leiurus quinquestriatus vivarium designed for 2?

[hermenaught]

I am building a secure holding for leiurus (probably) and have acquired a nice (deep!) old fish tank. 36" by 12" by 18" in height.

Given the length of the tank i thought it might house two. With a territory designed at each end of the tank and the centre being dominated by a false rock feature under which i will put the (covered) heat mat. If it makes more sense i may divide the enclosure to begin with in order that they get settled in their respective territories but i would prefer that in the long run this is not necessary.

The scorps will have ample room to burrow separately and sandstone at their individual ends too, and built-in underground caves at the extreme ends of the tank to unearth. There should be no competition over territory. (unless they prefer larger territories than i have been lead to believe)

My thinking is that they might not kill one another in this environment, but i have read mixed and sometimes contradictory info on their behaviour. Is this tank big enough for two? Does the proposed arrangement make any difference to the chances of it being successful?

I will discuss the safety features that i am building in a separate thread so that anyone whole feels like it can admonish me for my newbie foolhardiness there ;-) (yes i know ....... DWA, pain pain pain, death death death)

Thanks

[Kamike]

Being DWA I wouldn't want to be in the situation where by I had to seperate to fighting scorpions tbh. Maybe for your own safty using a glass partition is best?

Also the heat matt should be on the back of the tank not underneath as the scorps burrow to escape the heat etc

[AshMashMash]

Originally Posted by hermenaught

(yes i know ....... DWA, pain pain pain, death death death)

Thanks

Yeh, that's all I was going to moan about, seeing as you have that covered, I have nothing else to offer here

[hermenaught]

Originally Posted by Kamike

Being DWA I wouldn't want to be in the situation where by I had to seperate to fighting scorpions tbh. Maybe for your own safty using a glass partition is best?

hmmmm .... i hadn't thought about seperating them. If they fight then they would have to be seperate of course ...... i dont want one to die. But i figured if they did one would be dead and so it wouldnt be an issue.

Originally Posted by Kamike

Also the heat matt should be on the back of the tank not underneath as the scorps burrow to escape the heat etc

OK ........ thanks .... i live in scotland though the wee criters will be burrowing to get warm lol

[GRB]

Originally Posted by hermenaught

hmmmm .... i hadn't thought about seperating them. If they fight then they would have to be seperate of course ...... i dont want one to die. But i figured if they did one would be dead and so it wouldnt be an issue.

OK ........ thanks .... i live in scotland though the wee criters will be burrowing to get warm lol

It's just a bad idea full stop.

Are they actually DWA? Do you have a DWA? They are expensive and vary in price depending on where you live.

You're best to keep them singly, especially if you are unfamiliar with scorpions, DWA animals and their husbandry.

[hermenaught]

Originally Posted by GRB

It's just a bad idea full stop.

Are they actually DWA? Do you have a DWA? They are expensive and vary in price depending on where you live.

You're best to keep them singly, especially if you are unfamiliar with scorpions, DWA animals and their husbandry.

Yes they are. I am applying for a licence. They are not that expensive; £105 here.

[AshMashMash]

Originally Posted by hermenaught

Yes they are. I am applying for a licence. They are not that expensive; £105 here.

How much are vets fees and liability insurance round there?

[hermenaught]

Originally Posted by AshMashMash

How much are vets fees and liability insurance round there?

Perhaps during your 25000 posts you picked up some info regarding that.

[Muze]

If you are applying for a DWAL then you will need to have a complete working knowledge of the animals you will be keeping and asking questions such as this implies you are a long way off being granted one. By your own admission and in your own words you are a newbie

A point that someone else also picked up on: you are placing heat mats under the vivs. Why not get experience with non DWA scorps first?

I also find it odd that you are asking fourmites questions on security features, as a partner to someone who holds the correct licences for DWA animals, i know you should have a contact within the authourities or at least guidelines available to work from if you are indeed applying for the relevant licence/s

[hermenaught]

Originally Posted by Muze

If you are applying for a DWAL then you will need to have a complete working knowledge of the animals you will be keeping and asking questions such as this implies you are a long way off being granted one. By your own admission and in your own words you are a newbie

A point that someone else also picked up on: you are placing heat mats under the vivs. Why not get experience with non DWA scorps first?

I also find it odd that you are asking fourmites questions on security features, as a partner to someone who holds the correct licences for DWA animals, i know you should have a contact within the authourities or at least guidelines available to work from if you are indeed applying for the relevant licence/s

oh for gods sake!!

I really tried hard to avoid this! There are so many people on this site that are just champing at the bit to tell folk they shouldn't be getting DWA species of scorpion. Its pathetic, its off topic, I dont want to discuss it, its my decision and as i stated at the beginning of this thread i have given such people the opportunity to admonish me in another thread.

I was asking for some behavioural advice about a particular species given particular environmental circumstances as described. This is specialist knowledge and I asked here as its filled with people who have first hand knowledge. I have no interest in what you think you know about my ability to get a licence or take care of the creature or not get stung. So save it!

As for your 'expert' advice so far in this thread.

Firstly; scorpions do not just use burrows for cooling during the day, they also use them to keep warm during the night. Since the objective is to try and re-create the natural environment as accurately as possible I am enjoying my attempts to create a safe night time environment that mimics the desert..... i.e. cold at night! The construction i am undertaking provides a stone cover for the mats meaning that the scorpion cannot burrow to it (but can burrow near it), and also that the heat will dissipate slowly through the stone during the night. I will be testing the thing fully for temperature parameters through-out the enclosure of course and if it doesn’t work then i will be doing the usual and fixing it to the side of the viv.

Again this is off topic; not at all what i was asking for advice on.

Secondly; dont you ever question my integrity. I take the thing seriously and I dont break the law so unless you have anything intelligent to say on the topic i actually asked about please get on with your own hobby and stop interfering with mine.

Now, i am a newbie to your forum and was asking a particular question. If anyone has anything to say on the issue of Leiurus living together in these circumstances i would be very grateful of your input. I have been reading the forums of ra while now and have read that the are not at all communal, and also that they can live together if the tank is big enough.