No Substrate Incubation Questions

[casperca]

I tried searching for threads related to this but couldn't find any. I am planning on using no-substrate incubation and set up my incubator 2 days ago with 1 1/2 inches of pearlite and water in the egg boxes below the plastic grate. The condensation is terrible on all sides of the box. My question is: Should I poke a hole(s) in the tubs?

My incubator setup is a cooler with heat tape running across the bottom and up one side. Helix thermostat set to 89. Computer fan circulating air. If anyone can help me out I'd greatly appreciate it!

[lord jackel]

No don't poke holes...this method needs sealed boxes. What kind of tubs are you using? You will get the best results with egg boxes that are as air tight as possible. Condensation is caused by temp differences inside and outside the box so it should stabilize and the condensation will go away or be limited. Mine take a week or so to stabilize.

Hope this helps

[casperca]

I'm using sterllite 7 qt tubs. They have the little handles that flip over the two ends to lock the lid on.

So won't the temps un-stabilize when the incubator is opened once a week to check on the eggs?

I'm really starting to worry about this. I did the whole thing according to the article that Reptiles Mag wrote about it and it said it would only take a few days to even out. My snake is due on friday, I just don't want to screw this up! I'm just kicking myself for not doing a test run a few weeks ago. Any suggestions on how to speed up the process? (Wishful thinking, I know.)

[lord jackel]

They will unstablize but not much...you shouldn't be opening it the inc for that long. You can speed up the process by using warm water to start in the incubator...right now you are trying to warm the boxes to 87 (or whatever temp)...the closer the water is to this temp the less condensation you will have. Also make sure the fan isn't blowing on the boxes causing the side to cool down. Also, side condensation isn't an issue only the stuff on the lid (that could drip) needs to be worried about.

Hope this helps.

[casperca]

I used warm water to start it, but didn't check the temp with a thermometer. I have the boxes raised up on a riser (like used in freezers for extra shelving) and the fan is under that. Thanks for your help, I guess I'll just trust that it will eventually stabilize and hope she doesn't drop eggs early!

[casperca]

The thing that is really worrying me is the thermometer probe in the box says that it is up to temp. Condensation is all over the lid and dripping off.

[Tosha_Mc]

You can try stabilizing the temperature in the cooler by putting in some bottles of water - the more stuff you have in there holding the temperature (aside from your egg box) the better. And of course stop opening the lid.

[casperca]

Will the condensation just eventually drip down or will I have to wipe it off when I put the eggs in?

[lord jackel]

Will the condensation just eventually drip down or will I have to wipe it off when I put the eggs in?

I would wipe it off...any dripping on the eggs could ruin them.

[Subzero]

yuour prob opening the cooler every 5 seconds too. let it sit for 5 days, then open it to wipe the dew on the lidand close it again and check again in 5 days.