Egg Boxes

[Mitch21]

Is there any problem with using the smallest egg boxes that the eggs can comfortably fit into? Clearly you're not going to jam the eggs into a box that can't adequately hold them, but is there any benefit to using a large egg box?

My incubator can hold 2 6qt tubs or if I use smaller Glad type containers, I would be able to fit many clutches in the incubator.

Any thoughts on small egg tubs?

[WingedWolfPsion]

Well, it depends on whether you're using a substrate-less incubation method or not. If you are using a substrate (vermiculite or perlite), a larger box holds more substrate, and provides the eggs with more of a buffer in terms of moisture, and heat retention.

[dr del]

Hi,

The heat ballast would hold true even for the substrateless method as there is still a substrate most of the time it just is not in direct contact with the egg.

Also, while the eggs need for air is not a huge amount by mammalian standards, it does still exist so if the box was small there would be less oxygen available - if you used a good seal this would be especially true.

So I think it would be perfectly possible to go too small with the egg boxes.


dr del

[aarondm]

Hi,

The heat ballast would hold true even for the substrateless method as there is still a substrate most of the time it just is not in direct contact with the egg.

Also, while the eggs need for air is not a huge amount by mammalian standards, it does still exist so if the box was small there would be less oxygen available - if you used a good seal this would be especially true.

So I think it would be perfectly possible to go too small with the egg boxes.


dr del

So if he could find a way to get fresh air to the eggs and still maintain humidity he should be fine right??

[dr del]

Hi,

So if he could find a way to get fresh air to the eggs and still maintain humidity he should be fine right??

Well the way to get air to the eggs is to open the top and exchange the air inside the box - which obviously causes a brief fluctuation in the temperature.

With a substrateless setup the humidity should be fine as long as he has a good seal as you can have a wetter substrate than you can get away with if it actually touches the eggs.

I suspect the smaller the box space not full of egg or substrate the more micromanagement will be needed to try and keep things right - and I have no idea how you would measure the amount of oxygen V's CO2 in the surrounding air?

Looking at the posts from some of the bigger more experienced guys they seem to use fairly large boxes and do not really do much air exchange or anything until near the end of the eggs development - so the conditions inside the box would be really stable.

I seem to remember some sort of guide of leaving 50% of the substrate surface free?

And of course the other problem of deciding on small boxes is the clutch might be stuck together in an awkward way and not fit. If you do not get to the eggs early on they could be too well stuck together for you to safely seperate them and you are suddenly looking about in panic for an eggbox and incubator space.


dr del

[Mitch21]

Thanks for all the detailed input!

I suppose I'll just use 6qt egg boxes (I think that's what most use) and stay on the safe side. It's not a huge deal to upgrade the 'bator in a few years soo whatever.

Thanks though! :