dummy guide to egg tub substrate

As MANY of you know, this is my first year breeding. Can someone point me to or provide a step by step ingredients / procedure to what I want to get how to set up and how to use substrate??


This is what I know:

* I already have my incubator set up and ready to go.
* My egg crates are iris tubs. I can't remember how many quarts they are to save my life, but 8 of them fit in my 120 quart cooler incubator.
* I want to use substrate that I can get at my local hardware store


I am totally paranoid about screwing up my unborn children!!! Please point to or provide very specific directions on how much substrate to use, what substrate to use, how much water to add, and how to set up egg tub. Please also include very specific directions as far as pre heating before putting the eggs in.

Thanks guys. Can you tell that I am going to be a basket case once eggs arive???!!!

hatchrite or vermiculite are probably the most used.

substrateless method is the easiest and hardest to screw up IMO.

Use ~2 inches of perilite/water mix (should drip somewhat when squeezed aka slushy)

Then put down light diffuser/egg crate on top.

Cover with press and seal saran wrap and put the lid on.

Presto :)

YouTube - 2008 clutch # 1 - part 2

This is what I first read when I was getting into breeding
http://joecompelreptiles.com/ball_bi...lite/index.asp

There is a sticky at the top of this forum by the Wonginator called "how to set up an egg tub". As to preheating, I usually stick my ready-to-go tub into the 'bator a day or 2 before I expect the lay.

My best advice - For substrate mix. You are better erring on the slightly too dry side than on the too wet side. You can 'fix' a dry egg fairly easily, wet eggs become the battle of the mold.

Good Luck, buddy.

Cheers,
Kat

What do you guys think about that Hatch-Rite substrate? Is it the same stuff you can make yourself with vermiculite/perlite, or are there other ingredients that warrant the extra cost?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jpman78

substrateless method is the easiest and hardest to screw up IMO.

Use ~2 inches of perilite/water mix (should drip somewhat when squeezed aka slushy)

Then put down light diffuser/egg crate on top.

Cover with press and seal saran wrap and put the lid on.

Presto :)

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I agree. Except I don't make substrateless boxes airtight with press and seal since there is more than enough water in there that if some evaporates, it won't get too dry.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by PythonWallace

I agree. Except I don't make substrateless boxes airtight with press and seal since there is more than enough water in there that if some evaporates, it won't get too dry.

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i do because some lids tend to drop down in the middle and tends to drip water on the eggs.

You can tilt your box to one side so the water will just flow and will not drip on your eggs....