[HOW TO] Build a Hot Box

First of all lets define hot box. What is a hot box? Any enclosure specifically made hot to increase the scorpions metabolism.
Some things to remember:
- A hot box if done incorrectly can kill your scorpion
- A hot box will shorten the lifespan of your scorpion
- Ventilation is the key

There are many ways to make a hotbox I'm gonna show you what I use and how I do it. I only keep certain inverts i'm trying to breed and need them to grow just a bit faster. After a few molts or when they hit maturity i remove them. I do not reccomend using a hotbox if you are a beginner in the hobby.

Materials:
Large Styrofoam cooler with lid
A roll of foil
a pencil
two small towels (kitchen towels work great since they are so thin)
glue(regular craft glue)
x-acto knife(or regular knife)
Thermometer
Two (2) 5 gallon tank heater

Okan now to get down and dirty and actually build this thing.

-First use your knife to cut out a small square piece from your cooler large enough to run both connectors of the tank heaters. Try to make it as small as possible and neart the base of the cooler. A corner is fine.

- Next remove the plastic from the heaters and paste one in the middle of the base of the cooler (inside) and one in the middle of one of the sides (inside). Run the wires through your hole

-Now we line the interior of the cooler with some foil. Try not make it all bumpy or with air pockets. Best way to do it is to cut into manageable squares and glue them all along the inside of the cooler.

- Now get the lid of the cooler and punch air holes with your pencil. You want plenty of ventilation but to much will keep the hot box....well not so hot. Your gonna want to eyeball this one I usually punch around 16 -20 of them spaced about evenly apart. My suggestion is to cut one third (1/3) of the lid in case it gets to hot in there. Keep the 1/3 of lid you cut out and place it with the rest of the lid and remove if it gets to hot for a few hours.

- We're pretty much done just some simple add-ons. Put the thin towel on the bottom and try fill up 3-5 inches of the cooler with it. This prevents direct heat from coming in contact with your invert. Roll the second towel and use it as a bumper on the side the heat pad is on so that your enclosures don't get to close to the heat. The last step isn't really neccesary but it helps to use it. Stick your thermometer in there and regulate the heat you want it to get to.

- Connect the heat pads and let your box sit over night to warm up. Check your thermometer and make sure it doesnt reach triple digits(it shouldnt). You can now stack some enclosure in there but make sure to keep them towards the center and the side of the cooler without the heat pad. Thats why the "bumper" towel helps

Enjoy. Might make one this weekend, if I do expect some pictures.

BUMP!!!!!!!!

Great tutorial, Eddy! I'll definitely try this out when I get a few bux!

Pictures would help this out immensely.

~Abyss~ wrote:

You can no stack some enclosure in there but make sure to keep them towards the center and the side of the cooler without the heat pad.

Clarification? I suppose you mean "can now stack some"?

Also, to clarify: the inside bottom and one inside wall have heaters on them, correct?

Very good tutorial . I may do this for my H. judaicus slings that have been stuck at 2I since I got them.

Why must everyone make fun of my dyslexia. Yes I mean now stack some. I'll fix this asap.

I wasn't making fun; I assumed it was a typo and wanted to make sure I understood it. I was confused 'cause I thought it said "can not stack some" at first.

I know i know. Pictures are gonna be up this weekend.

Any pics, Eddy? My H. judaicus have finally made it to 3I, but I'm seriously considering building one of these for them and my T. stigmurus.

I have the material and actually considered doin it this past weekend but I've been seriously sick. If I can pull myself out of bed for work today I guess I can do it this week. Probably up saturday morning.

what ups with this hot box tutorial?

Still no pictures xD

Well, its really not that difficult.. Its a box, with a styrofoam box in it, like when you ship scorps... you put in breathing holes, you put in Heat mats. Towels around the heatmats and you put in smaller plastic containers with your baby scorps...

Close it and put it dark, done :-)

i actually have a large wooden box with a drop down glass front that is heated for mine.
2'x2'x4'long.i have padlocks so it limits access(kids)
and have had great success with it.
actually keep all my scorps in it,as well as my sicarius spiders.(live forever,now i need a male)
andy