guide, big-clawed chunky scorpions tend to be milder than slender, thin-clawed species, but all should be treated as hands-off.
Why do scorpions glow under UV light?
Scorpions have substances in their exoskeleton that fluoresce, so they glow bright blue-green under UV (blacklight). A quick look with a blacklight at night is a lovely way to watch one — keep it to a few minutes, though, since scorpions like the dark and a UV light left running over the tank isn't good for them.
🎬 Scorpion care videos
Watch beginner-friendly care videos for your scorpion.
▶ Watch Scorpion care videos on YouTube📚 Where this comes from
We check our care advice against vets, animal charities, and government health guidance. Here is what this page is built on.
Vets, charities & official guidance
- Scorpion toxicity — StatPearls, NCBI Bookshelf
- Scorpion stings — MSD Manual Consumer Version
- Scorpions — Arizona Pest Management Center, University of Arizona
Keeper & species-community guides
- Emperor scorpion care — Tree of Life Exotic Pet Medical Center
- Emperor scorpion care sheet — The Bio Dude
Checked August 2026. These are other people’s websites, and none of it replaces your own vet — if a pet seems unwell, call one.
