RecoveryInvertebrates
Desert Hairy scorpion care guide
Hadrurus arizonensis
Dry, hot-room enclosure with deep packed sand/soil for burrows or stacked slate crevices to wedge into.
Fossorial — deep substrate for burrowing
Desert Hairy scorpion enclosure size
Fossorial — deep substrate for burrowing. An adult desert hairy scorpion should live in at least 10" L × 8" W × 6" H; we build toward 15" L × 10" W × 8" H (1.3 × 0.8 × 0.7 ft, roughly 1 sq ft of floor and about a 5-gallon glass equivalent).
- Spiderling / sling
- 6" L × 4" W × 5" H recommended · min 4" L × 4" W × 4" H
- Juvenile
- 10" L × 8" W × 7" H recommended · min 8" L × 6" W × 6" H
- Adult
- 15" L × 10" W × 8" H recommended · min 10" L × 8" W × 6" H
Temperature and heating
Heat the room, not the enclosure. If the room drops below 68 °F use a thermostatted space heater or a heat mat on the outside of a side wall (never under the substrate) — heat mats under a burrow cook the animal.
- Basking / warm surface
- None — no basking site, no heat lamp
- Warm side (ambient)
- 72–80 °F ambient room temperature
- Cool side (ambient)
- 70–75 °F ambient room temperature
- Night
- Room temperature; a 5–8 °F night drop is fine
Lighting and UVB
UVB: None — invertebrates need no UVB and bright light stresses them. Run lights on a Ambient room light on a normal day/night cycle; keep the enclosure out of direct sun photoperiod, on a timer, and replace UVB bulbs on the manufacturer's schedule even while they still emit visible light.
Humidity
Target 40–55% ambient. Keep the substrate bone dry and offer a full water dish; overflow it only if the species tolerates a damp corner.
Substrate and depth
Packed play sand and topsoil (60/40). Depth: 6–10 in for a stable burrow.
- Ventilation: Well ventilated and dry; a damp arid enclosure causes mycosis.
Enclosure tips and furnishing
- Stacked flat slate for crevices
- Water dish large enough to drink from
- A dark hide at both the warm and cool end
Build list
- Front-opening terrestrial enclosure with a locking lid — Scorpions climb silicone seams; a loose lid is an escape.
- UV flashlight — Scorpions fluoresce — the easiest way to confirm one is out and healthy without disturbing it.
- Digital thermometer / hygrometer — Inverts are kept at room temperature — you need to know what the room actually does, not guess.
- Long feeding tongs and a catch cup — Every interaction — feeding, water top-ups, rehousing — should happen without your hand near the animal.
Desert Hairy scorpion FAQ
How big should an adult Desert Hairy scorpion enclosure be?
At least 10" L × 8" W × 6" H, and we recommend building to 15" L × 10" W × 8" H — about 1.3 × 0.8 × 0.7 ft, or a 5-gallon glass equivalent. Fossorial — deep substrate for burrowing.
What temperatures does a Desert Hairy scorpion need?
Basking or warm surface None — no basking site, no heat lamp, warm side 72–80 °F ambient room temperature, cool side 70–75 °F ambient room temperature, night Room temperature; a 5–8 °F night drop is fine. Heat the room, not the enclosure. If the room drops below 68 °F use a thermostatted space heater or a heat mat on the outside of a side wall (never under the substrate) — heat mats under a burrow cook the animal.
Does a Desert Hairy scorpion need UVB?
None — invertebrates need no UVB and bright light stresses them. Photoperiod: Ambient room light on a normal day/night cycle; keep the enclosure out of direct sun.
What humidity does a Desert Hairy scorpion need?
40–55% ambient. Keep the substrate bone dry and offer a full water dish; overflow it only if the species tolerates a damp corner.
What substrate is best for a Desert Hairy scorpion?
Packed play sand and topsoil (60/40), at a depth of 6–10 in for a stable burrow.
How big does a Desert Hairy scorpion enclosure need to be for a hatchling?
Spiderling / sling: 6" L × 4" W × 5" H recommended, minimum 4" L × 4" W × 4" H. Scale up to the adult footprint as the animal grows.
How much ventilation does a Desert Hairy scorpion enclosure need?
Well ventilated and dry; a damp arid enclosure causes mycosis.
Sources
Put this guide to work
Apply these targets to your own desert hairy scorpion record, then log feedings, sheds and weights against them.