venturing further into the dark side (O wahlbergii)

[Immortal_sin]

I got this one today at the local Exotic show from Aaron at CBC. Labeled as O wahlbergii, but she? seems to not really match pics I've seen. I LOVE the way this thing hisses! Can anyone confirm species and gender from this pic? If not, let me know at what angle to photograph. I want to be sure I've got it set up right. Right now, it's on dry peat, large water dish that overflowed, in a 10 gallon aquarium.
Are these major burrowers? I may not have the peat deep enough if they are.
thanks!
Holley

EDIT: the container label also said 'tricolor' which I thought referred to the galbrifrons, not the wahlbergii.
And it looks more like galbrifrons to me...but what do I know?!

 

[R.F]

nice scorpion,..I myself cannot confirm what gender it has or what kind of species becose i`m not really into south-african scorpions aymore. But i guess you schorpion is a female if i look at the shape of the body. They`r really pretty but the problem i think with determining these species is that O.galbrifrons has a great range and very variable in colour.

just my 5 cents

 

[Brian S]

Holley, Yes these are major burrowers. Mine has dug a burrows on all sides of the tank. I haven't seen it in 3 weeks now but sometimes late at night if I wake up I here it scuffling around. I believe it is O wahlberghi. I think glabifrons is now called wahlbergi

 

[R.F]

right i read a bit about O.Wahlbergii 110 mm long, often shiny,.indeed a major burrower in soft soil it can be over a meter long,..

 

[R.F]

I think glabifrons is now called wahlbergi

I believed that has not happend but i can be mistaking,..

 

[Immortal_sin]

well, I've been delving into the net today, and the info is pretty confusing. I've gathered they love to burrow, so I'm going to deepen the substrate for her too.
I think wahlbergii and galbrifrons are definately 2 different species from what I've read though.
When I let her into the aquarium, she started digging like crazy, and peat moss was flying everywhere...so I figured they were burrowers!

 

[darrelldlc]

Nice Scorpion, I have a little one about 2 1/2 inches long. I am not sure of the species either, but I can tell you I have it on close to 6 inches of the paver-base mixture. I packed this in the aquarium and the little thing buried all the way to the bottom. I found this mixture holds a burrow way better than peat or sand alone. I cannot thank Mr. Kugellager enough for the information. I am envious, I can't wait until mine grows up to that size.
Cordially,
Darrell.

 

[Immortal_sin]

Darrell,
where do you get the paver base? That sounds like a good idea. Last night, she dug underneath the plastic skull in her aquarium, and looks like she's got herself a decent burrow, but I am thinking the peat is too crumbly for it to hold together...

 

[Kugellager]

Holley,

Home Depto carries it in the garden area..usually. Paver base is used to for laying brick sidewalks. A 50lb bag runs $3-4 USD.

John
];')

 

[Immortal_sin]

Thanks John!
Also, can you positively ID the scorp?

 

[edt]

Great tip on the paver base as well! I was looking for a material to suppliment the fine sand in my new H. Spadix setup for a lasting borrow!


Pics to come on all of my setups and animals.

 

[Kugellager]

Holley,

My guess would be O. carinatus based on what I can see for the overall coloration...it does have quite a bit of clay coloring it too. It could be other species as well. This genus is one of the more difficult to ID from a photograph.

John
];')

 

[Mendi]

Hey Holley! I'm a little deeper in as well! Beware though, the real dark side is over where the centipedes hang out.

I like the new addition, a fine little mine-beasty

 

[Immortal_sin]

Hey Holley! I'm a little deeper in as well! Beware though, the real dark side is over where the centipedes hang out.

I like the new addition, a fine little mine-beasty

LOL..don't think we'll venture that far into the dark!

 

[pandinus]

i don't know why, but pedes scare me a little.

 

[James M.]

I love scorpions so much and have Parabuthus, yeat I too find those pedes to be scary. Thay seem evil

 

[Mendi]

LOL..don't think we'll venture that far into the dark!

You say that now... Maybe you'll get some millipedes, though they aren't real dark-siders other than being myriopods

 

[danread]

Aw, i feel bad now, and so do my poor centipedes! They aren't that bad you know. Just don't try and cuddle them

 

[Brian S]

I love scorpions so much and have Parabuthus, yeat I too find those pedes to be scary. Thay seem evil

I know where yir comin' from. Spiders and scorps have never bothered me but pedes give me the heebie jeebies for some reason

 

[shadowkat]

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

All scorpions scare me, guess Im just a wimp. This one is very pretty though