[HOW TO] Natural enclosure for desert scorpions

This guide will show you how to make natural looking enclosures for desert scorpions.

STEP 1:
Gather your materials.

You will need:
1. An enclosure



2. Sand and Peat/Excavator clay
3. Rocks/stones
4. Bark
5. Dried out grass shoots
6. Dried twigs
7. Shale/Porous rock

The materials:



Shale:



STEP 2:
Mixing the substrate

Add sand and peat/excavator clay to the enclosure. The amount added will depend on the size of the enclosure and if the scorpion is a obligate burrower or if he utilises scrapes. The enclosure I am making in this tutorial is for 10 Mesobuthus eupeus haarlovi and in my opinion more of a scraper than burrower so substrate depth is not that important.
I use about 30% peat and 70% sand:


Now add water to the substrate and mix WELL.

All mixed up:



REMEMBER to make sure that the substrate is packed down enough to facilitate burrowing.

STEP 3:
Planning the layout of the enclosure

It is very important that there is enough shelter for the scorpion so choose the rocks and bark that fit well into the enclosure. You don’t want to start putting the rocks and bark in and then discover they dont fit well so planning is important.

STEP 4:
Adding the materials

STEP 4.1:

I add the rocks first:


Dig the rocks into the substrate and dont just throw it on top.
Also remeber to make a partially pre-dug burrow:




STEP 4.2:
Add the bark:




I also partially dig one point of the bark into the substrate just to secure it a bit. .

Add as much as you want or can:


If you are using this guide for a communal setup and hides are limited, the pieces of bark can also be used as shelter if the scorpion decides to dig underneath them.

STEP 4.3:
Add the twigs:


These must be well planted so that they don’t fall down if your scorpion decides to climb them. Also make sure that they are not too long incase the scorpion climbs them and has a fall as this can SERIOUSLY HARM or CAUSE DAMAGE to the scorpion.

STEP 4.4:
Add the grass shoots:


Again, make sure that they are secure and not too long.

STEP 4.5:
Now it is time to add the shale. First crush some of it into a fine powder or dust and the rest into smaller pieces. Sprinkle the crushed shale dust and pieces all around inside the enclosure.
This will be the end product after all the materials have been added:


STEP 5:
Let the enclosure dry THOROUGHLY until all the water has evaporated and no more condensation can be seen through the sides.


PS:
If so preferred, you can use any materials that you choose as long as they look natural.

Very useful. Thanks for posting this up.