Temperature

Greetings everyone!

I am new to the forums and I have a question regarding a younger family member's emperor scorpion. The tank is a 10 gallon glass aquarium with a screen lid covered partially by saran wrap. Humidity is around 75 - 80% and the substrate is Eco Earth. It is a single scorpion, so only one hide and one water dish is in there and he feeds it two or three crix a week and interchanges them with mealworms. There are some artificial plants for decoration.

My question however is about the temperature. His room in the dead of winter occasionally hits 68 but most of the time is around 70 - 73 degrees farenheight (spelling?) and around 77 - 80 degrees farenheight in the summer. His dad is kind of stingy about electricity and doesn't want him using a heat pad. Is this ambient temperature ok for the scorp? I realize it is not "ideal" but will the scorp be ok for the winter months?

Also, should the lid be "clamped"? It is one of the standard zoo med metal mesh lids that lays over the top of the tanks.

Thanks. I apologize for the long post but I try to be as detailed as possible for everyone.

Welcome to the forum.

While the temp is not ideal, it shouldn't harm your scorp. These animals are much hardier than we sometimes give them credit for.
Your scorp will not be that active nor will it eat as much or as often if kept at a lower temp.

I don't suggest a temp in the 60's. During the winter at least, when it is coldest, you may want to consider using a heating pad or infrared heat lamp.

The lid really doesn't have to be clamped, emps are extremely poor climbers.


Also, a more permanent solution to saran wrap would be a piece of plexiglass cut to fit the inside lip of the tank.

hey Scorp (nice name btw!). Thank you for your response.

The temp only occasionally hits 69 or 68 and usually is between 70 and 73 degrees through the winter even at night (his house has the floorboard style heaters that run along the entire length of the south wall) because they have the heat set at 68 but he keeps his door shut all the time which retains more heat in that particular room.

Thanks for your response.

Also, I will take measurements and cut a piece of pexi glass for the aquarium. Thanks for the tip.

Cheers!

- Scorpion975