Banana Spider Lifespan Novels & Stories

If you’re thinking about keeping an emperor scorpion or just wondering how long one sticks around, here’s what I’ve learned from keeping a few over the years.

In captivity, Pandinus imperator typically lives around 6–8 years with good care. Females often outlive males and, in especially attentive setups, some individuals have been documented to reach 8–10+ years. In the wild their lifespan tends to be shorter because of predators, parasites, and habitat stress. Key factors that influence longevity in captivity are stable humidity (generally 75–85%), consistent temperatures in the mid-70s to low-80s °F (about 24–28 °C), a deep, clean substrate for burrowing, and a steady diet of gut-loaded roaches or crickets.

Molting is a big vulnerability — scorpions can refuse food, become sluggish, or hide for days before and after a molt, and young scorpions molt more often than adults. Keeping stress low, avoiding handling during molts, and maintaining clean water and enclosure hygiene will go a long way toward pushing a healthy scorpion into the upper end of that lifespan range. If you want tips on substrate mixes or feeding schedules, I’ve experimented a lot and can share what worked best for me.