First Scorpion Tank

Hey guys this is my first emp scorpion tank, i know these questions have prob been answered before but hope you dont mind helping me out.

1. Right now I have a 50 watt infared light a few inches above the tank. It doesnt seem to produce too much heat do you think i should add a heat pad on one side or upgrade to 75 watt bulb?

2. Do you guys run your infared lights 24/7 or just for like 12 hours during the day? If just during the day do i need something special for the night?

3. Right now I have a mesh lid on the tank so the humidity does not last long. Can i put a glass top over the mesh lid and still get decent heat from the infared bulb on top?

Below is a pic of my setup to give you an idea. Thanks!

Well it is a nice trendy setup lol. I like it!

I only cant see if it is just sand as substrate. Emperors do not like sand and should be switched to peatmoss or coco fibre mixed with dirt asap imho. It holds the moistureness way better and your emp will feel better at home. Relaxed, thinking it is camouflaged and such.

I do like your setup though, nice big waterdish, nice hide! I would push it a bit further into the substrate. THey like to squeeze themselves in and burrow if it is needed. This is one of the many many reasons, you should change the sand. They burrow. Sand caves in.

Also if you do change the substrate, give it a few inches more, so it can dig deeper..

I would make a glass top with a round piece cut out to put your lamp straight on the hood. This way the lamp is nearer by the cage (if your temperature is not enough). You keep your moistureness in and you don't have to buy a stronger lamp.

If I am not mistaking, it is a red light, so its all good.

Welcome!

Thanks it is actually coco fiber just a bad pic. Good ideas for the hideout and making some deeper areas to dig.

I tried cutting the glass myself and failed lol so I need to have someone do it for me or use plexiglass or something instead. I really need the glass top though cause it seems to hold the humidity in way better.

Just get a sheet of acrylic, it's easy to work with it by yourself.

Hmm yeah seems much easier to cut I think I will go with acrylic and cut a round hole for the lamp like you guys mentioned and then it can be directly on the mesh lid.

Do you guys run your infared 24/7 or just during the day? I'm afraid he might be cold at night but the acrylic top should help hold some heat in better once I do that...

Actually, as you will put the lamp over it (sorry, I didn't realize that part), I'm not sure that acrylic will survive.

I run the lamp for my emp and AFS's 24/7. The only turn off at night for desert species.

I don't recommend restricting ventilation to raise humidity. Just dump water onto the substrate as necessary; the substrate provides a longer-lasting source of moisture that way (just don't dump so much that it becomes soupy).

If you really don't want to worry about the tank drying out, you can incorporate a false-bottom. With an empty tank, fill up the bottom half inch to an inch with aquarium gravel before adding the substrate. The gravel can hold a large reservoir of water that will wick its way up through the substrate as the layer on the surface evaporates. It keeps the tank humid for a long time.

I understand Mordax' view, fresh air is always a good thing! So he is right!

But forums are made up for having a broader view for more possibilities so here goes as a side note, if you keep it the soil itself really REALLY REALLY.. almost mush-damp to make up for evaporation (with full ventilation, it will dry out faster), it will be hard to heat, and if you get it hot.. it will cool off wayyyy faster at night. I dont think thats the way emps want to be held.. "cold and wet"...

Where they occur in nature it is... "hot and damp". Not really the same thing.

Keeping humidity steady is impossible without air restriction. Venture in those African bushes and you will not feel the sensation of fresh, mountain-air...

I'd say cover it up, but not all of your top. Keep some space for ventilation...

If you want to do it like the pros, you should follow mordax' advice and put a false bottom with gravel in it. Even then so, I'd still cover a part up to get that tropics feeling to it (warm moistureness by giving the lamp the time to heat up the vapour and surrounding air).. but that is just me. Stubborn as a mule dont shoot me!

Thanks for all the input. Quick update...

I went to Lowes and got (2) 14 x 10 inch sheets of acrylic cut to size for free for my 10 gallon tanks. Costs only about $9 total with tax.

They fit nicely on top of the mesh lids and cover up 75 percent of the top leaving an open area on one side for the heat lamp to shine through and for ventilation. I think this is a good middle ground!

This should keep humidity and heat in better while still providing the tank with a bit of fresh air.

now watch out the light dont melt the acrylic

Yeah theres no way it will im pretty sure =)

I also go this sweet mealworm feeder dish, mines smaller and cheaper but they seem to work great. The mealworms cant escape because of the lip at the top so should be easier for my scorpion and other pets to get the occasional creepy crawler snack without too much effort.

If I find the dishes empty soon ill know they worked =)

http://www.amazon.com/Lee-Mealworm-Dish---/dp/B000OX0JJU/

lol wut, something like that exists? Nice.. might try giving them some worms myself if I get something like that. Thanks for the tip Juno.

I'm watching carefully to make sure its true they can't get out. So far so good! Hope it works for other types of crawling bugs.

@junosama
1/4 lid off for ventilation should be the min imo.
Increase the opening if you see molds/flies appearing.

& innovative idea with the worm dish.
Just watch out if a playful emp flicks one out of the dish when shes not that hungry. Within secs, the worm can burrow and stay hidden till a chance to bite back, although it rarely happens. Not to worry if all your emps are adults thou.
Emps can play with food like how cats occasionally do to rats!

Ps: Neat enclosure settings btw
Keep up the good work!

If you implement a false-bottom, you'll get good humidity where the scorps actually live. It will be drier near the opening, but as long as you don't have flying scorpions, it shouldn't be a problem.

And yes, evaporative cooling can be a bit of a problem, so it's important to have sufficient heating available. If your collection gets big enough you can designate a room as "the bug room" and keep the whole room warm enough and not bother with lamps and heat mats.

I'm very proud of my emp he just built his first burrow. If you look in the pic i first posted he was able to dig a hole in the very back corner right behind the buried log. This way he has two entrances into his lair of death. He also loves to hide under the moss.

I'm going to add a few inches more coco fiber substrate to that side as suggested above so he has more room to dig and take out a bit of the moss.

So far he hasnt gone for the mealworm in the special mealworm dish. The mealworms def can't get out but he dosent seem to have much interest in them. Maybe he just prefers crickets.

I may remove it if he does not eat it within the next week and just stick with feeding him crickets. Guess they prefer the hunt instead of an easy meal!

I'm guessing the movements from the cricket triggers their killer instinct more. ha
Try to get some B.Lateralis roach if its available to you. My Emps loved them.
Most of the time, its one roach at each chela and one more at their chelicerae