Giant Vinegaroon

Mastigoproctus giganteus

VinegaroonbeginnerHarmless

No venom, no sting

Vinegaroons are harmless to humans — no venom and no sting. If threatened they can spray a fine acetic-acid mist (it smells like vinegar) and give a firm pinch, but neither is dangerous. Avoid getting the spray in your eyes.

Sprays acetic acid

Can spray a fine, concentrated vinegar mist when threatened. Not dangerous to skin, but genuinely painful in the eyes — keep it below face level when handling.

About

A hardy, beginner-friendly arachnid that needs deep, moist substrate to burrow. Vinegaroons have NO venom and NO sting — when threatened they spray a fine mist that is mostly acetic acid (vinegar), which is harmless but can sting the eyes. Keep singly; provide a water dish and a humid burrow.

Taxonomy

FamilyThelyphonidae

GenusMastigoproctus

Native regionSouthern USA, Mexico

TypeFossorial

Temperamentdocile

Size & growth

Adult size2.5-3 inches (body)

Growth rateslow

Life stagesNumbered instars

Climate

Temperature75–85°F

Humidity70–80%

Enclosure

Adult size10x10x8 inches

Substratecoco fiber / topsoil / sand mix, kept moist below the surface

Substrate depth4-6 inches

Water dishRequired

Feeding

Feeding modePredator (live prey)

Prey sizecrickets, roaches

Adult cadence1-2 prey per week

Times kept: 1 · Unverified community entry