EmielVrolijk
Arachnopeon
- Joined
- May 30, 2014
- Messages
- 17
Hi there,
I just wanted to post a warning not to use any kind of artificial tree stump, artificial mangrove wood, or any other kind of synthetic item with a "bark-like" feel to it.
After decorating a terrarium for my new Rhopalurus junceus pair, with a large, synthetic tree stump (because it was cheaper than cork bark), the male started behaving in a strange way: walking funny, twisting its metasoma a bit, etc. I thought it was some kind of mating thing, so I just let it go. Anyway... a few days later he ran around, chewing air, scratching itself with its first pair of legs, twisting and turning its metasoma, and just behaving really odd. I put him in ICU, where he died a few days later.
Just about a week ago, my gravid female started showing the same symptoms, even after I took out the artificial tree stump, and replaced it with real cork bark (as I should have done from the very start). I found her lying on the substrate, put her in ICU, and she died this morning.
The seller had been nice enough to replace my dead male, and I'm glad I waited until I had removed the artificial crap, before introducing him to the enclosure. While cleaning the viv, I also noticed lots of dead isopods (which I put in there on purpose, to keep the substrate clean), and even a dead juvenile dubia feeder... one of the toughest bugs out there.
The site where I bought the artificial stuff said it was safe for any kind of terrarium, and even in aquariums. I guess it's not.. The product that probably killed my scorpions was made by a Chinese company called SuperFish.. so please, don't make the mistake I made, and use natural decorations only (though fake plants are okay, apparently). I'll have to perform some tests with native spiders and perhaps some dubia's, but I'm pretty sure they will also die when kept in an enclosure with these artificial lumps of poison. I'll keep you guys updated on the outcome of these experiments.
I just wanted to post a warning not to use any kind of artificial tree stump, artificial mangrove wood, or any other kind of synthetic item with a "bark-like" feel to it.
After decorating a terrarium for my new Rhopalurus junceus pair, with a large, synthetic tree stump (because it was cheaper than cork bark), the male started behaving in a strange way: walking funny, twisting its metasoma a bit, etc. I thought it was some kind of mating thing, so I just let it go. Anyway... a few days later he ran around, chewing air, scratching itself with its first pair of legs, twisting and turning its metasoma, and just behaving really odd. I put him in ICU, where he died a few days later.
Just about a week ago, my gravid female started showing the same symptoms, even after I took out the artificial tree stump, and replaced it with real cork bark (as I should have done from the very start). I found her lying on the substrate, put her in ICU, and she died this morning.
The seller had been nice enough to replace my dead male, and I'm glad I waited until I had removed the artificial crap, before introducing him to the enclosure. While cleaning the viv, I also noticed lots of dead isopods (which I put in there on purpose, to keep the substrate clean), and even a dead juvenile dubia feeder... one of the toughest bugs out there.
The site where I bought the artificial stuff said it was safe for any kind of terrarium, and even in aquariums. I guess it's not.. The product that probably killed my scorpions was made by a Chinese company called SuperFish.. so please, don't make the mistake I made, and use natural decorations only (though fake plants are okay, apparently). I'll have to perform some tests with native spiders and perhaps some dubia's, but I'm pretty sure they will also die when kept in an enclosure with these artificial lumps of poison. I'll keep you guys updated on the outcome of these experiments.