Picture taken twenty minutes after molt

The old exoskeleton

7 Molting

Molting is a critical part of a scorpions life, & conditions need to be just right. If the humidity is to low, the old exoskeleton will not soften enough to allow it to rupture, if it's to high the exoskeleton becomes to soft & elasticated to rupture. It takes around seven molts over several years for an emperor to reach sexual maturity. During the molting process, the new exoskeleton is secreted by the old exoskeleton, the blood pressure rises at one point causing the cuticle to rupture on the sides & front allowing the scorpion to pull itself out. Emperors are very pale in colour after Molting but, as the new exoskeleton hardens it regains its normal dark colour.