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Looking at his setup makes me think that I should be charged with animal abuse, considering I have a modest little terrarium setup for my T. I just bought one of those terra reptile hides, because my A. Hentzi is rejecting her current setup and I thought I was moving up in the world! j/k I love how you used the space in this setup, I just really like the uneven ground space. It's very artsy with it's composition.
Thank you kindly. I probably overcompensate space wise. I'd love to be able to understand and realize one can keep a T, or scorps (like those that live in this tank, a breeding pair of H. arizonensis, if you can believe that, as they are notorious for not breeding in captivity in almost a 5 gal and they'll be happy, but it's the hippy in me that makes me get all Zen and go wacky with the enclosures
I agree, love the look of this one, My children (all grown now, youngest is 21) insist on calling me an old hippy, I'm not quite sure if I am or not but, I'm going to remain the same person I've been for 50+ years and they can call it whatever they like
@Kymura
You took the words out of my mouth. Turned 50 in June and couldn't change now if I wanted to I don't think. This is a 29 gal high that, for this species of scorp, should by all means be filled with even more substrate for them to burrow in (they are obligate burrowers), BUT, it take a mix of play sand and hardening clay of sorts to get it to the density needed for them to build safe burrows, and THAT would mean this tank would weigh close to 200lbs. Sorry, little darlings, but this is all you're gonna get. I don't think they mind. If they did, Jema, the female, wouldn't have had a brood this spring
Ok, how hard are they to keep? do they need heat mats etc? I've been thinking of some smaller ones just to enjoy watching them? Dont know much about them at all but I'm beginning to be drawn to them more and more. I love how some of them politely take the food from tongs lol
They are EXTREMELY easy to keep. I have both the desert scorpions and the forest scorpions. The deserts are a bit easier but only because one doesn't need to worry about humidity. Okay, a quick run down on both
Desert Scorpions need very little aside from the correct substrate that allows for burrowing, if you choose one that is an obligated burrower such as the H. arizonensis (Giant hairy desert scorpion) and hides and food. That's it. Heating isn't too much of an issue, as they are easily acclimated to the temp of most folks homes, even in winter. Although, I am in NY, and on days where the outside temp makes the inside temp uncomfortable for even me, then I put on an IR heat lamp appropriate for the size of their tank. No sense baking the little critters. Also, most would shudder at the thought of keeping this particular species together, but I have one female and one male, and they have adjusted quite well, probably because there is good space and enough hides and food for all.
I did have a community of Arizona Bark Scorpions, but they are EXTREMELY venomous and very, very small. Fun to watch, but, being that I have many friends with children that are always curious and in danger of sneaking a hand in a tank when Mom isn't looking, I decided it was prudent to find a home for my colony elsewhere.
The forest scorps are H. spinifers. H. petersii are my personal faves cause they don't spend so much time burrowed, but they are hard to come by now. The hardest part, when I was a new keeper, was keeping the humidity right. BUT, through trial and error, I've discovered that it isn't so important to keep the AIR at optimal humidity as it is to keep the substrate moist enough. I do have a ceramic heater that heats the tank well, but, they burrow to get away from the heat, so mats would only end up cooking them and there are days where ether house gets down to about 65, and I don't turn the heater on.
In their natural habitat the temp of the earth in their burrows gets to be only 40-45 degrees, despite the fact they are in Asia, and they do just fine.
I purchased these two as only tiny scorplings and they have thrived to about 4.5 inches now since the summer and get along quite well, will actually seek out the company of one another, probably a safety in numbers thing, though I'd like to think they appreciate company Don't yet know the sexes of them though.
Thanks so much for replying. I may look around and begin pricing them and setups after I get my finances right again. I'd love to have some that can live happily together. But I'd prefer them not to be pet holes lol
And that they are. the Arizona Barks aren't, but their venom is lethal, highest rating of any scorpion in the US and maybe a few other countries, too. I'd be more than happy to send you a pair free of charge if you'd like I'm not losing anything adopting them out. If you want, just pay for shipping. Or not, if, as you say, you'd prefer not to have a pet hole lol
Thank you Adraps. It's really fun for me, setting up these environments. I like to grab my tanks when Petsmart or Petco has their "dollar a gallon" sales! I can grab a 50 gallon BREEDER tank for $50! That's almost a $200 discount! I'm waiting for their next sale at the beginning of January to get one for the next in my collection, either a Mexican red knee or Mexican fire leg, and one for an A. avic
