Overhauled.

Howdy all!
This is my overhauled Emp tank. I want to know tips, advice, and any/everything that could be wrong or done better with it. The substrate is peat moss, roughly 4-5 inches deep at it's deepest point, their hide rock is half burried already and there is a second hide under the light (Probably not a good idea) The light is a red 75 watt bulb that I leave on 24/7. Enjoy! And I promise pics of the emps when they quit skulking and come out!

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This is my male, Griffon Spade. He wouldn't come out any farther for a better pic. Sorry.

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do you have a lid?
Pandinus come from really humid forest in western african (i think) and therefore, need very high humidity..
other than that, it's cool, how hot does it get under that bulb? i'm looking into the possibilities instead of a mat :/

Looks good, here are my suggestions!

1. Make sure the rock is is supported or it could sink a bit and crush him if its heavy. Maybe add some sort of log or bark hide as a second option.

Emps arent the best climbers so maybe replace the sticks with a plant or two and add some dirt on the sides of those rocks on the left in case he wants to climb over them.

spinnin_tom wrote:

do you have a lid?
Pandinus come from really humid forest in western african (i think) and therefore, need very high humidity..
other than that, it's cool, how hot does it get under that bulb? i'm looking into the possibilities instead of a mat :/

There is a lid but it's full of slits. Should I cover some of these with light clear tape or something?

junosama 6/7/2011, 12:00 am

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Looks good, here are my suggestions!

1. Make sure the rock is is supported or it could sink a bit and crush him if its heavy. Maybe add some sort of log or bark hide as a second option.

Emps arent the best climbers so maybe replace the sticks with a plant or two and add some dirt on the sides of those rocks on the left in case he wants to climb over them.


I covered those rocks with some dirt. What do you reccomend for support of the hide rock and what kind of plants? Thanks all!

A solution would be to have other rocks under it on the sides that touch the bottom of the tank and then use some strong glue to glue the rocks togther so they dont slide around if needed. Then just push some dirt inside and make sure he can fit in ok.

I usually use fake plants but im pretty sure there is a thread already if you search the forums for plants that are ok for emps.

Wyatt bro, looks like you found out that plastic melts! I'd advise getting a new tank when you can scare up the cash. I'm sure that is already on your to do list though.

For rock hides you can buy yourself some black silicon and glue the rocks together with it. It doesn't bond that super great, but it's sort of like putting that non skid stuff under things. You know, that sticky foam stuff that goes in the bottom of drawers or under stuff on shelves.. just make sure it's all the way cured before it goes in.

Does that make sense? Basically makes it harder for the rocks to slip.

You can also set support rocks up in the bare enclosure, then fill and pack until the top of them and set the top rock onto the supports. this way is nice because you can take the top off if you ever have to get into their hide for some reason.

I see your tank has melted a bit. They do need higher humidity but if you put the lid and make a false bottom the slits wont matter. I don't like the idea of restricting air flow in the tank but I know a lot of other people use that method so if your comfortable go ahead, I wouldn't though.

If you piled the rocks right as well, I don't see a point in gluing them, but I guess you could. Emps. arent much of climbers and you could take out the sticks but I say it doesn't matter and they do add to the enclosure. You could put a plant but I know you have the idea of mating them so I would place in a flat piece of bark or a piece of broken tile insted too. That will allow them to mate so the male can drop the Spermatophore.

Other wise good job!

Future Free Willy from Wobbly Acrylic Park

Id say its ok, except for the humidity and if there is cottonwool in the drinking tray, I'd get wrid of it too..

Thanks All!!!!
I really appreciate all your tips and comments. Yes, the corner of the tank is a little melted that happened when I had reptiles and a heat lamp slipped down onto it. I have a glass tank bu it's a bit smaller, will that be ok? Also, all the comments about the glue and stuff are a little confusing Sorry. But the main hide (If this helps anyone and I should have mentioned earlier) is one solid thing. It's one of those fake rocks that are made for animal hides. It used to belong to my leopard gecko And the other hide is built up with big rocks for the walls and flat rock roof, covered with packed peat moss. Whoever menationed fake plants (Junosama) thanks, I never thought of that before and it would help make the tank a little more interesting. Thanks again everyone!