my tailless whip scorpion is sudenly slow and sluggish

[Ms Ratty]

I just checked on my tailless whip scorpion last night, and he did not seem to be acting right. He was sitting on top of the bark which he does occasionally, but he didn't get scared of me like he normally does and run back to hide. I gently tapped one of his long feelers and he didn't flinch. He eventually turned to go back to hide, but was slow and he looked a bit wobbly. Is he okay? Can he recover from this? Is it something with food or molting? Please help.

 

[Edan bandoot]

Pictures of the enclosure and species

 

[Ms Ratty]

I got a picture of the enclosure in this thread: https://arachnoboards.com/threads/l...der-enclosure-is-alright.347216/#post-3200983

I didn't really get any pictures of him, I'm not sure what species he was. I ordered him from a pet store.

 

[Edan bandoot]

Need pictures of the enclosure in it's current state and a picture of the animal in question

 

[Albireo Wulfbooper]

9 times out of 10 problems with amblypygi stem from a too-dry setup.

Edan is right that we need photos to have any hope of diagnosing the problem. They don't have to be perfect, just a phone photo with halfway decent lighting will do.

 

[darkness975]

As others have said, images of the setup and animal are needed.
How are you providing water for it?

 

[ForTW]

This needs way more substrate and is the top cover of that Exo Terra gaze? Dries out pretty fast this way.

How often do you water the enclosure?

Regards

 

[Albireo Wulfbooper]

This needs way more substrate and is the top cover of that Exo Terra gaze? Dries out pretty fast this way.

How often do you water the enclosure?

Regards

doesn’t actually need more substrate. Substrate for amblypygi exists only to hold moisture, so an inch is plenty, as long as you keep it moist. If the top hasn’t been modified to restrict ventilation, then yeah, you’re going to be losing way too much moisture to evaporation.
The OP hasn’t been back to let us know what’s going on though. Hope her critter is okay.

 

[ForTW]

That was my point. Either you give it more substrate (i think that is Coco fiber) or you cover the top.
Secondly, not gonna say this is a bad terrarium in general but i covered all of mine.
My mantids kept fu****g up their feet, so did the heteropodas. And the d. diademas i kept, molted on top most of the time. I can imagine the same and would check hers.

Last but not least i'd try to prevent post molt fall damage. Especially since they don't make a secure string.

Maybe not for OP but future keepers can take this advantage.

Regards

 

[Albireo Wulfbooper]

That was my point. Either you give it more substrate (i think that is Coco fiber) or you cover the top.
Secondly, not gonna say this is a bad terrarium in general but i covered all of mine.
My mantids kept fu****g up their feet, so did the heteropodas. And the d. diademas i kept, molted on top most of the time. I can imagine the same and would check hers.

Last but not least i'd try to prevent post molt fall damage. Especially since they don't make a secure string.

Maybe not for OP but future keepers can take this advantage.

Regards

Fair enough, though I think no amount of substrate will do the trick if your lid is a totally open mesh. This is why I only have a small square of ventilation in mine. They don’t use the substrate and need plenty of vertical space, so for my money a smaller amount of substrate and restricted ventilation is the better bet, but I’m sure your way works as well, particularly if the enclosure has extra headroom to begin with.

 

[Edan bandoot]

It's easier to keep a larger volume of substrate moist because it holds more water ime

 

[darkness975]

It's easier to keep a larger volume of substrate moist because it holds more water ime

Mine likes to tuck into a little crevice between the substrate and the cork during the day. It's kind of cute.

I'd say there's around 2 - 2.5 " of substrate. Definitely helps with retaining moisture.

 

[Edan bandoot]

Mine likes to tuck into a little crevice between the substrate and the cork during the day. It's kind of cute.

I'd say there's around 2 - 2.5 " of substrate. Definitely helps with retaining moisture.

ive got maybe 3" with mine and i might only have to water it down once a weak

 

[Albireo Wulfbooper]

ive got maybe 3" with mine and i might only have to water it down once a weak

i keep about an inch and also only have to water about once a week in winter, less in summer. It’s obviously going to depend on ambient humidity and how much you’ve restricted ventilation. For this reason I don’t think there’s a “correct” amount of substrate to use - it’s whatever works in your specific context to maintain humidity within the enclosure.

 

[Edan bandoot]

i keep about an inch and also only have to water about once a week in winter, less in summer. It’s obviously going to depend on ambient humidity and how much you’ve restricted ventilation. For this reason I don’t think there’s a “correct” amount of substrate to use - it’s whatever works in your specific context to maintain humidity within the enclosure.

i have a lot more ventilation than you do though, my enclosure has 1 screen side lol