- Joined
- Jan 11, 2005
- Messages
- 1,141
Is requiered to a good molt, keep high the humidity in the desert scorpionlings? Or the humidity in desert scorpionlings is nothing important?
Humidity and desert scorpionlings
- Thread starter Androctonus_bic
- Start date
- Joined
- Apr 1, 2005
- Messages
- 276
The Humidity, should be what it is, either very low or around the 40-50% ranger. With sufficiently high temperatures, scorplings will molt and grow without problem.
- Joined
- May 31, 2003
- Messages
- 2,015
Hi
Humidity and scorplings of some desert species is quite a tricky issue. Increases in humidity can often trigger moulting however prolonged incorrect humidity levels also seem to be harmful to some species (soem species rarely live beyond 2nd/3rd instar in captivity). While others are very tolerant of humidity levels. I think what important to replicate as closely as possible the (micro) habitat the scorpion is adapted to.
Humidity and scorplings of some desert species is quite a tricky issue. Increases in humidity can often trigger moulting however prolonged incorrect humidity levels also seem to be harmful to some species (soem species rarely live beyond 2nd/3rd instar in captivity). While others are very tolerant of humidity levels. I think what important to replicate as closely as possible the (micro) habitat the scorpion is adapted to.
Last edited:
you know I live in kuwait ... there is a home for some desert scorps like A. crassicauda ...
humidyty here in some parts of the year is around 70 - 75% in and in another time is 30-40% but now we have winter time and high humidyty time ... all scorps are deep in the burrows prepared to molt or to give a birth ... so a litlle bit higher humidity to alowed young ones to molt is good ... but alowed them to dig burrows ... I thing this is very important because some oportiunistic burrowers use burows for a while to molt ...
regards
rx
humidyty here in some parts of the year is around 70 - 75% in and in another time is 30-40% but now we have winter time and high humidyty time ... all scorps are deep in the burrows prepared to molt or to give a birth ... so a litlle bit higher humidity to alowed young ones to molt is good ... but alowed them to dig burrows ... I thing this is very important because some oportiunistic burrowers use burows for a while to molt ...
regards
rx
Heya Rix,
Surprisingly, higher RH may also be appreciated by adult desertic scorps such as A. mauritanicus. Today, during routine misting, I gave a heavy misting to the substrate in the communal (5) enclosure of A. mauritanicus. Within 18 minutes, all 5 adult male and fem specimens took up positions on the wet substrate. After misting, I had only a small amount of water left in the mister so I poured it onto the substrate where it made a small, wet depression in the sand. Two hours later, I went to observe the group and one of the fems was curled up in the wet depression and the other 4 specimens were still out on the wet substrate!
So, what did you think of the reactions of L. quin to moderate and high RH levels in the papers of Fayel Abushama?
Surprisingly, higher RH may also be appreciated by adult desertic scorps such as A. mauritanicus. Today, during routine misting, I gave a heavy misting to the substrate in the communal (5) enclosure of A. mauritanicus. Within 18 minutes, all 5 adult male and fem specimens took up positions on the wet substrate. After misting, I had only a small amount of water left in the mister so I poured it onto the substrate where it made a small, wet depression in the sand. Two hours later, I went to observe the group and one of the fems was curled up in the wet depression and the other 4 specimens were still out on the wet substrate!
So, what did you think of the reactions of L. quin to moderate and high RH levels in the papers of Fayel Abushama?
Hi Luc,
Oh yea the papers of F. Abushama give me light for some aspect of desert scorps behaving
I found some similarieties in reactions of L. quin and A.crass ... But that story about your A. mauritanicus is interesting ... I thing my A crassicaudas will br reacting similar ...
regards
rx
Oh yea the papers of F. Abushama give me light for some aspect of desert scorps behaving
I found some similarieties in reactions of L. quin and A.crass ... But that story about your A. mauritanicus is interesting ... I thing my A crassicaudas will br reacting similar ...
regards
rx
Heh interesting ... at the morning I was mowing terra of my crassis and all of them are on the bottom of the tanks in small chamber on the end of the burrows ... (all of them I keep separatly and all of them behave in same way) ... acording to the conditions outside I mist surface to keep similar conditions ...
I will try to make picture of chamber with crassi ...
regards
rx
I will try to make picture of chamber with crassi ...
regards
rx
- Joined
- Jul 16, 2005
- Messages
- 771
My S. maurus has been spending quite some time underneath it's waterdish, where overspill obviously dampens the substrate greatly. This species definitely prefers a more humid set-up, going on my own personal observations. Even though it is considered a desert species.
My Hadrurus arizonensis scorplings are still doing well, alternating from a bone dry setting to heavy misting in one half of the tank. This periodic "monsoon" raises the humidity level well above 50%, but down in the actual substrate this humidity will be much greater. So far, so good.
My adult female Hadrurus resides in a completely dry setting, save for the occasional sparse (and minimal) misting to simulate a little rain. However, I do keep my feeders well hydrated and occasionally will dip one in a water dish before offering it to her. She tends to like this I think
.
My Hadrurus arizonensis scorplings are still doing well, alternating from a bone dry setting to heavy misting in one half of the tank. This periodic "monsoon" raises the humidity level well above 50%, but down in the actual substrate this humidity will be much greater. So far, so good.
My adult female Hadrurus resides in a completely dry setting, save for the occasional sparse (and minimal) misting to simulate a little rain. However, I do keep my feeders well hydrated and occasionally will dip one in a water dish before offering it to her. She tends to like this I think
.Rixi,
Got the photo you sent of A. crassicauda. Very nice!
As in the wild, my A. mauritanicus are true opportunists and regardless of captive environmental factors, will adopt spaces or excavate shallow scrapes but I've never observed then excavate a burrow.
Based on observations of wc adult male and female A. mauritanicus (n=10); even when maintained at extremely low temps (<18C), with high RH levels (>75%) and reduced diurnal photoperiod (<8 hours) for a 30 day period, A. mauritanicus will not construct burrows but seal off existing scrapes with substrate.
Personally, I would think that of the two species being discussed, A. mauritanicus would be more likely to excavate burrows due to its shorter, more strongly developed chelae.
Would be interesting to observe such behaviors in various populations throughout their range to observe the extent of opportunism in the various populations.
Unfortunately, I only have 2 wc female A. crassicauda so observations regarding their behaviors in captivity are nearly useless. One of my gals is very old and I don't think she's going to make through the summer. She's a real beauty but I suspect, real old as well.
Hopefully, you'll be able to provide some information regarding such behaviors (seasonal aestivation periods, burrowing biology, etc.)for A. crassicauda in Kuwait. Good luck & best regards...
Got the photo you sent of A. crassicauda. Very nice!
As in the wild, my A. mauritanicus are true opportunists and regardless of captive environmental factors, will adopt spaces or excavate shallow scrapes but I've never observed then excavate a burrow.
Based on observations of wc adult male and female A. mauritanicus (n=10); even when maintained at extremely low temps (<18C), with high RH levels (>75%) and reduced diurnal photoperiod (<8 hours) for a 30 day period, A. mauritanicus will not construct burrows but seal off existing scrapes with substrate.
Personally, I would think that of the two species being discussed, A. mauritanicus would be more likely to excavate burrows due to its shorter, more strongly developed chelae.
Would be interesting to observe such behaviors in various populations throughout their range to observe the extent of opportunism in the various populations.
Unfortunately, I only have 2 wc female A. crassicauda so observations regarding their behaviors in captivity are nearly useless. One of my gals is very old and I don't think she's going to make through the summer. She's a real beauty but I suspect, real old as well.
Hopefully, you'll be able to provide some information regarding such behaviors (seasonal aestivation periods, burrowing biology, etc.)for A. crassicauda in Kuwait. Good luck & best regards...
- Joined
- Dec 28, 2005
- Messages
- 108
not sure of all desert locales but many do in fact have heavy fog that accumilates during night leaving dew and dampness about the area. S.m. for example come from areas that are very foggy at night during parts of the year so RH IMO should change from day to night and i think also with light misting or fogging at night 4 days per week or so would be just fine...imo
Luc
Unfortunatly I still dont know how to use my camera ... my wife is teling me: RTFM (read the f**** manual) but no time to do this - manual is almost so thik like biology of scorps But it will be a photo sesion ...
I have now only a half of the year of notes and observation behind me so litlle bit more time I need for final opinion ... next year the same time maybe
best regards
Rx
Unfortunatly I still dont know how to use my camera ... my wife is teling me: RTFM (read the f**** manual) but no time to do this - manual is almost so thik like biology of scorps
But it will be a photo sesion ...I have now only a half of the year of notes and observation behind me so litlle bit more time I need for final opinion ... next year the same time maybe
best regards
Rx
Rixi,
Yeah, next month I'm taking the plunge and purchasing a digicam (Canon Power Shot S2) and I'm sure it'll take me 5 years to learn to use it! Hell, by the time I learn to use it effectively, It'll be outdated! LOL
It'll be nice when your observations are complete - I'm looking forward to giving them a "read through".
Take care...
Yeah, next month I'm taking the plunge and purchasing a digicam (Canon Power Shot S2) and I'm sure it'll take me 5 years to learn to use it! Hell, by the time I learn to use it effectively, It'll be outdated! LOL
It'll be nice when your observations are complete - I'm looking forward to giving them a "read through".
Take care...
- Joined
- May 29, 2004
- Messages
- 6,525
I am raising several A bicolor juveniles at the moment and when they look like they are ready to molt I will put about 2 drops of water in the small condiment cups they are in which will ususally cause them to molt within the next few days. As Oliver mentioned you sure dont want to over do it as this can lead to problems. The water should be able to evaporate in 1 day IMO which will insure their safety.