Cold weather scorps.

[Nomadinexile]

I am thinking the humidity might below because it is winter time and I live in an old house.

That makes sense. Sorry, I've been in relatively humid areas for many years now.

 

[rjh5791]

So then the conditions will be good for desert scorpions like the H. spadix, and the H arizonensis. These also get a little on the bigger side, and are readily available which is preferable. Although most H arizonensis I have seen for sale seem wild caught.

 

[Nomadinexile]

So then the conditions will be good for desert scorpions like the H. spadix, and the H arizonensis. These also get a little on the bigger side, and are readily available which is preferable.

I am sure. If you can get a mister, and make it "seasonally" wetter, that would be good too. My suggestion, depending on substrate, would be to mist once a week, and keep water available as much as possible. Even in the desert, they have access to water a lot from rains and condensation or dew.

From what I can tell from distribution of H. spadix and H. arizonensis, they should be able to handle a wide range of temperatures and humidity. They see temperatures from freezing to 100*+ and humidity range of 10%-20%? all they way up to 95%+ in rainy seasons. If you are going to attempt to breed them, I would find a couple of locations on weather channel .com, and try and match seasonal changes. For example, if they have extremely cold winters, but they are in your house, try leaving the tank heater off, and see what temp it goes to. Or if they no rain in winter, but a lot in spring, you would keep it really dry in the winter, then in march or so, start misting a couple times a week for a similar length of time. They have variation, but there are some generalities that happen for breeding. As far as your house goes, if you can handle it, so can they. (unless you are wearing a snowmobilng suit in your house) I really would suggest you check out averages for them in their home range though.

Like this: For Kingman, AZ
http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USAZ0113

*Kingman is H. arizonensis turf I believe. Keep in mind, with some species such as this one, they have deep burrows which can help regulate temperature extremes. A 20 ft deep burrow is going to have a much different temperature and humidity, than the surface, both day and night. -r

 

[rjh5791]

I am sure. If you can get a mister, and make it "seasonally" wetter

From what I can tell from distribution of H. spadix and H. arizonensis, they should be able to handle a wide range of temperatures and humidity. They see temperatures from freezing to 100*+ and humidity range of 10%-20%? all they way up to 95%+ in rainy seasons. If you are going to attempt to breed them, I would find a couple of locations on weather channel .com, and try and match seasonal changes. For example, if they have extremely cold winters, but they are in your house, try leaving the tank heater off, and see what temp it goes to. Or if they no rain in winter, but a lot in spring, you would keep it really dry in the winter, then in march or so, start misting a couple times a week for a similar length of time. They have variation, but there are some generalities that happen for breeding. As far as your house goes, if you can handle it, so can they. (unless you are wearing a snowmobilng suit in your house) I really would suggest you check out averages for them in their home range though.

I am using eco-earth for substrate and if they do burrow it will probably get the higher humidity if I put a few inches of substrate, but if it doesn't spraying the cage once a week will. But to much humidity I read can easily cause this species mycosis, how much is to much. About the burrowing, if they burrrow to get humidity in the wild wont they get mycosis as well?

 

[gromgrom]

u. mordax are slightly below room temp
50 at night, 60-70 during the day.

 

[rjh5791]

u. mordax are slightly below room temp
50 at night, 60-70 during the day.

Thanks for the imput, those look awsome.

 

[Nomadinexile]

I am using eco-earth for substrate and if they do burrow it will probably get the higher humidity if I put a few inches of substrate, but if it doesn't spraying the cage once a week will. But to much humidity I read can easily cause this species mycosis, how much is to much. About the burrowing, if they burrrow to get humidity in the wild wont they get mycosis as well?

What is eco-earth? Do you known? Is that coco? or one of the sandy types?

No, they won't get mycosis from burrowing. If it is too humid, they will often dig another entrance to get air flowing. If you let it dry out every week or twice a week, you should be fine with mycosis. Don't leave the substrate wet. Not for any length of time. Damp is good sometimes. Not soaked though. Better yet, most of the year, just mist and get top of surface damp most of the time. Then during more rainy months, maybe get it damp deeper.

You will figure it out though. Just use your best judgement. Check weather channel sometimes. You'll be good.

 

[gromgrom]

What is eco-earth? Do you known? Is that coco? or one of the sandy types?

No, they won't get mycosis from burrowing. If it is too humid, they will often dig another entrance to get air flowing. If you let it dry out every week or twice a week, you should be fine with mycosis. Don't leave the substrate wet. Not for any length of time. Damp is good sometimes. Not soaked though. Better yet, most of the year, just mist and get top of surface damp most of the time. Then during more rainy months, maybe get it damp deeper.

You will figure it out though. Just use your best judgement. Check weather channel sometimes. You'll be good.

eco earth is the namebrand dirt bricks you put in water to expand it.

 

[Nomadinexile]

eco earth is the namebrand dirt bricks you put in water to expand it.

Is it dirt? Or coco? If it's coco, it's super easy to control humidity. It also drains well, which is great if you spill a bit. Coco is my favorite substrate.

 

[gromgrom]

Is it dirt? Or coco? If it's coco, it's super easy to control humidity. It also drains well, which is great if you spill a bit. Coco is my favorite substrate.

coco, but dirt. no bark

 

[Nomadinexile]

coco, but dirt. no bark

lol, now I'm just confused! lol. If it's coco, it is bark. Well, shell bark. They don't use the trunk, meat or milk! But yeah, it looks like dirt because it's shredded finely. Unless I am somehow still mistaken. Which is possible.

If it is coco, you should be good. If I'm still confused, and it's just loam or something, I would consider mixing in coco to it. But I am pretty sure it is coco. So you should be good.

 

[rjh5791]

Yes it's coco. It does keep moisture welll which might be a problem with desert hairies so I hear.

 

[Nomadinexile]

Yes it's coco. It does keep moisture welll which might be a problem with desert hairies so I hear.

Yeah, they can suffer if you keep it too moist. But I thought he was worried about it being too dry. I do find that coco kept dry can collapse in the entry sometimes. I have added mosses and/or sand to to give dry coco more structure for burrowing desert species. Nevertheless, I do think that if you compact the slightly damp coco in the cage, and then when it starts drying out a bit, add scorp, allow to burrow, then let dry, with a light weekly or biweekly misting will keep burrow intact and avoid mycosis. Just make sure to have air exchange, and it should be cool.

 

[rjh5791]

I am only worried about the possibility moisture for the desert haries because it is considered a problem for this species. Also if I put him in a sterlite container the humidity will be about 40%, the 20% humidty I measured earlier was from my Ts ten gallon tank with the eco-earth.

 

[Nomadinexile]

I am only worried about the possibility moisture for the desert haries because it is considered a problem for this species. Also if I put him in a sterlite container the humidity will be about 40%, the 20% humidty I measured earlier was from my Ts ten gallon tank with the eco-earth.

40% won't result in mycosis. And you can always drill more holes.

 

[rjh5791]

How high can the humidity reach before I should get worried about mycosis?

 

[Nomadinexile]

How high can the humidity reach before I should get worried about mycosis?

I would say much over 50 I would start getting concerned. Temporarily high humidities won't be a problem. You could have 75% if it is only for say 6 hours, dropping back down to 40% shortly after. If mine sat at 55%, I'm not too worried. 60%, and I'm thinking dehumidifier. But again, temporarily, it can go higher. Less than 50% and I don't think mycosis would be an issue.

I am not an expert on DH's though. I don't even have any right now! So if anyone else is seeing flaw in my logic, or just error, please, correct me. But I think you will be okay.

 

[rjh5791]

So it looks like the DH is best option and it's more readily availably than the other suggested. Thanks, for all the help .

 

[JackWaites]

I heard that desert hairys don't need any additional heat, plus they don't need any water or misting at all

 

[Nomadinexile]

I heard that desert hairys don't need any additional heat, plus they don't need any water or misting at all

I would take that with a grain of salt. In all but the most extreme sand dunes of africa maybe, scorpions often have access to some water, even if it doesn't rain. There is morning dew, sometimes water inside burrows. And it is not all that dry across most DH habitat. There are dry times, but it does rain and condensate as well. You could probably get away with just healthy feeders, but you aren't going to hurt anything with a little water dish! -r