Devi

So I went to the reptile expo. And I didn't buy anything! Go me! I was amazed at my will power. I did meet a little plated lizard that I fell in love with and will go to the pet store to price what I would need for him. This is not my first encounter with plated lizards and wanting one, so here's hoping it's within my budget!

This leads me to the first introduction! Devi, my black emperor scorpion. Now, the typical reaction when people hear I have a scorpion is a cringe, followed by "Ewwww". Let me explain. No, that will take too long. Let me sum up (Bonus points for people who can identify where that quote came from). I worked at a pet store. We can talk about THAT issue later. So anyways, in my duties of caring for the animals I had to mist and feed the scorpions. I was like everyone else. I wanted nothing to do with the little venom packers. Until one day I sprayed them and they all let their tails lay relaxed. Apparently that means their happy. I felt. . .rewarded. And then they turned thier faces up into the spray and started to drink! So cute! Yes, that may sound crazy, but I think they are adorable. Then I discovered that when I stuck my hand in, they would use their pincers to block their face in a "If I can't see you, you can't see me" sort of defense. OMG cute. I . had. to. have. one. So I did.

Devi was a miss pick, if that make sense. Each of the three had different personalities. I wanted the little friendly one that I could pick up. I asked my boss to get that one for me while I got everything else. What I got was the little psycho one. Sweet. This is a regular feeding with Devi:
Me: "Devi, where are you?"
Devi: "Hiding in the vines"
Me: "Scorpions don't climb!"
Devi: "Pffft"
Me: "Out you come"
Devi: "I kill you"
Me: *eye roll*
Devi: "For real!"
Me: "Eat your cricket"
Devi: "No"
Me: "Eat it"
Devi: "No"
Me: "Eat it"
Devi: *snatches up cricket like I am going to tear it away from her* "What TOOK you so long?!" *runs and hides until next feeding*


Above is the best picture I have of Devi. See, I don't have a camera and my closest friend who does hates her, so we are at an impass in the Devi picture area. The fact that Devi is adamant that I am out to get her doesn't help. I will try for more later.

Black emperor scorpions have the least toxic venom of any species, so I am more danger of her pinching me with her pincers then anything else. If she did get me, it would be more like the flu for a couple of days then anything. Regular scorpions DO. NOT. CLIMB. Devi spends 80% of the day hanging in her vines like a freaking monkey. When she's not hungry, she pushes her feeding tongs away with her pincers (awwwwww). I am in the works of learning more about these little guys because I want to breed her! Awesomeness? I think so.

Next post: Millions of Mice!