black sand works great for desert scorps

[JungleGuts]

Well ive always kept my desert scorps on natural colored or white sand but i just cleaned out an enclosure and decided to try black. It makes a huge difference and i can see the scorp so much easier now.

[P. Novak]

Where? where!? I don't see the scorp! lol kidding, ya it works very good, the scorpions is very visible! I love the black sand even more cause it's my favorite color!

[JungleGuts]

yea its unique, and im guessing it will show cricket left overs and poop better so i can spot clean easier. Im woundering if it will heat up alot more than white if im using a redbulb?

[P. Novak]

yea its unique, and im guessing it will show cricket left overs and poop better so i can spot clean easier. Im woundering if it will heat up alot more than white if im using a redbulb?

I think it will cause white reflects heat and light, while black attracts heat and light.

[chaoshybrid6]

What kind of sand did you use? and where did you get it from? I'm thinking of picking up a H. arizonesis relatively soon and I love the way that looks, great job.

[JungleGuts]

What kind of sand did you use? and where did you get it from? I'm thinking of picking up a H. arizonesis relatively soon and I love the way that looks, great job.

Thanks, its exo-terra desert sand i got at a local reptile store.

[Crono]

I personally found it too fine to hold a burrow, and very dusty. But if you like it, why not?

[JungleGuts]

yea i dont keep him in a burrow setup, although he likes to dig and get under the wood

[chaoshybrid6]

This kind of sand wouldn't be good if I were to use a setup that allowed a scorp to burrow?

[edesign]

i don't know...but ideally you would add it in small layers, an inch or so at a time. Moisten the sand ahead of time or as you add it...pack it down pretty hard using your hand (or whatever you want), add another layer, compact, add layer, compact, and so on until it's the depth you want. You won't be able to just pour sand in a tank to allow tunneling, not quite that simple.

edit: btw...i really like how that tank looks

[JungleGuts]

i don't know...but ideally you would add it in small layers, an inch or so at a time. Moisten the sand ahead of time or as you add it...pack it down pretty hard using your hand (or whatever you want), add another layer, compact, add layer, compact, and so on until it's the depth you want. You won't be able to just pour sand in a tank to allow tunneling, not quite that simple.

edit: btw...i really like how that tank looks

thanks, yea you will have to treat the sand with water and whatnot then it will be sutible for burrowing

[musihuto]

beeennnnttooonniiiiite!
- munis

This kind of sand wouldn't be good if I were to use a setup that allowed a scorp to burrow?

[EAD063]

beeennnnttooonniiiiite!
- munis

Or some nice clay courtsey of your local little league field. LOL

[parabuthus]

I personally found it too fine to hold a burrow, and very dusty. But if you like it, why not?

Ditto. I tried the black calci / desert sand mix for my Hadrurus, but it didn't hold, even after water mixing and tight compacting. For some reason the black sand -that I purchased- was much finer than the yellow or red, even the calci sand was quite fine. So I reverted back to the more regular colors where the calci sand, for whatever reason, is much chunkier and therefore more efficient for preparing a burrowing enivironment.

That said, it could have been a coincidence and possibly just down to the specific calci-sand bag which I purchased. But I find it interesting that you had the same problem.

[Crono]

I mixed it about 40/60 sand/peat, and it just wouldn't hold.
Like I mentioned, it was extremely dusty, and I also found it a little too abrasive for my tastes. I honestly couldn't
I still have a few bags of it around, but washed playsand seems to work better for me. It doesn't look as cool though.