Egg Substrate Preferences - Whats yours?

I know there quite a few different substrates and methods that each of us use, and it seems some breeders are constantly finding new methods. So I was just wondering what are yours? For the breeders who have used various substrates, which one works better in your opinion?

For me, I wanted to use vermiculite for some clutches and hatchrite for others just to see which is better.

This

http://stewartreptiles.com/wordpress...breeding02.jpg

No headache when it comes to mixing, no worry about the substrate being too wet, just my favorite way to incubate. :gj:

If you use substratless like above it dont matter what you use as long as it holds humidity well.

I do EXACTLY as Deborah did above. Works perfectly.

Hatchrite is fine if you only have a few clutches, but its $$$ and vermiculite or perlite work just as well.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RichsBallPythons

If you use substratless like above it dont matter what you use as long as it holds humidity well.

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Actually, you'd want something that will 'release' moisture well. Perlite is hard and won't compact down so you get more actual surface area then you will with vermiculite which will clump together. Greater surface area will give you a higher evaporation rate which equals higher humidity. Though in actual practice it probably doesn't make that big of a difference.

Personally I go straight old school....eggs in vermiculite.

I like perlite, but I don't know what I'm going to use for balls yet.

I used Hatch Rite :P

Perlite mixed with a 1:1 ratio with filtered water, with a thin dry layer of perlite right where the eggs sit. I've never lost an egg, whether it be pythons or colubrids. I do intend to try the 'substrateless' method next year though.

Vermiculite. Holds humidly great, and just feels a little more substantially compared to perlite.