How's this substrate mix?

[nocturnalpulsem]

Ok, in preparation for my new haddie(s) I'm setting up the tank. Here's my substrate mix:

-slightly less than 50% "desert blend" sand
-slightly more than 50% peat
-roughly 1/4 - 1/2 in. layer of sand on top, just for aesthetics

This sound good? It hasn't dried out, yet, so I'm not sure how stable this would be for burrowing. Does it sound ok?

John, since you kept haddies, your opinion is especially wanted.

N.

 

[Diao]

I've got ~80% sand and ~20% of Bed-A-Beast in mine. I have 2 Hadrurus spadix in a 20 long with that mixture, and it seems to work just fine. They dig all over the place, btu they rarely keep the same burrows. They will dig out and fill in a burrow sometimes nightly. Their burrows aren't like a Heterometrus's or Pandinus's, though. They seem to just excavate an area and use it as a den for the evening.

 

[nocturnalpulsem]

Anyone else?

N.

 

[Kugellager]

I was out of town ...just got back...50% peat is a little high IMO but won't hurt anything...would actually help with burrow stability some. You can speed the drying byt puting your lamp(s) on the tank if you already have not done so. One days worth of drying shouldbe fine before you put your scorp in..unless you really wet the substrate mixture.

John
];')

 

[nocturnalpulsem]

Originally posted by Kugellager
..unless you really wet the substrate mixture.

John
];')

*looks guilty* Uhm...kinda... I filled the rocks up to their top edge, and the substrate mixture was a bit...sopping.

Does it need to be really dry, or just the top layer? It still needs humidity to burrow into, yes?

N.

 

[Kugellager]

I keep the substrate mostly dry. Once it drys it will harden up some and will hold up to the burrowing your scorp will do. Remember in the wild there will be some humodity in their burrows which are usually quite deep.

John
];')

 

[nocturnalpulsem]

Originally posted by Kugellager
I keep the substrate mostly dry. Once it drys it will harden up some and will hold up to the burrowing your scorp will do. Remember in the wild there will be some humodity in their burrows which are usually quite deep.

John
];')

Ok, so how much should I let it dry out? Should it get rock hard down to the rocks and just keep the rocks filled?

Also, if they rarely keep the same burrow (as I keep hearing...) how can the substrate support more burrowing? At some point doesn't it all become rubble?

N.

 

[Kugellager]

I would let it dry out almost all the way and add water only infrequently but I would also keep a shallow water dish that you add water to once a week.

It will take them quite a bit of time to dig it all up...Plus the occasional addition of water to the gravel layer allows it to re-harden from time to time.

John
];')

 

[nocturnalpulsem]

Originally posted by Kugellager
I would let it dry out almost all the way and add water only infrequently but I would also keep a shallow water dish that you add water to once a week.

It will take them quite a bit of time to dig it all up...Plus the occasional addition of water to the gravel layer allows it to re-harden from time to time.

John
];')

Should I let it dry all the way before putting the scorp in? As I mentioned previously, I filled the rocks up to the top before adding the sopping wet substrate, so it could take a few weeks to get that dry. I got a 100 watt bulb on it all day and a heat lamp (which can only stay on for 10 min at a time, and has a 5 min cool down before it can go back on) to try and speed it up, but it'll take some time if it has to be that dry.

N.

 

[Kugellager]

Nah just let the surface dry out and the remainder can still be lightly humid...it will take a few days to dig anyway. I would not use larger than a 60 watt bulb to heat the enclosure once the scop is in.

John
];')

 

[nocturnalpulsem]

Originally posted by Kugellager
Nah just let the surface dry out and the remainder can still be lightly humid...it will take a few days to dig anyway. I would not use larger than a 60 watt bulb to heat the enclosure once the scop is in.

John
];')

That's exactly what I put aside for it. I'm just using the ridiculously high wattage bulb to help dry it out. I tested the other bulb on another enclosure that has a working thermometer and it went from 80F to 100F in minutes, so I kinda assumed that would cook 'em

N.