Help with heat and humidity

[ruska]

I have a 10 gallon tank set up exactly how it's described in the sticky up there. However, it isn't as humid and hot as I assume it should be. The average humidity is 75% and temp stays between 75 and 80 on the warm side of the tank, but never higher than 80. My house isnt cold, in fact it's kind of warm with spring here now. My emp is still quite young, 2i, about the size of a nickel and has made his home by the wall that has the heat pad stuck to it.

He/she is active at night, and may have ate a mealworm yesterday (if not, he hasn't ate in the week I've had him, which ive read isn't uncommon).

So how do I get the heat and humidity up higher? Add a small heat lap? A second smaller heat pad?

Also, how much water should be in the false bottom? Perhaps I don't have enough water in the bottom. There's also a very shallow water dish I refill daily (he likes to get in the water and I don't want him to drown). I also mist twice a day or when it's obviously in need of it.

Thanks in advance.

 

[scorpguy]

What type of lid if any is on the tank? I have found that a piece of glass cut slightly larger than the top of the tank works really well for regulating temp and humidity. I am able to slide the glass forward and backward on the tank to create a bigger or smaller opening as desired. I got the glass from a local hardware store for $3.50.

 

[Roblicious]

Your temperature and humidity is fine especially if you have a false bottom, invest a 50w IR bulb and lamp it does better then a pad.

The humdiity will be higher the deeper the burrow goes because of the false bottom and water moving down.

The water should cover 1/2-3/4 of the rocks in the false bottom fill it whenever needed, misting doesnt do much unless yo have live plants. Only lasts a few hours

 

[ruska]

I have a locking lid on there, we have cats so it has to lock.

I'll see about getting the bulb. Thanks.

 

[scorpguy]

I have a lid on one of mine too but depending on how the lid is desinged you can rest the glass on top of it and slide it as nessesary to trap in heat and humidity.

 

[Stewjoe]

Humidity is fine, its burrow will be at %99-%100 if the sub is moist.

 

[llamastick]

10gal is huge for a single 2i, lol. It'll probably stay by the heater 99% of the time until it gets larger.

Humidity gauges are worthless. Just use your fingers to test humidity. As long as the surface is moist but not pooling water, it's fine.

 

[ruska]

Yaknow scorpguy, I think I have a piece of glass around here somewhere that would fit over the top. I'll have to look for it. Thanks!

He's made himself a burrow under a piece of bark, not near the heater, but on the same wall as the heating pad. I added more water to the false bottom so, as you can see, the humidity is up now.

He's eating, and a bit plumpy. I hadn't seen him in two days. He doesn't even look like the same scorpion!

And yeah llamastick, it's a pretty big tank for one little scorpion. I already had the tank so I didn't see the point in buying something else. I guess he's spoiled.

 

[Roblicious]

it looks freshly molted
I thought my 12x12 5 gal was too big for my 3i, then you came along with your 10gal with a 2i lol

 

[scorpguy]

good luck. let us know how it turns out. btw, nice looking scorpion.

 

[cacoseraph]

don't worry about what the humidity gauge says. most ones for ~$30 or less are junk


and plus, like, almost no one actually gets what that measures and how to use what it measures regarding the care of bugs


the temp is really the only "number" you have to watch. beyond that you can more accurately gauge the moisture in your cage by paying attention to the color of your sub, especially in the cutaway views where the sub is piled up against the glass. coconut coir has this really neat color spectrum from light brown when it is dry to dark brown when it is wet. using your eyes and poking a finger into the sub every once in a while is miles better than a RH meter

 

[scorpionguy77]

I went to Michaels, the arts and crafts store, and went to where the cheap frames are. I go for the ones that have the plastic covers rather than the glass ones, they do sell frames the same dimensions as the top of a 10g tank. i take the piece of plastic that is supposed to be the cover part of the frame and drilled a 1/8" hole right in the middle for ventilation and put that BENEATH my screen lid. Works perfectly. You might have to mist once a day. I did this on a recommendation from someone else here that used glass instead of plastic but the plastic works perfectly. I had terrible times with humidity before that. Granted I also use those cheap Petco brand humidty gauges that everyone swears is crap (and I believe it). Hope that helps.

Scorpionguy77

 

[John Bokma]

He, he, he, that was probably me, the glass guy. I do use acrylic glass for some small tanks that need a larger hole. I think I paid like 4-5USD here (Mexico) for a piece of glass with a hole in the center. I like if because of the weight, and doesn't scratch like acryclic.

 

[jgod790]

Don't worry about an emp drowning. They do great in water. And don't get to caught up in humidity control. Just keep the substrate damp, its that simple. And I think its smart to let it dry out a bit every now and then, to keep the pest control down. But seriously, don't worry about EXACT temperatures or humidity levels. I personally don't like "false bottoms" they guarantee mites and mold.

 

[ruska]

It feels hot and humid in the tank, and he's very active at night, so I'm just not going to worry about it unless it's obviously too hot/cold/dry.

@scorpguy, thanks. I think he/she is incredibly cute and fun to watch, but I'm weird like that.