What's happening down there?

[wsimms]

Here's one for the gang...
I keep my community of four Emps in one tank with the standard bottom gravel layer/moisture gradient setup, with 5'' of a substrate mix of potting soil, peat, and coconut stuff. The emps have several hiding spots, and have up until now (several months) never really been interested in making much of a burrow. I have recently dropped the humidity in their tank to 70% to discourage mites, etc. Over the past 2 weeks, they have started a community burrow and have now hauled out about 100 pieces of 3/4" to 1" gravel to the surface and scattered it all over the cage. I can no longer see ANY of my scorps, as they have all moved into this burrow. Why are they doing this? Is it moisture-seeking behavior? Have they all gone underground for a communal molt? Why are they all crowding into the same hole? What do I do when it's time to clean out the cage and change substrate?

Thanks in advance,
W :?

 

[skinheaddave]

Quite simply, you removed their ideal conditions from the surface, so they are burrowing to improve them. Actualy, this is quite a healthy sign, provided they can get adequate humidity in the gravel layer.

As for substrate changes, my Heterometrus tank has been going for years now without a change and still smells sweet.

Cheers,
Dave

 

[wsimms]

Dave,
Thanks. I guess I just kind of miss seeing the little guys all the time...sniff, sniff...

Do all of your Heterometrus' live in the same hole? I mean, jeez, are my guys that lovey-dovey or just lazy? You'd think they would at least make a couple of burrows and split up.

No chance I'll drown them by adding water to the gravel layer is there? I have 3/4" diameter plastic test tubes as conduits and generally add 1-2 ounces at a time per conduit every few days.

Will they molt in their burrow or on the surface?

W

 

[Kugellager]

My 3 H. spinifer do the same thing and live in one large communal burrow. I never see them either except occasionally at night. That is the nature of the little buggers.

They will most likely molt in their burrow if they are not already full grown. You'll know they have molted when you see what looks like scorp remains on the substrate in front of the burrow. The first time I had these guys molt I thought one of the larger ones munched the smaller ones...but that was not the case and now I have 3 large full-grown H.spinifer.

John
];')

 

[wsimms]

Thanks John,
I had one of those ceramic half-log hiding places over the spot where they made their burrow entrance. It is now somewhat unstable due to all the excavation. Can I move it, or do they like the entrance to their burrow to be covered?

W

 

[Kugellager]

Its really up to you..they probably won't care one way or the other. If it looks a bit perilous like it might crush a scorp then I would remove it...howevr I have noticed that things usually just slowly sink as the scorp burrows and then will adjust its burrow to compensate for the obstruction.

john
];')

 

[wsimms]

Originally posted by wsimms


No chance I'll drown them by adding water to the gravel layer is there? I have 3/4" diameter plastic test tubes as conduits and generally add 1-2 ounces at a time per conduit every few days.

W

I think I'll move it to another part of the enclosure since it's pretty heavy. Any thoughts on the above?

W

 

[Kugellager]

Nah,

Mine are in the same situation. I just slowly pour the water down the tube and they come out of the burrow looking a bit annoyed then go back in after a few seconds.

John
];')

 

[wsimms]

LOL =D