What an emperor scorpion really costs

An emperor scorpion costs about $45–$60, almost always a wild-caught import, and a setup with a 20-gallon tank, side-mounted heat mat with a thermostat and deep damp substrate runs about $90–$300 (typically about $220). After that, a few crickets a week, a yearly substrate change and a little electricity come to about $75 a year, or about $95 with a small allowance for problems. Vet care is rarely available and no US insurer covers scorpions, so the realistic budget is supplies to fix humidity and mold, not vet bills.

Life expectancy: 5–8 years
Size: 6–8 in long
Care level: Low
Price: $44–$60
Setup: About $220
Insurance: Not offered

Estimate for: One adult emperor scorpion (Pandinus imperator) kept alone in a heated, humid 20-gallon long tank with deep, damp substrate. Space needed: 20-gallon long (30×12 in) tank with 4–6 in of damp substrate; 10 gallons is the bare minimum.

Where the money goes each year

A typical year for an emperor scorpion, with typical spending in an average-cost area.

Feeder insects (crickets or dubia roaches)$40
Substrate change (once a year)$22
Illness and injury (average)$20
Electricity for the heat mat$13
Typical year$100

Most years land between $50 and $210. Items replaced on a cycle are spread across the years.

Setup and the first year

For emperor scorpions, the equipment usually costs far more than the animal.

Getting set up

Price (pet store or online dealer (usually wild-caught))$52
20-gallon long glass tank with a lid$96
Damp substrate, 4–6 in deep (coco fiber or soil mix)$22
Heat mat on the tank side + thermostat$61
Digital thermometer and humidity gauge$13
Cork bark hide$20
Shallow water dish$9
Upfront$270

Running costs in year one

Feeder insects (crickets or dubia roaches)$40
Substrate change (once a year)$22
Electricity for the heat mat$13
Illness and injury (average)$20
Year-one running costs$100

First-year total: $370.

Make it your estimate

Change the choices that move the price most. Totals update as you go.

Your lifetime estimate$900 First year $370Then about $100 a yearOver 7 years

$8 a month in a typical year.

Feeder insects (crickets or dubia roaches)$40
Substrate change (once a year)$22
Illness and injury (average)$20
Electricity for the heat mat$13
Typical year$100

What to buy

The gear and supplies in this estimate, matched to an emperor scorpion. Each link searches Amazon for the right type and size.

20-gallon long glass tank with a lidSetup, typically about $96
See on Amazon
Damp substrate, 4–6 in deep (coco fiber or soil mix)Setup, typically about $22
See on Amazon
Heat mat on the tank side + thermostatSetup, typically about $61
See on Amazon
Digital thermometer and humidity gaugeSetup, typically about $13
See on Amazon
Cork bark hideSetup, typically about $20
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Shallow water dishSetup, typically about $9
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As an Amazon Associate, PetPriceTag earns from qualifying purchases. Buying through these links costs you nothing extra and never changes our cost figures.

Health costs to plan for

Condition	What it is	Typical treatment	Cost
Dehydration (desiccation)	Reptile Apartment calls emperors highly susceptible to desiccation, and The Bio Dude says dry substrate causes dehydration, collapsed burrows and stress. They come from humid West African forest and need damp, not wet, substrate and a full water dish. Source	Fix the habitat: keep the dish full ($8–$9 if it needs replacing) and re-dampen or replace the substrate ($11–$22)	$0–$25
Mold and mites from wet, stagnant enclosures	The Bio Dude links overly wet substrate to bacteria and mites and poor ventilation to mold; Reptile Apartment warns standing water can cause a fungal or mold bloom. The British Tarantula Society says hot, humid, closed tanks with little airflow stress the animal. Source	Full substrate change and better ventilation: $11–$22 for coco fiber, up to $80 for premium substrate	$11–$80
Molting problems and injuries	Mader says scorpions refuse food during a molt, which takes one to two hours, and that damaged limbs regrow at later molts. The Bio Dude warns that handling or digging up a molting scorpion can be fatal. Source	Leave it alone and remove live prey; Mader says cyanoacrylate (super) glue seals cracks left by a lost limb. An exotic consultation is about $118 where available	$0–$120
Parasites in wild-caught imports	Reptile Apartment says most emperors in captivity are wild-caught and likely carry internal parasites, with no medical or practical way to remove them; The Bio Dude says wild-caught animals may carry parasites or struggle to adjust. Buying captive-bred is the prevention. Source	No reliable treatment; the cost is losing the animal and replacing it ($44–$60)	$0–$60

The yearly estimate includes an average of $20 for illness and injury. No mainstream US insurer covers scorpions. Nationwide's exotic plan covers only the groups it lists (birds, rabbits, mini pigs and goats, lizards/reptiles/frogs, guinea pigs, ferrets and small mammals) and explicitly excludes venomous species and any species not listed.

What drives the cost

Emperor scorpions are listed on CITES Appendix II (since February 1995), which controls international trade, not ownership: the exporting country must issue a CITES export permit, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service says no import permit is needed unless national law requires one. Owning one in the US is legal.
Most emperors sold in the US are wild-caught West African imports (Reptile Apartment), which may carry parasites and adjust poorly; The Bio Dude says captive-bred animals are the better choice and to avoid sellers who are vague about where an animal came from or price it suspiciously low. Captive-bred emperors are slow to come to market, so expect to wait for one.
Supply can tighten without warning: Species+ lists CITES export suspensions for Benin and Ghana from January 2026 and export quotas for Togo, so prices and availability depend on a few source countries.
Shorter-lived than a tarantula: PetSmart and the Oregon Zoo give 5–8 years in captivity, so lifetime costs are low.
Keep one per tank: PetSmart calls them solitary, and Exo Terra and The Bio Dude advise against housing them together because of fighting and cannibalism, so each extra scorpion is a second full setup.

Is it legal where you live?

Legal to own in most of the US; its venom is mild (Oregon Zoo). It is on CITES Appendix II (since 1995), which regulates international trade, not ownership: imports need an export permit from the country of origin, and captive-bred animals avoid adding to wild collection. Florida requires an FDACS permit (form FDACS-08208) to bring one into the state, though Pandinus is in its approved-without-conditions category. Hawaii prohibits importing animals not on its approved or restricted lists, and scorpions are not listed. Check city and HOA rules, which sometimes cover venomous animals.

Restricted or banned in: Florida, Hawaii.

Cities and counties can have their own rules. Check locally before you buy.

Pet store or online dealer (usually wild-caught): $44–$60
Lifetime: $900

How this estimate is built

Every line, with the typical, thrifty and generous figures and where each comes from.

Item	Typical	Range	Basis and sources
Setup
20-gallon long glass tank with a lid	$96	$45–$106	The British Tarantula Society article houses one emperor in a 10-gallon tank and two or three in a 20-gallon long; The Bio Dude calls 10 gallons the bare minimum and recommends more floor space. Typical: Aqueon 20-gallon horizontal glass aquarium $69.99 (sale) at PetSmart + Top Fin hinged glass lid $25.99 = $96. High: the tank at its $79.99 regular price + lid. Low: Zoo Med 10-gallon ReptiHabitat kit with mesh lid at PetSmart's $44.99 sale price (the kit's mesh top dries out faster). PetSmart: Aqueon Standard Glass Rectangle Aquarium (20 gal horizontal $69.99, reg. $79.99); PetSmart: Top Fin Aquarium Hinged Glass Lid ($25.99); PetSmart: Zoo Med ReptiHabitat 10 gal kit ($44.99 sale); British Tarantula Society: The Emperor Scorpion, Pandinus imperator; The Bio Dude: Emperor Scorpion care sheet
Damp substrate, 4–6 in deep (coco fiber or soil mix)	$22	$11–$80	Depth advice varies: Exo Terra says 2–4 in, the British Tarantula Society about 6 in, The Bio Dude 6–10 in for adults. A 30×12 in floor filled 6 in is about 35 L. Typical: two Zoo Med Eco Earth 3-brick packs (21–24 L each) at $10.98 = $22. Low: one pack for about 4 in. High: two 18 qt bags of Terra Aranea at $39.95. PetSmart: Zoo Med Eco Earth Expandable Substrate, 3 bricks ($10.98); Ty Dye Exotics: Substrates (Terra Aranea 18 qt $39.95); Exo Terra: Emperor Scorpion care guide; The Bio Dude: Emperor Scorpion care sheet
Heat mat on the tank side + thermostat	$61	$0–$74	The Bio Dude: 74–82°F, no heat lamp needed; if heat is added, use a heat pad on the side of the enclosure, always with a thermostat. Typical: Zoo Med ReptiTherm for 10–20 gal (8 W) $27.95 (The Bio Dude) + Zoo Med ReptiTemp rheostat $32.99 (Dubia.com). High: with an Exo Terra 100 W thermostat ($45.99). Low: $0 in a home that stays in the mid-70s. The Bio Dude: Zoo Med ReptiTherm Under Tank Heater ($27.95); Dubia.com: Thermostats (ReptiTemp rheostat $32.99, Exo Terra 100 W $45.99); The Bio Dude: Emperor Scorpion care sheet (heating)
Digital thermometer and humidity gauge	$13	$13–$16	PetSmart lists a thermometer and hygrometer for scorpions. Zoo Med Digital Combo $12.99 at Chewy; OASE digital thermometer $15.99 at Dubia.com. Chewy: Zoo Med Digital Combo Thermometer Humidity Gauge ($12.99); PetSmart: Live Pet Emperor Scorpion (supply list)
Cork bark hide	$20	$14–$20	An 8 in scorpion needs a large retreat. Zoo Med Natural Cork Flats at Chewy: large (about 10×8 in) $19.99, medium $13.99. Chewy: Zoo Med Natural Cork Flats Reptile Hideout
Shallow water dish	$9	$8–$9	The Bio Dude: a full, shallow water dish at all times. Zoo Med Repti Rock dish small $7.99, medium $8.99 at Chewy. Chewy: Zoo Med Repti Rock Food & Water Dishes
Every year
Feeder insects (crickets or dubia roaches)	$40	$25–$80	Reptile Apartment feeds adults three or four crickets once a week; The Bio Dude says adults eat every 7–14 days; Exo Terra suggests 2–3 feedings a week. Typical: about 3 insects a week (156 a year), mixing PetSmart crickets at 14–17¢ and 25-count tubs of medium dubia at $9.99 ≈ $40. Low: crickets only at 16¢ ($25). High: medium dubia only, 156 a year ≈ $62, or Exo Terra's more frequent schedule ≈ $80. PetSmart: Reptile food (crickets 14–17¢ each, dubia roaches 25 for $9.99); Reptile Apartment: Captive Care of the Emperor Scorpion; The Bio Dude: Emperor Scorpion care sheet (feeding)
Substrate change (once a year)	$22	$11–$80	Damp substrate grows mold and mites over time (The Bio Dude), so plan on one full change a year with the setup products: two Eco Earth packs ($22), one pack ($11), or two 18 qt bags of Terra Aranea ($80). PetSmart: Zoo Med Eco Earth Expandable Substrate, 3 bricks ($10.98); Ty Dye Exotics: Substrates (Terra Aranea 18 qt $39.95)
Electricity for the heat mat	$13	$0–$25	An 8 W heat mat around the clock = 70 kWh a year × $0.1799/kWh (EIA US residential average, 12 months to July 2026) = $13. Low: no heat needed. High: the 16 W size, 140 kWh = $25. EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.3 (residential, rolling 12 months to July 2026 = 17.99¢/kWh); The Bio Dude: Zoo Med ReptiTherm Under Tank Heater (8 W / 16 W)
Illness and injury, per year
Unexpected costs (husbandry fixes and the rare exotic-vet visit)	$20	$0–$120	LOW CONFIDENCE: no data on scorpion health spending exists. Veterinarian Douglas Mader writes that disease is uncommon in well-kept scorpions and most problems come from husbandry and trauma; Reptile Apartment says there is no practical way to clear internal parasites from wild-caught animals. So most costs are supplies (new substrate, a heater), about $20 a year on average. PetSmart advises a vet check within 14 days of purchase, but few vets see scorpions; high = one exotic consultation ($118.39 at The Gentle Vets, WI). Veterinary Practice News: Got spiders? An overview of potential invertebrate patients (Douglas Mader, DVM, 2022); Reptile Apartment: Captive Care of the Emperor Scorpion; The Gentle Vets (Green Bay, WI): Exotics pricing (consultation $118.39); PetSmart: Live Pet Emperor Scorpion (vet within 14 days)

More insects and invertebrates by yearly cost

Common questions

How much does an emperor scorpion cost?

Pet store or online dealer (usually wild-caught): $44–$60. The bigger costs come after: about $220 to set up, about $370 for the whole first year, then about $100 a year.

How much does an emperor scorpion cost per year?

About $100 a year ($8 a month) for a typical owner in an average-cost area, ranging from about $50 for a thrifty owner in a lower-cost area to $210 for a generous owner in a big city.

How much does an emperor scorpion cost over its lifetime?

About $900 over a 7-year life, in 2026 dollars.

Sources

Estimates in 2026 US dollars. Vet prices for this pet use the same region adjustment as the rest of the site (methodology). Updated October 14, 2026.