The Black Emperor Scorpion, also known as the African Emperor Scorpion or the Black Emperor Scorpion, is probably the most popular Scorpion kept in captivity. They are quite suitable for the beginner and they also maintain appeal for the experiences hobbyist.

Emperor Scorpions are large and appear quite fearsome, yet they are not considered dangerous to humans. They are also relatively hearty and do well in captivity, which may account for why they are so popular. Most humans are not hurt by the Emperor's mild sting. Those who have been stung compare it to a bee sting. Though they are fairly safe, they should still be treated with respect. Even an adult who has been stung several times could develop hypersensitivity to their sting. Children and those allergic to their sting could face fatal consequences if stung. For this reason, they should always be handled with care. But because they have a relatively mild sting they are more suitable to beginners than some other species. In the wild, Emperor Scorpions exhibit social behavior because they live in groups within interconnecting tunnels. Young scorpions ride about on their mother's back. Emperor Scorpions live on the damp humid floor of the tropical rain forests of West Africa. Their captive environments should mimic their natural habitat as much as possible. In the wild, they eat insects, frogs, small mice and other small animals. Mature Emperor Scorpions use their claws to capture and kill their prey.

One of the largest Scorpions on Earth, the Emperor Scorpion will grow to an average length between 6 and 8 inches long by maturity, immature individuals usually average between 3 and 4 inches in length. They usually reach their adult size by 4 years of age. Males and females can be visually sexed by examining their pectines, which are located on their bellies. The pectine is a comb-like structure and is much smaller in the male. Young scorpions are white after they are born, but become darker after each molt.

The Emperor Scorpion originates in West Africa. It is commonly found in the humid rainforests.

The Emperor Scorpion can be housed in a 10-gallon tank filled with at least three inches of substrate. Placing rocks in the tank is recommended because the Emperor loves to hide. The Emperor Scorpion glows green under a black light. This is useful in the event that your scorpion escapes its enclosure and is lost in your house. In addition to using black lights to find missing scorpions, some people also light their enclosures with black lights. This light will not bother the Emperor, and may make its tank look a bit more appealing! Tanks may also be lit with UV lights, but make sure that they have dark places where they can escape the light. Enclosures should be kept between 75-85 degrees Fahrenheit and humidity should be around 80 percent.

Captive Emperors can be fed small anoles, roaches, gut-loaded crickets, or pinky mice. They may also be fed small frogs such as peepers on occasion. How much they eat will vary between individuals. A good rule of thumb is to feed as many crickets as will be eaten overnight once a week. Newly imported scorpions can be fed more often until they put on weight. They do have tendency to get obese in captivity, so do not overfeed them.

Both male and female Black Emperor Scorpions take about three years to reach maturity, and will breed in another one to three years after maturity. After a successful mating there will be behavioral changes in the female after a short period of time. She will start to grow restless, and pregnancy will usually be visible. A pregnant female will have visible white masses located inside the intersegmental membranes. Young Scorpions do not hatch from eggs, but rather are born live. They must stay with their mother until they molt once to keep from dying of thirst. Young are commonly seen riding on their mother's backs until this time. Most female Black Emperors feed the young by crushing crickets and feeding them to her young. Mothers have been known to eat their babies. Some hobbyists report that this behavior can be decreased if the mother is well fed, but this is not always the case.

The usual lifespan of an Emperor Scorpion is 5 years in captivity, though some individuals may live as long as 8 years or more.