Picky question regarding incubation material for incubator.

I am getting close to having my first clutch drop.

At least I have a glow, and have palpated, so I have had a few firsts.

My incubator has been running with less than 1 degree variance.

My question is, how do I get the substrate to the right temp?

When my eggs drop, do I put the material in the incubator first and let it warm up to the right temp, then put the eggs in?

I bought a bag of Hatch-Rite, so all I have to do is open the bag.

Thanks in advance,
Bruce

I have never really warmed up the incubation material, as when I make it, I just use warm water.

For your question, I don't really think it is that necessary unless you have the incubation material very very cold for some odd reason.

I've never had a problem with initial incubation material temps.

I used substrateless incubation last year, with 100% hatch rate with 3 clutches. I plan to do it again this year. It just seems idiot-proof :)

You take whatever size tub you're going to use, and cut the white plastic fluorescent light diffuser grating(found at Home Depot or Lowe's for $10 a sheet) to the same size as the inside. Then you mix up wetter than normal perlite mixture for under the grating(vermiculite is hard for me to get, so I used perlite, it keeps the water from sloshing around). The grating rests on top of the perlite, and the eggs go right on the grate. I just put all of this in the incubator until eggs arrived, and was good to go! :)

I did have a surprise clutch from my granite female(she was a rescue who was kept with a male her entire life), so I had to rush to get a tub set up. They all hatched fine too.

Bruce, just leave the bag of hatch rite in the incubator until eggs are laid, you then open the bag and deposit eggs on the medium which will then be at the same temp.

Don't sweat it, regius eggs are very tough :)

Thanks Becky.

I have been wondering about the specifics of that process. You always give such great posts. A-Z. Always appreciate it. :)

Marc.

I read that and have a complete *duh* moment. The simplest solution seems the hardest to see. :)

Bruce

No problem Bruce.

Oh and those moments are called "Harry Moments". You're all walking along, doing errands or whatever, and suddenly you're thinking "wait.. what was I doing.. Huh? OH! Right-O!" Do dee do dee do.. And along you go on your way. THAT'S a Harry Moment*.

*Harry moments are named after one of my rats who was aptly named after Harry and Lloyd(I had a Lloyd too, both were female), from the movie Dumb and Dumber. They were both the sweetest rats in the world, but were dumber than a box of hammers. ;)

And Bruce, if you need pictures of the substrateless, I have tons.

Good to see that my rats are not the only one named after (dim)film characters.

I have two rats Kirsten Dunst and Cyndee. They are both beautiful blonde selves. I call them "Blonde and Blonder". :)

I would welcome pics of the set-up.

Bruce

PS: