- Joined
- Mar 10, 2025
- Messages
- 21
After reading a bunch and doing some research I'm kind of confused about the need for a temperature gradient. The gradient implemented seems determined by the min temp and max temp of a given habitat. However, the AFS from what I've read, tries to keep its body temp cool and constant (soil and detritus is a steady temp).
It seems like these scorpions are mainly trying to stay cool, not warm, hence why they leave their burrows at night when the temps are coolest -- that is when they are most active. Not cool to the point of diapause, but at, or around 21 Celsius (this is supposedly the temp at the detritus level according to a few sources on Arachnoboards that I can dig up).
Therefore, if the AFS is most active at the coolest temps at night, then wouldn't it be best to keep the terrarium at the minimum temp. The scorpion only cares about the min temp; it doesn't care at all about the warmest temperature. The 'gradient' doesn't matter per se; only the exact number on the scale where the scorpion is comfortable matters, especially in a smallish terrarium setup.
Also, why do we want our scorpions to be 'more active' at warmer temps when scorpions are known to be still 98% of the time.
I suppose when it comes down to ectotherms, it's the keepers choice: active or inactive; faster growth or slower growth. I'm sure the ectotherm doesn't mind either way and there's pros and cons to both warm and cooler temps.
So, after all this ranting, I've concluded that it doesn't even matter what temp you keep your AFS at, ha!
This is just some philosophical rambling by a complete scorpion noob -- I'm fishing for an expert. Pardon my naivety.
It seems like these scorpions are mainly trying to stay cool, not warm, hence why they leave their burrows at night when the temps are coolest -- that is when they are most active. Not cool to the point of diapause, but at, or around 21 Celsius (this is supposedly the temp at the detritus level according to a few sources on Arachnoboards that I can dig up).
Therefore, if the AFS is most active at the coolest temps at night, then wouldn't it be best to keep the terrarium at the minimum temp. The scorpion only cares about the min temp; it doesn't care at all about the warmest temperature. The 'gradient' doesn't matter per se; only the exact number on the scale where the scorpion is comfortable matters, especially in a smallish terrarium setup.
Also, why do we want our scorpions to be 'more active' at warmer temps when scorpions are known to be still 98% of the time.
I suppose when it comes down to ectotherms, it's the keepers choice: active or inactive; faster growth or slower growth. I'm sure the ectotherm doesn't mind either way and there's pros and cons to both warm and cooler temps.
So, after all this ranting, I've concluded that it doesn't even matter what temp you keep your AFS at, ha!
This is just some philosophical rambling by a complete scorpion noob -- I'm fishing for an expert. Pardon my naivety.
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