substrate change

When is the best time to change the substrate??? I assume it is when the viv starts to smell off?? How much should be renewed, as I dont want to stress my scorp's out and have to dig them out or can I just change the part that they haven't burrowed in. Also does it have to be new substrate or can I just 'wash' the original?

from what ive read some people dont change the subsrate some just say a spot clean is sufficient ...but i am a noob so wait for others to coment

Depends on how many scorps you have sharing that substrate, as well as how big the tank is.

i've got 2 small emp's, only about 1-2 inch, don't know how old??? Any clues?? The viv is 2x1ft

got a pic of them?

231bex wrote:

from what ive read some people dont change the subsrate some just say a spot clean is sufficient ...but i am a noob so wait for others to coment

You are correct!
I've literally gone years without changing and I reuse old substrate,it works better than new.
If it gets infested with nasty bugs or stinks like rot etc... then it needs to be changed otherwise just spot clean.

Scott Land wrote:

If it gets infested with nasty bugs or stinks like rot etc... then it needs to be changed.

+1

Guys, am i right to say that no matter how diligent you are in spot cleaning your tank.. after say a 1-2 months from a changed of new substrates.. you can surely find at least a few mites crawling around?

And pse correct me if im wrong.. so long as the mites are white and are crawling (contrary to the ones who only sticks to the scorpion's joints) around the substrates actively.. they are known to be predatory "good mites" .. that will not harm our scorpion in any way?

Any inputs will be great!

ive had the same substrate since last november...
so im going on 1 year of the same and i havent had any problems...
i dont even have any kind of mites lol

the lycan mikey wrote:

ive had the same substrate since last november...
so im going on 1 year of the same and i havent had any problems...
i dont even have any kind of mites lol

wow mikey.. how do you accomplish that??

As for me, its hard for me to remove the remains of the cricket/roach once my scorp has his fill..
and when they move about/burrow, parts of the cricket/roach leg might be hidden by the substrates..

GS wrote:

the lycan mikey wrote:

ive had the same substrate since last november...
so im going on 1 year of the same and i havent had any problems...
i dont even have any kind of mites lol

wow mikey.. how do you accomplish that??

As for me, its hard for me to remove the remains of the cricket/roach once my scorp has his fill..
and when they move about/burrow, parts of the cricket/roach leg might be hidden by the substrates..

i have no idea how i pulled it off...
all i ever find are these little grayish colored balls from the crickets they eat...
or the occasional anole...


but i pay careful attention to both my tanks...
and now im worried about whatever might be in my 5i's burrow...

to solve this issue.. i remember seeing some posts on certain "tanks cleaners" which we can put in our scorps enclosure.. they move about slowly and eats off the dead remains of the feeders...
I'm still trying to search for the thread thou.. as i have forgotten their name :/

GS wrote:

to solve this issue.. i remember seeing some posts on certain "tanks cleaners" which we can put in our scorps enclosure.. they move about slowly and eats off the dead remains of the feeders...
I'm still trying to search for the thread thou.. as i have forgotten their name :/

Yup, they're called isopods and they do a great job in tropical setups. I never find leftovers in my forest tanks because of these guys and I don't get mold either. I have good ventilation, however, so that definitely helps with molds and such.

H. laoticus wrote:

GS wrote:

to solve this issue.. i remember seeing some posts on certain "tanks cleaners" which we can put in our scorps enclosure.. they move about slowly and eats off the dead remains of the feeders...
I'm still trying to search for the thread thou.. as i have forgotten their name :/

Yup, they're called isopods and they do a great job in tropical setups. I never find leftovers in my forest tanks because of these guys and I don't get mold either. I have good ventilation, however, so that definitely helps with molds and such.

Isopods! Your reply is helpful mate. Am reading up more on them already. Thanks!

i usally give it a couple of months n then kinda 'wash' the substrate, give it a good shake about and mix it about. i do a spot clean tho everyday cos im always finding cricket legs here and there.

i never change the substrate unless there is a mite problem or fungus.
however, my scorpions rarely stay in the same tank for more than 4 months, so when i move them about i usually change the substrate.
also, when i introduce a new one to another scorpions tank i change the substrate to make sure they dont fight over territory.