Hottest in the house. Big Z's glad to walk through your enclosure plan with you before you commit. Just reach out.
📦Live arrivalBig Z packs every order with weather-aware care.
💬Big Z's here to helpNot sure if Deathstalker Scorpion (Leiurus quinquestriatus) is your spice level? Message us anytime, happy to talk it through.
🌶Spice 5 supportBig Z's on the dot for these: reach out anytime if you want a hand with the enclosure and lock-in-lid plan, or just want it looked over before you order.
Big Z's notes
About this Fella
Leiurus quinquestriatus, the Deathstalker Scorpion, is the classic straw-yellow Leiurus: fast, alert, and unmistakably serious.
A display-only advanced keeper species for experienced hot-keepers. No handling.
Size: 2i
The numbers live in the care guide. Enclosure size, temps, humidity, feeding schedule, premolt signs, handling boundaries: it's all in the care guide for this exact fella. Start with the full Advanced guide, or click for the quick Open the Simple version →
Care + shipping
What ships with this order
Comes with a free species-oriented care guide
Heat / cold pack as needed for the week's forecast
Tracking + arrival window before ship-day
DM access to Big Z for the life of the animal
Matched care guide
Deathstalker Scorpion
Leiurus quinquestriatus - Spice 5 - Extreme (Medical Significance). Baby Buddy - 2i/3i scorpling only, with escape-proof ventilation; Burrow Buddy - larger grow-out when the animal needs more floor and substrate depth
Big Z's Quick Verdict: The classic Deathstalker, Leiurus quinquestriatus, is the straw-yellow North African Leiurus that made the name famous. The catch: older Deathstalker labels got used pretty loosely, and some of those animals are now split out as other Leiurus species. For Big Z purposes, that does not soften the rules. Serious buthid, display only, no handling.
Confirm the exact animal. Match this guide to the species, locality, size, and life stage on your label. If the ID is uncertain, use the more conservative part of the range and ask before changing the setup.
Change one thing at a time. Treat temperature and humidity as target zones, then watch posture, burrowing, drinking, feeding, and molt behavior before making another adjustment.
Respect the handling boundary. If the guide says no handling, fast, defensive, or medically significant, plan transfers with catch cups, locked lids, and no bare hands. For serious bites, stings, or symptoms, seek emergency medical care.
Quick Care Snapshot
Temp
Warm arid gradient, roughly 82-92 F with a cooler retreat; do not bake tiny sling containers
Humidity
Low / arid; brief controlled hydration only, then let surfaces dry (under 30%)
Setup
Arid terrestrial / crevice scorpion
Substrate
Dry, compactable sand/soil mix with a tight hide, stone edge, or starter burrow
Feeding
Tiny crickets or roach nymphs sized to the instar; remove uneaten prey
Handling
NEVER
Humidity zones: Very Low under 30% - Low 30-60% - Low-Moderate 40-70% - Moderate 60-80% - Moderate-High 70-85% - High 80%+ - Very High 90%+
Recommended Big Z's Setup
Baby Buddy - 2i/3i scorpling only, with escape-proof ventilation
Burrow Buddy - larger grow-out when the animal needs more floor and substrate depth
Critical Notes
Medically significant buthid venom; this is a hot-keeper animal, not a beginner display pet
No handling, no free-room transfers, and no casual lid openings
Use long tools, a catch cup, and secondary containment before every feeding, water check, or rehouse
Tiny instars can escape through vents and lid gaps that look safe to humans
The name has been messy in the trade; if it is Deathstalker-type Leiurus, treat it like the real deal
Care Basics
Security first: know where the scorpion is before the enclosure opens.
Keep the build dry, simple, and inspectable; a beautiful cluttered display is not worth losing visual control.
Use a tight retreat or starter burrow, not wet moss or a humid tropical setup.
Offer appropriately small prey and remove anything uneaten, especially around premolt.
Never handle this species under any circumstance.
Feeding, Growth & Maintenance
For 2i/3i, use very small prey: pinhead/small crickets, tiny roach nymphs, or prekilled pieces if the animal is not reliably taking live prey. Prey should be manageable, not a wrestling match.
Feed with tools over secondary containment. Drop prey only after you can see the scorpion. Remove uneaten prey promptly; feeder insects can injure a premolt or freshly molted scorpling.
Expect pauses. Refusing food while plump, sealed away, or approaching molt is not a reason to disturb the animal. Pull prey, keep the enclosure secure, and wait.
Current Big Z's catalog: Yes
Leiurus quinquestriatus
Deathstalker Scorpion: Advanced Care Guide
Keeper Snapshot: The classic Deathstalker, Leiurus quinquestriatus, is the straw-yellow North African Leiurus that made the name famous. The catch: older Deathstalker labels got used pretty loosely, and some of those animals are now split out as other Leiurus species. For Big Z purposes, that does not soften the rules. Serious buthid, display only, no handling.
Confirm the exact animal. Match this guide to the species, locality, size, and life stage on your label. If the ID is uncertain, use the more conservative part of the range and ask before changing the setup.
Change one thing at a time. Treat temperature and humidity as target zones, then watch posture, burrowing, drinking, feeding, and molt behavior before making another adjustment.
Respect the handling boundary. If the guide says no handling, fast, defensive, or medically significant, plan transfers with catch cups, locked lids, and no bare hands. For serious bites, stings, or symptoms, seek emergency medical care.
Quick Snapshot
Temperature
Warm arid gradient, roughly 82-92 F with a cooler retreat; do not bake tiny sling containers
Humidity
Low / arid; brief controlled hydration only, then let surfaces dry (under 30%)
Setup Type
Arid terrestrial / crevice scorpion
Substrate
Dry, compactable sand/soil mix with a tight hide, stone edge, or starter burrow
Feeding
Tiny crickets or roach nymphs sized to the instar; remove uneaten prey
Care Difficulty
Spice 5 - Extreme (Medical Significance)
Handling
NEVER
Humidity zones: Very Low under 30% - Low 30-60% - Low-Moderate 40-70% - Moderate 60-80% - Moderate-High 70-85% - High 80%+ - Very High 90%+
Enclosure Format / Size Class
2i/3i scorplings: small secure sling enclosure or vial with tiny ventilation, visual control, and no open handling
Larger juveniles: compact terrestrial grow-out with a dry retreat and secondary containment for every opening
Adults: locked, escape-proof terrestrial enclosure with dry substrate, a tight hide, and enough room to locate the animal before maintenance
Warnings First
Medically significant buthid venom; this is a hot-keeper animal, not a beginner display pet
No handling, no free-room transfers, and no casual lid openings
Use long tools, a catch cup, and secondary containment before every feeding, water check, or rehouse
Tiny instars can escape through vents and lid gaps that look safe to humans
The name has been messy in the trade; if it is Deathstalker-type Leiurus, treat it like the real deal
Simple Care
Security first: know where the scorpion is before the enclosure opens.
Keep the build dry, simple, and inspectable; a beautiful cluttered display is not worth losing visual control.
Use a tight retreat or starter burrow, not wet moss or a humid tropical setup.
Offer appropriately small prey and remove anything uneaten, especially around premolt.
Never handle this species under any circumstance.
Advanced Keeper Notes
Enclosure & Microclimate
In the wild, Deathstalkers work dry ground, rock edges, crevices, and burrows. In the keeper room, that means dry compactable substrate, a tight retreat, serious lid security, and a layout where you can find the fella before anything opens.
For 2i/3i animals, small is safer than showy. Use a secure sling-size setup with micro ventilation and a hide edge. Big open displays make feeding, monitoring, and escape control worse at this size.
Hydration should be controlled and temporary: a tiny damp corner, a lightly moistened hide edge, or careful droplet access, then let it dry. Avoid standing wet substrate, stagnant air, or frequent misting.
Feeding, Growth & Maintenance
For 2i/3i, use very small prey: pinhead/small crickets, tiny roach nymphs, or prekilled pieces if the animal is not reliably taking live prey. Prey should be manageable, not a wrestling match.
Feed with tools over secondary containment. Drop prey only after you can see the scorpion. Remove uneaten prey promptly; feeder insects can injure a premolt or freshly molted scorpling.
Expect pauses. Refusing food while plump, sealed away, or approaching molt is not a reason to disturb the animal. Pull prey, keep the enclosure secure, and wait.
Possible Origin / Range
Likely native range: Current Leiurus work pins true Leiurus quinquestriatus mostly to Egypt and Sudan. Older books and hobby labels used the Deathstalker name across a much wider North Africa / Middle East lane, including animals now called L. hebraeus, L. jordanensis, and other Leiurus species.
Habitat translation: Arid to hyper-arid ground and crevice habitat: dry, sparse, secure, and simple enough that the animal is always locatable before the lid opens.
Advanced Keeper Details
Name check: older Deathstalker care sheets lumped a lot of Leiurus together. The 2014 genus revision split that up, including L. hebraeus, so fuzzy provenance gets the serious-Leiurus treatment at Big Z.
Sting risk: medical papers take Leiurus seriously for a reason. Bad stings can go systemic, especially with heart and breathing trouble, and kids, elderly folks, and medically fragile people are the highest-risk group.
Wild-to-captive translation: this is a dry-ground, crevice-and-burrow scorpion. Keep it sparse, dry, tight, and easy to inspect. If you cannot see where it is, the lid does not casually open.
Sources: the full Big Z APA 7 reference list lives at References.
Leiurus quinquestriatus, the Deathstalker Scorpion, is the classic straw-yellow Leiurus: fast, alert, and unmistakably serious.
A display-only advanced keeper species for experienced hot-keepers. No handling.
Size: 2i
The numbers live in the care guide. Enclosure size, temps, humidity, feeding schedule, premolt signs, handling boundaries: it's all in the care guide for this exact fella. Start with the full Advanced guide, or click for the quick Open the Simple version →
What ships with this order
Care + shipping
Comes with a free species-oriented care guide
Heat / cold pack as needed for the week's forecast
Big Z's Quick Verdict: The classic Deathstalker, Leiurus quinquestriatus, is the straw-yellow North African Leiurus that made the name famous. The catch: older Deathstalker labels got used pretty loosely, and some of those animals are now split out as other Leiurus species. For Big Z purposes, that does not soften the rules. Serious buthid, display only, no handling.
Confirm the exact animal. Match this guide to the species, locality, size, and life stage on your label. If the ID is uncertain, use the more conservative part of the range and ask before changing the setup.
Change one thing at a time. Treat temperature and humidity as target zones, then watch posture, burrowing, drinking, feeding, and molt behavior before making another adjustment.
Respect the handling boundary. If the guide says no handling, fast, defensive, or medically significant, plan transfers with catch cups, locked lids, and no bare hands. For serious bites, stings, or symptoms, seek emergency medical care.
Quick Care Snapshot
Temp
Warm arid gradient, roughly 82-92 F with a cooler retreat; do not bake tiny sling containers
Humidity
Low / arid; brief controlled hydration only, then let surfaces dry (under 30%)
Setup
Arid terrestrial / crevice scorpion
Substrate
Dry, compactable sand/soil mix with a tight hide, stone edge, or starter burrow
Feeding
Tiny crickets or roach nymphs sized to the instar; remove uneaten prey
Handling
NEVER
Humidity zones: Very Low under 30% - Low 30-60% - Low-Moderate 40-70% - Moderate 60-80% - Moderate-High 70-85% - High 80%+ - Very High 90%+
Recommended Big Z's Setup
Baby Buddy - 2i/3i scorpling only, with escape-proof ventilation
Burrow Buddy - larger grow-out when the animal needs more floor and substrate depth
Critical Notes
Medically significant buthid venom; this is a hot-keeper animal, not a beginner display pet
No handling, no free-room transfers, and no casual lid openings
Use long tools, a catch cup, and secondary containment before every feeding, water check, or rehouse
Tiny instars can escape through vents and lid gaps that look safe to humans
The name has been messy in the trade; if it is Deathstalker-type Leiurus, treat it like the real deal
Care Basics
Security first: know where the scorpion is before the enclosure opens.
Keep the build dry, simple, and inspectable; a beautiful cluttered display is not worth losing visual control.
Use a tight retreat or starter burrow, not wet moss or a humid tropical setup.
Offer appropriately small prey and remove anything uneaten, especially around premolt.
Never handle this species under any circumstance.
Feeding, Growth & Maintenance
For 2i/3i, use very small prey: pinhead/small crickets, tiny roach nymphs, or prekilled pieces if the animal is not reliably taking live prey. Prey should be manageable, not a wrestling match.
Feed with tools over secondary containment. Drop prey only after you can see the scorpion. Remove uneaten prey promptly; feeder insects can injure a premolt or freshly molted scorpling.
Expect pauses. Refusing food while plump, sealed away, or approaching molt is not a reason to disturb the animal. Pull prey, keep the enclosure secure, and wait.
Current Big Z's catalog: Yes
Leiurus quinquestriatus
Deathstalker Scorpion: Advanced Care Guide
Keeper Snapshot: The classic Deathstalker, Leiurus quinquestriatus, is the straw-yellow North African Leiurus that made the name famous. The catch: older Deathstalker labels got used pretty loosely, and some of those animals are now split out as other Leiurus species. For Big Z purposes, that does not soften the rules. Serious buthid, display only, no handling.
Confirm the exact animal. Match this guide to the species, locality, size, and life stage on your label. If the ID is uncertain, use the more conservative part of the range and ask before changing the setup.
Change one thing at a time. Treat temperature and humidity as target zones, then watch posture, burrowing, drinking, feeding, and molt behavior before making another adjustment.
Respect the handling boundary. If the guide says no handling, fast, defensive, or medically significant, plan transfers with catch cups, locked lids, and no bare hands. For serious bites, stings, or symptoms, seek emergency medical care.
Quick Snapshot
Temperature
Warm arid gradient, roughly 82-92 F with a cooler retreat; do not bake tiny sling containers
Humidity
Low / arid; brief controlled hydration only, then let surfaces dry (under 30%)
Setup Type
Arid terrestrial / crevice scorpion
Substrate
Dry, compactable sand/soil mix with a tight hide, stone edge, or starter burrow
Feeding
Tiny crickets or roach nymphs sized to the instar; remove uneaten prey
Care Difficulty
Spice 5 - Extreme (Medical Significance)
Handling
NEVER
Humidity zones: Very Low under 30% - Low 30-60% - Low-Moderate 40-70% - Moderate 60-80% - Moderate-High 70-85% - High 80%+ - Very High 90%+
Enclosure Format / Size Class
2i/3i scorplings: small secure sling enclosure or vial with tiny ventilation, visual control, and no open handling
Larger juveniles: compact terrestrial grow-out with a dry retreat and secondary containment for every opening
Adults: locked, escape-proof terrestrial enclosure with dry substrate, a tight hide, and enough room to locate the animal before maintenance
Warnings First
Medically significant buthid venom; this is a hot-keeper animal, not a beginner display pet
No handling, no free-room transfers, and no casual lid openings
Use long tools, a catch cup, and secondary containment before every feeding, water check, or rehouse
Tiny instars can escape through vents and lid gaps that look safe to humans
The name has been messy in the trade; if it is Deathstalker-type Leiurus, treat it like the real deal
Simple Care
Security first: know where the scorpion is before the enclosure opens.
Keep the build dry, simple, and inspectable; a beautiful cluttered display is not worth losing visual control.
Use a tight retreat or starter burrow, not wet moss or a humid tropical setup.
Offer appropriately small prey and remove anything uneaten, especially around premolt.
Never handle this species under any circumstance.
Advanced Keeper Notes
Enclosure & Microclimate
In the wild, Deathstalkers work dry ground, rock edges, crevices, and burrows. In the keeper room, that means dry compactable substrate, a tight retreat, serious lid security, and a layout where you can find the fella before anything opens.
For 2i/3i animals, small is safer than showy. Use a secure sling-size setup with micro ventilation and a hide edge. Big open displays make feeding, monitoring, and escape control worse at this size.
Hydration should be controlled and temporary: a tiny damp corner, a lightly moistened hide edge, or careful droplet access, then let it dry. Avoid standing wet substrate, stagnant air, or frequent misting.
Feeding, Growth & Maintenance
For 2i/3i, use very small prey: pinhead/small crickets, tiny roach nymphs, or prekilled pieces if the animal is not reliably taking live prey. Prey should be manageable, not a wrestling match.
Feed with tools over secondary containment. Drop prey only after you can see the scorpion. Remove uneaten prey promptly; feeder insects can injure a premolt or freshly molted scorpling.
Expect pauses. Refusing food while plump, sealed away, or approaching molt is not a reason to disturb the animal. Pull prey, keep the enclosure secure, and wait.
Possible Origin / Range
Likely native range: Current Leiurus work pins true Leiurus quinquestriatus mostly to Egypt and Sudan. Older books and hobby labels used the Deathstalker name across a much wider North Africa / Middle East lane, including animals now called L. hebraeus, L. jordanensis, and other Leiurus species.
Habitat translation: Arid to hyper-arid ground and crevice habitat: dry, sparse, secure, and simple enough that the animal is always locatable before the lid opens.
Advanced Keeper Details
Name check: older Deathstalker care sheets lumped a lot of Leiurus together. The 2014 genus revision split that up, including L. hebraeus, so fuzzy provenance gets the serious-Leiurus treatment at Big Z.
Sting risk: medical papers take Leiurus seriously for a reason. Bad stings can go systemic, especially with heart and breathing trouble, and kids, elderly folks, and medically fragile people are the highest-risk group.
Wild-to-captive translation: this is a dry-ground, crevice-and-burrow scorpion. Keep it sparse, dry, tight, and easy to inspect. If you cannot see where it is, the lid does not casually open.
Sources: the full Big Z APA 7 reference list lives at References.
Spice 5: Hottest in the houseExperienced keepers only: secure lock-in lids, a real plan, no free handling. Big Z is on the dot if you want yours looked over first.Medically significant ⚠This animal's venom can need real medical attention. Adults only, a locked escape-proof enclosure, and no free handling, ever.Burrow Buddy fitThis one's a digger, so it pairs with the deep Burrow Buddy: substrate depth, a tunnel start, and a dark ground-level retreat.
Malaysian Cherry Red Centipede (Scolopendra dehaani)
Spice 5: Hottest in the houseExperienced keepers only: secure lock-in lids, a real plan, no free handling. Big Z is on the dot if you want yours looked over first.Burrow Buddy fitThis one's a digger, so it pairs with the deep Burrow Buddy: substrate depth, a tunnel start, and a dark ground-level retreat.
Spice 5: Hottest in the houseExperienced keepers only: secure lock-in lids, a real plan, no free handling. Big Z is on the dot if you want yours looked over first.Medically significant ⚠This animal's venom can need real medical attention. Adults only, a locked escape-proof enclosure, and no free handling, ever.Baby Buddy fitTiny enough that keeping a close eye on it beats giving it space. Starts in the tiny square Baby Buddy; size up as it grows.
Chinese Beauty Centipede (Scolopendra multidens 'Red')
Spice 5: Hottest in the houseExperienced keepers only: secure lock-in lids, a real plan, no free handling. Big Z is on the dot if you want yours looked over first.Medically significant ⚠This animal's venom can need real medical attention. Adults only, a locked escape-proof enclosure, and no free handling, ever.Burrow Buddy fitThis one's a digger, so it pairs with the deep Burrow Buddy: substrate depth, a tunnel start, and a dark ground-level retreat.
Giant Hairy Alligator Back Scorpion (Hottentotta sousai)
Spice 5: Hottest in the houseExperienced keepers only: secure lock-in lids, a real plan, no free handling. Big Z is on the dot if you want yours looked over first.Medically significant ⚠This animal's venom can need real medical attention. Adults only, a locked escape-proof enclosure, and no free handling, ever.Burrow Buddy fitThis one's a digger, so it pairs with the deep Burrow Buddy: substrate depth, a tunnel start, and a dark ground-level retreat.
Spice 5: Hottest in the houseExperienced keepers only: secure lock-in lids, a real plan, no free handling. Big Z is on the dot if you want yours looked over first.Medically significant ⚠This animal's venom can need real medical attention. Adults only, a locked escape-proof enclosure, and no free handling, ever.Burrow Buddy fitThis one's a digger, so it pairs with the deep Burrow Buddy: substrate depth, a tunnel start, and a dark ground-level retreat.
Spice 5: Hottest in the houseExperienced keepers only: secure lock-in lids, a real plan, no free handling. Big Z is on the dot if you want yours looked over first.Medically significant ⚠This animal's venom can need real medical attention. Adults only, a locked escape-proof enclosure, and no free handling, ever.Burrow Buddy fitThis one's a digger, so it pairs with the deep Burrow Buddy: substrate depth, a tunnel start, and a dark ground-level retreat.
Spice 5: Hottest in the houseExperienced keepers only: secure lock-in lids, a real plan, no free handling. Big Z is on the dot if you want yours looked over first.Medically significant ⚠This animal's venom can need real medical attention. Adults only, a locked escape-proof enclosure, and no free handling, ever.Burrow Buddy fitThis one's a digger, so it pairs with the deep Burrow Buddy: substrate depth, a tunnel start, and a dark ground-level retreat.
Cape Verde Alligator Back Scorpion (Hottentotta caboverdensis)
