Help with 40 gal tank build

bubbathescorpion

Arachnopeon
Joined
Mar 2, 2023
Messages
1
Hi all, I just purchased a 40 gal tank for my desert hairy to upgrade from her/his 10 gal that I plan to build over the next month or so. It explores a lot and I felt like it was limited with the current amount of space. I want to do something more bioactive possibly with lil food bugs and sw us native plants as well (cacti, succulents, grasses, small wildflowers). Any suggestions for building / maintaining a tank that size would be greatly appreciated (heating, plant species / lighting, etc.) Thanks! IMG_6168.jpeg
 

Veno Manus

Arachnobaron
Active Member
Joined
May 16, 2023
Messages
428
I'd say a dome lamp is gonna be your best bet here. There's a lot of space and the heat will be more evenly spread. A 50w might do the trick. I have all smaller tanks so I'm not super positive on the wattage but my old bearded dragons heat with his setup created good half side heat. Kept the water dish and all the unnecessary things that didn't need to be under the heat on the cooler side. Just be careful with heavy objects on the surface cause they dig and all that so you definitely don't want a collapse.
 

darkness975

Latrodectus
Arachnosupporter +
Joined
Aug 31, 2012
Messages
6,088
Scorpions and plants usually don't mix well given the light requirements for each is opposite. But in that size it might work.

Ensure it can burrow and you need to work on the moisture gradient as well as temperature.

They don't get along with most "bugs" so what exactly did you want to attempt a cohabitation with?

Some have had success with "blue death feigning beetles."

If you are referring to feeders it is not a good idea to keep a constant supply of them in there.
 

Matt Man

Arachnoprince
Active Member
Joined
Jul 4, 2017
Messages
1,861
40 Gal is quite plush for a single Desert Hairy. Bioactivity can be dicey because what may be healthy for the plants may be unhealthy for the Scorp. Plants will need to be probably cacti as you want super arid plants. Death Feigning Beetles
can do well. Blues, Blacks, Smooths....
 

Mike41793

Arachnoknight
Old Timer
Joined
Apr 14, 2013
Messages
198
I don't know much about scorpions but that one looks like it's maybe 4inches or so? I don't even know how scorpions are usually measured lol.

But yea I agree with above^ , 40gal looks like it would be a MASSIVE tank for that thing unless they grow to be way bigger than I'm imagining. I'd worry about losing the scorpion in it tbh. If you want to do some sort of decorative or planted setup that's cool I just wouldn't personally go with a tank that large for a single small scorpion.
 

Veno Manus

Arachnobaron
Active Member
Joined
May 16, 2023
Messages
428
My androctonus not even 2mins of haveing a fake plant in its enclosure started eating it. 😤 i don't know why but she was grounded from having plants over.

Scorpions and plants usually don't mix well given the light requirements for each is opposite. But in that size it might work.

Ensure it can burrow and you need to work on the moisture gradient as well as temperature.

They don't get along with most "bugs" so what exactly did you want to attempt a cohabitation with?

Some have had success with "blue death feigning beetles."

If you are referring to feeders it is not a good idea to keep a constant supply of them in there.
 

Brewser

RebAraneae
Arachnosupporter +
Joined
Nov 28, 2023
Messages
1,204
Beauty Scorpion
Be sure and post more pics of Bubba and New Digs when all set up...
Best Wishes,
 
Last edited:
Top