Captive scorpions eat live insects, with crickets, dubia roaches, and mealworms being the most common choices. All scorpions are strict carnivores, and the specifics of how much, how often, and what type of prey to offer depend on your scorpion’s species and size.
Best Feeder Insects for Scorpions
Crickets are the most widely available and commonly used feeder insect for pet scorpions. Dubia roaches are another excellent staple, offering more protein and less odor than crickets. Mealworms and superworms work well too, especially for smaller species or as variety in the diet. Some keepers also offer waxworms as an occasional treat, though these are high in fat and shouldn’t be a regular part of the rotation.
The prey you choose should be smaller than your scorpion’s body. A good rule of thumb is to select insects no longer than the width of your scorpion’s back. Oversized prey can stress a scorpion or go uneaten, and leaving large, live insects in the enclosure overnight risks them nibbling on your scorpion, particularly during a vulnerable molt.
How Often and How Much to Feed
A large species like an emperor scorpion will typically eat two or three adult crickets per week. Smaller species need less, sometimes just one or two small insects. Scorpions are opportunistic in the wild and don’t eat on a strict schedule, so feeding every few days works well for most species.
Drop the prey into the enclosure and give your scorpion time to hunt. If the insect hasn’t been eaten within 24 hours, remove it. Uneaten crickets or roaches wandering the tank can bite or stress your scorpion, especially if it’s preparing to molt. Keeping the enclosure clean of leftover prey also prevents mold and bacterial growth in the substrate.
Tropical vs. Desert Species
Feeding strategies can vary between species based on temperament and natural habitat. Desert hairy scorpions, for example, tend to be aggressive hunters that strike prey almost immediately. Emperor scorpions and other forest species can be lazier feeders. Some keepers find they need to stun a roach (a quick squeeze or tap) and place it near the scorpion’s burrow entrance to trigger a feeding response.
The type of roach matters too. Red runner roaches work well for desert species because they stay on the surface and run around, making themselves easy targets. Dubia roaches burrow into substrate, which can be a problem if your scorpion doesn’t actively chase prey. For burrowing species, placing the roach on its back near the scorpion’s hide can encourage feeding without the roach escaping underground.
Gut Loading for Better Nutrition
Feeder insects on their own aren’t nutritionally complete. Gut loading, the practice of feeding your insects a nutrient-rich diet before offering them to your scorpion, significantly improves the nutritional value of each meal. Think of it as indirectly feeding your scorpion fruits and vegetables it could never eat on its own.
Feed your crickets or roaches dark leafy greens, carrots, squash, sweet potatoes, oranges, or apples for at least 24 to 48 hours before offering them as prey. Commercial gut-loading diets are also available and often contain elevated calcium levels (5 to 8 percent) to help balance the natural calcium deficiency found in most feeder insects. While calcium balance is more critical for reptiles than arachnids, a well-nourished feeder insect is always a better meal than a starved one.
Water and Hydration
Scorpions get some moisture from their prey, but most species also benefit from a direct water source. How you provide that water depends entirely on whether you’re keeping a desert or tropical species.
For small or arid species like deathstalkers or bark scorpions, a bottle cap with a small pebble inside is enough. The pebble prevents the scorpion from accidentally submerging and drowning. Some keepers skip the dish entirely for very small or desert-dwelling species, relying instead on light misting that leaves water droplets on the enclosure walls for the scorpion to drink from.
Larger tropical species like emperor scorpions or Asian forest scorpions can use a shallow reptile water dish buried flush with the substrate. This setup also helps maintain humidity, as some water naturally seeps into the surrounding soil. For desert species, though, this approach is risky. Excess moisture in the substrate promotes fungal infections (mycosis), which can be fatal. If you keep arid species, avoid letting water accumulate in or under the substrate at all.
When Your Scorpion Stops Eating
Scorpions regularly refuse food, and it’s usually not a cause for concern. The most common reason is an upcoming molt. Before shedding their exoskeleton, scorpions stop eating for days to weeks as their body prepares for the process. After molting, they fast again while waiting for their mouthparts and claws to harden, which typically takes one to two weeks.
During this time, do not offer live prey. A freshly molted scorpion has a soft body and can be seriously injured by a cricket or roach. Wait until you see the scorpion moving normally and its exoskeleton looks firm before resuming feeding. You’ll know it’s ready when it starts showing interest in its surroundings again, often emerging from its hide and adopting a hunting posture.
Scorpions can also fast for surprisingly long periods outside of molting, sometimes weeks or even months depending on the species. As long as your scorpion has access to water and its abdomen (the segmented tail section) isn’t visibly shrunken or deflated, occasional food refusal is normal behavior for an animal that evolved to survive unpredictable prey availability.
Foods to Avoid
Never feed your scorpion wild-caught insects. Bugs from your yard or garden may carry pesticides, parasites, or diseases that can kill your scorpion. Stick to commercially bred feeder insects from a pet store or online supplier.
Scorpions also shouldn’t eat processed human food, raw meat, or dead insects that have been sitting out. While some vacuum-sealed, preserved feeder insects exist on the market, most scorpions rely on movement to detect and strike prey. A dead insect sitting motionless in the enclosure will often be ignored entirely. Live prey triggers natural hunting behavior and ensures your scorpion is eating fresh, uncontaminated food.