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Rating: 
Summary: THE beginner's book
Review: A concise look at scorpion biology for the pet keeper. Has a good section on species commonly available (arranged in groups as easy, difficult and dangerous). Has a good overview of habitat requirements, but I wish it had more specifics in keeping the various species...this section is arranged in table form only. It only took me an hour to read it, and I wish it had gone into more detail in general.
Rating:
Summary: Read BEFORE you buy
Review: Or, before you allow your son to buy. heheheI know that should go without saying but not everyone realizes how serious a thing this sort of "pet" is. This book covers how easily scorpions can make their escape and describes how to safely house them. As a mother that is my main concern. I was pleased at how well the safety issues are covered in this area and we have been using this book to discuss with our son the importance of proper care and housing of a creature like this BEFORE he even buys one.
Rating:
Summary: Read BEFORE you buy
Review: Or, before you allow your son to buy. hehehe I know that should go without saying but not everyone realizes how serious a thing this sort of "pet" is. This book covers how easily scorpions can make their escape and describes how to safely house them. As a mother that is my main concern. I was pleased at how well the safety issues are covered in this area and we have been using this book to discuss with our son the importance of proper care and housing of a creature like this BEFORE he even buys one.
Rating:
Summary: THE beginner's book
Review: Rubio's book is one of the few focused on the captive husbandry of scorpions -- he gives great information on breeding, housing, and raising these magnificent animals. In addition, his photos are of excellent quality, surpassed by no other that I have seen published in similar books! There were a few drawbacks though -- some of the venom toxicity tables are clearly inaccurate! Species such as Centruroides gracilis are relatively weak all across their range, not just southern Florida! In addition, species such as Buthus occitanus have a more potent venom than illustrated here! Also, Rubio should have had his photographs identified by experts in the field before being published! Many of the photos were mis-labeled -- for instance, there is a photo of Androctonus australis that is labeled as Leiurus quinquestriatus, and there is another photo labeled Leiurus that is probably a Buthacus sp. Finally, a few of the photos were clearly of dead specimens (ala Hadrurus arizonensis pallidus and Vaejovis flavus -- I think that was them)... Looking through the "minor" problems, if you're looking for a book with good information on the captive rearing of scorps, this book is the competition!
Rating: 
Summary: Good book for the beginning arachnoculturist
Review: Rubio's book is one of the few focused on the captive husbandry of scorpions -- he gives great information on breeding, housing, and raising these magnificent animals. In addition, his photos are of excellent quality, surpassed by no other that I have seen published in similar books! There were a few drawbacks though -- some of the venom toxicity tables are clearly inaccurate! Species such as Centruroides gracilis are relatively weak all across their range, not just southern Florida! In addition, species such as Buthus occitanus have a more potent venom than illustrated here! Also, Rubio should have had his photographs identified by experts in the field before being published! Many of the photos were mis-labeled -- for instance, there is a photo of Androctonus australis that is labeled as Leiurus quinquestriatus, and there is another photo labeled Leiurus that is probably a Buthacus sp. Finally, a few of the photos were clearly of dead specimens (ala Hadrurus arizonensis pallidus and Vaejovis flavus -- I think that was them)... Looking through the "minor" problems, if you're looking for a book with good information on the captive rearing of scorps, this book is the competition!
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