Need some help with H. arizonensis enclosure

[Richie C]

Hello everyone,

I just made my first purchase of an arachnid, a Giant Hairy Desert Scorpion (Hadrurus arizonensis). He should arrive sometime tomorrow and I was wondering if my enclosure is good enough. I have a low-watt heating pad under the tank on one side and i'm not sure if it is safe to use. Also, I have some live plants as well ( a cacti which is not sharp at all and a succulent) and was wondering if anything needs to be done to make them scorpion-friendly.

Thanks!

 

[RTTB]

What type of substrate is that? A sand and clay mix about 6 inches deep is what I recommend.

 

[Richie C]

What type of substrate is that? A sand and clay mix about 6 inches deep is what I recommend.

This is Zoo Med's Clay Burrowing Substrate. It looks dark because it is still a little wet.

 

[RTTB]

Oh ok. I would have it dry out thoroughly before adding the scorpion.

 

[Richie C]

Oh ok. I would have it dry out thoroughly before adding the scorpion.

Will do. Should I mix some sand with it ?

 

[Chickenfeeder100]

go ahead.

 

[Richie C]

Ok I ordered some repti sand, It wont be here for a couple days after the scorpion arrives, Will it be okay to keep it in the current setup temporarily until the sand comes ?

 

[RTTB]

Yes it will be fine. If it's a sunny day you could let it dry outside before the scorpion arrives. I've used a hairdryer before when I've mixed it too wet and grew impatient for it to dry out naturally. Just keep direct heat away from your plants if you use this method.

 

[ArachnoDrew]

I would remove the under tank heat matt.. your desert hairy will burrow to escape heat and regulate body temp to cool down for the most part...

 

[LeFanDesBugs]

And btw don't put your Hadrurus in until you have your enclosure complete. If it burrows getting it out will be a pain.From experience. x)

 

[Red Eunice]

This mixed 60/40 ratio sand/clay works well. Let it dry thoroughly, took mine 3 days with a fan blowing on it, prior to adding the scorpion. These are awesome excavators and the deeper the sub the better. They will dig to the bottom and make amazing tunnels throughout the sub. In the event of a collapse, don't panic, they dig themselves out post haste. Do provide a water dish, some keepers don't, I've seen mine drinking on several occasions. Better to be safe, than sorry!

 

[Richie C]

View attachment 254454
This mixed 60/40 ratio sand/clay works well. Let it dry thoroughly, took mine 3 days with a fan blowing on it, prior to adding the scorpion. These are awesome excavators and the deeper the sub the better. They will dig to the bottom and make amazing tunnels throughout the sub. In the event of a collapse, don't panic, they dig themselves out post haste. Do provide a water dish, some keepers don't, I've seen mine drinking on several occasions. Better to be safe, than sorry!

Yes that is the kit I used currently. I just ordered a 10 lb bag of repti-sand last night. As far as heating goes should I use a lamp instead? If so, what bulb would be good?

 

[Red Eunice]

Yes that is the kit I used currently. I just ordered a 10 lb bag of repti-sand last night. As far as heating goes should I use a lamp instead? If so, what bulb would be good?

I don't have/use any heat lamps. I built a room in the basement with its own heat source, oil-filled heater, stays in upper 70's low 80's.
@gromgrom ,@Scorpionluva can give info on heat lamps and different types thereof.

 

[Scorpionluva]

I use infrared bulbs to heat my specimens and a small space heater to keep my scorp room at a constant 75 °
Nice Setup you got there. Hadrurus are an awesome specie to keep

 

[Richie C]

I use infrared bulbs to heat my specimens and a small space heater to keep my scorp room at a constant 75 °
Nice Setup you got there. Hadrurus are an awesome specie to keep

Thanks! Should be arriving some time today. I put an IR bulb on one side and its keeping it around 85 and the cool side around 78. Sand should be arriving Monday (10/16) so i'll be keeping him in a temp. cage for the next few days.

 

[darkness975]

Thanks! Should be arriving some time today. I put an IR bulb on one side and its keeping it around 85 and the cool side around 78. Sand should be arriving Monday (10/16) so i'll be keeping him in a temp. cage for the next few days.

That Temperature range is fine.
The more Substrate the better as they are Obligate burrowers.
Good feeding response - feed roaches, crickets, the usual staple feeders.
Mine enter diapause from early November - late March where they hibernate and I don't see them. Yours may not do this if it is always around 80 in there but mine experience the temperature fluctuations with the room (dips into the 60s) so that could be what triggers it. Nevertheless, don't be concerned if it is alive but remains buried for a few months at a time.
Give it a water dish. This seems to be an eternal debate, but I have seen all of mine drink from a dish so it does not hurt to provide one, especially given the size of your Enclosure I do not foresee any "it's too humid" issues.

H. arizonensis Drinking

• darkness975
• Apr 27, 2017
• 6

Did you purchase an Adult? Be aware that younger specimens have a bad habit of not molting well in captivity.
Are you sure those cacti are not too sharp? Our definition of "sharp" could be different. Certain sands are not sharp to us but are hurtful to invertebrates that get the grains between their joints and exoskeleton plates.
Enjoy your Scorpion.

 

[Richie C]

That Temperature range is fine.
The more Substrate the better as they are Obligate burrowers.
Good feeding response - feed roaches, crickets, the usual staple feeders.
Mine enter diapause from early November - late March where they hibernate and I don't see them. Yours may not do this if it is always around 80 in there but mine experience the temperature fluctuations with the room (dips into the 60s) so that could be what triggers it. Nevertheless, don't be concerned if it is alive but remains buried for a few months at a time.
Give it a water dish. This seems to be an eternal debate, but I have seen all of mine drink from a dish so it does not hurt to provide one, especially given the size of your Enclosure I do not foresee any "it's too humid" issues.

H. arizonensis Drinking

• darkness975
• Apr 27, 2017
• 6

Did you purchase an Adult? Be aware that younger specimens have a bad habit of not molting well in captivity.
Are you sure those cacti are not too sharp? Our definition of "sharp" could be different. Certain sands are not sharp to us but are hurtful to invertebrates that get the grains between their joints and exoskeleton plates.
Enjoy your Scorpion.

Yes I like your idea with a water-bottle cap. I will also be keeping a few blue death feigning beetles and i'm pretty sure they require a water dish. The cactus doesn't have any sharpness at all,its just a fine hair that goes around it. And the site I ordered from says 3 inches head to tail so i'm not sure if that is considered adult stage yet.

 

[darkness975]

the site I ordered from says 3 inches head to tail so i'm not sure if that is considered adult stage yet.

Not likely, but possible. Their adult size tends to be more around 5" usually. Lots of sites boast that they can be 6" or more but that is not typical, if it happens at all.

 

[Richie C]

Little guy seems to be doing well, Just moved him into the tank after I added sand and mixed it up with the clay. He is quite active though, I think just trying to explore the new environment. Here's a vid of him running around https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B3tSwBsPCdfwLWFXemlzRU1rY2M

 

[Chickenfeeder100]

if the blue death feigning beetles are in also, make sure you provide some fruits and veggies too, i never seen mine drink out of water dishes and they can't rely just on protein.