appropriate tank size for Hadrurus arizonensis

[heering80]

I'm just wondering if 30x30x30 cm (12"x12"x12") would be enough for my first scorp H arizonensis. I planned to put some red desert sand in there with some rocks etc...

Should I use lightbulb to heat it up or a heatpad?

Thanks,
Riku

 

[Predator]

That should suffice. Make sure you wet the sand and press it down before you put him in there. Make sure it dries before you put him in there too or the humidity may kill him. Heating pad or lamp is fine. If you go with the heating pad make sure its on the side of the enclosure and not the bottom. Also with a lamp its best to get a red heating bulb so it doesnt irritate the scorp.

 

[heering80]

Ok, I found a nice terrarium (40x25x30). I couldn't find small enough IR bulbs so I went to a local lamp store and found a neat wall lamp designed to light paintings on the walls. The lamp fit well with a little work and I'm erally impressed with the result

I took pictures of it but couldn't edit them because my computer is all messed up. But If you like to see them, they are HERE in large jpg.

Now I only need to find a proper cave or something like that. Those plastic caves cost about €17 here in Finland, so I think I'll have to make up something experimental

If someone could post some pics of their desert terrariums I'd really appreciate it!

 

[heering80]

Terrarium all set up

Ok I installed some red desert sand that is supposed to go in clumps when it dries up. I pressed it quite hard so I'm not quite sure if it's going to dry at all. It has two more weeks to do that.

I had really hard time finding proper settlement for my soon-to-be first scorp (or in fact I didn't find any) so I bought a piece of lava stone and carved it hollow. No my biggest worry is that did I buy too big of a piece i.e. does it leave enough room for the scorp to hoover around... The stone goes all the way to the bottom so it will not collapse if it digs some tunnels under it. There is lots of room to make tunnels even inside that rock. There is also another entrance furthest on the right side of the rock (can't see it in the pics though).

Here are few pics. Never mind the matchbox, it was there only for scale. Pics were cropped and resized with an antique acdsee from 2000, sooo the quality...

 

[drapion]

I like that!very nice your scorp should love his new home

 

[parabuthus]

I'd mix the desert sand with denser calci-sand or something similar, that way it will be burrowing friendly for a far longer period of time.

As soon as the desert sand dries up it will begin to collapse.

Looks real nice though.

 

[heering80]

The local pet store sold two different kinds of red desert sand from the same manufacturer and this one was supposed to clump up. The brand was something like Namiba Terra. Any experiences with that, anyone?

I thought that mixing sand is not necessary because it particularly stated that this was for burrowing species.. Well, I think I change it later if it won't last..

But I'm happy that you liked my composition

 

[Murziukas]

take some sand, add a bit of gypsum to it and you will save some cash. Works fine for my L. quinquestriatus. I packed it moist, made a hole in it (where I preffer a hide out), left it to dry. After all it looked like concrete, but that didn't stop him from making cosy apartment.

 

[Snake_Eyes]

I'd mix the desert sand with denser calci-sand or something similar, that way it will be burrowing friendly for a far longer period of time.

As soon as the desert sand dries up it will begin to collapse.

Looks real nice though.

I bought some Calci-sand and I couldn't stand the smell of it. Any other recommendations for something to mix with desert sand.

 

[parabuthus]

Maybe any kind of fine gravel. Just something more dense than desert sand to help create a stable burrowing substrate when mixed. I can only speak from experience, and desert sand/calci sand has really worked for me.

Admittedly, Calci-sand does have a tiny bit of odour when wet/humid as far as substrate goes, although it doesn't bother me and it works extremely well.

Crickets and locusts smell much worse!

 

[Prymal]

Heering-

Very nice looking set-up!

Luc

 

[Antares]

Here are few pics. Never mind the matchbox, it was there only for scale. Pics were cropped and resized with an antique acdsee from 2000, sooo the quality...

What is the big cup on the left of your terrarium for ?

 

[fscorpion]

I like those matches box lol
Why did you buy an artificial stone? I don;t like this artificial stuff and I think scorpions prefere real stones much better that plastic...he doesn't need a real cave, you can just put a few flat stones one on to the other...
I also don't use water dishes...

 

[final-sting]

My red desert sand its when dry out very hard, and never colapsing. Maybe too hard. I think this its the perfect way to work with the red desert sand you have:

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Just make sure to wet only the surface sand, up to a maximum of 2 inches, leaving a good 3 inches dry at the bottom. That way they can still dig into it without it being too hard for them to work with. If the sand becomes overly wet, don't worry about it, just use something like a coat hanger to penetrate a small area in the sand and they'll do the rest once they are introduced to their new home. Sand that has been wet this way holds up very well, even when you must move the terrarium.

from here: > http://www.centralpets.com/animals/insects/scorpions/scp4081.html

Take out the water dish, risk of mycosis! Best its allways ver low humidity.
All scorps like tight hiding-place.

 

[parabuthus]

My red desert sand its when dry out very hard, and never colapsing. Maybe too hard. I think this its the perfect way to work with the red desert sand you have:

"copy">
Just make sure to wet only the surface sand, up to a maximum of 2 inches, leaving a good 3 inches dry at the bottom. That way they can still dig into it without it being too hard for them to work with. If the sand becomes overly wet, don't worry about it, just use something like a coat hanger to penetrate a small area in the sand and they'll do the rest once they are introduced to their new home. Sand that has been wet this way holds up very well, even when you must move the terrarium.

from here: > http://www.centralpets.com/animals/insects/scorpions/scp4081.html

Take out the water dish, risk of mycosis! Best its allways ver low humidity.
All scorps like tight hiding-place.

Thats is not good advice, infact that is bad advice (centralpets.com). They can't dig burrows through dry sand, it just isn't possible. ALL the sand must be wet, compacted and left to dry. And it will be a far more stable environment if it is all wet and compacted, not just the surface. Don't worry about the scorp, make the beginning of a burrow under a large flat rock and it will follow through...

And trust me, in a month or so you will need to re-do the set-up (with only fine sand) because it will begin to collapse. I've been there and done it and I am talking through personal experience, not second hand information.

In short, you need to mix the desert sand with something else more dense. I chose calci-sand. And you need to wet and compact the whole lot for optimum results. There is absolutely no point in having 2 inches of burrow and 4 inches of dry sand underneath... :?

 

[heering80]

What is the big cup on the left of your terrarium for ?

I thought that I'd provide water from it, but fscorpion there said that it might not be a good idea. So maybe I leave it out.

Why did you buy an artificial stone?

It's a lava stone. Formed from lava when volcano erupts. I think that's real enough

Don't worry about the scorp, make the beginning of a burrow under a large flat rock and it will follow through...

Do you think that flat stone on the ground would be better than that lava stone? That was what I was thinking also. I'm affraid that the scorp can't dig steep enough to go to that cave I made for it

 

[Antares]

I thought that I'd provide water from it, but fscorpion there said that it might not be a good idea. So maybe I leave it out.

Yes, Hadrurus sp. don't need water, they get what they need from their prey, and as said before, excessive humidity can be harmful to them. Don't be afraid for it, I have never given any water to my own H. spadix and it is doing fine.

 

[Raan_Jodus]

mixing peat with your desert sand works fine and is probably cheaper than calci-sand. No smell either. a 70/30 or 60/40 mix is generally what I used for my 10 gal. Holds up well for several months.

Wet, compact, let dry for a few days. bam, done.

 

[parabuthus]

mixing peat with your desert sand works fine and is probably cheaper than calci-sand. No smell either. a 70/30 or 60/40 mix is generally what I used for my 10 gal. Holds up well for several months.

Wet, compact, let dry for a few days. bam, done.

I've not tried a peat/sand mix, but I have tried coco-fibre/sand mix. And although it remains firmer longer than sand on it's own, it eventually breaks down as well.

 

[Raan_Jodus]

My peat/sand usually lasts 2 months minimum before I have to pack it down again. Its pressing 2 months now, but I only changed it before cause I moved and the setup probably didnt fare well in the move. So we'll see how long we can last this time.

Also its quite cost effective, the most you really need to pay is eithre 2$ for a large bag, you can also get a smaller 3L bag for like 3$ at your local Walmart. That small bag lasted me, oh, 5 enclosures, and many small deli cups when raising young.