got a problem.

ok with all my clutches before i used a vermiculite and peralite mixture with light crate over it. i ran out of vermiculite and now i cant find any anywhere i have peralite. so is it ok to use just peralite with the crate over it? thanks.

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Originally Posted by dmaricle

ok with all my clutches before i used a vermiculite and peralite mixture with light crate over it. i ran out of vermiculite and now i cant find any anywhere i have peralite. so is it ok to use just peralite with the crate over it? thanks.

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I have only used perlite and the light crate with all of my clutches in the past with no problems.

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Originally Posted by Jerhart

I have only used perlite and the light crate with all of my clutches in the past with no problems.

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does it hold water as well as the miture. do you have to add much water during incubation?

Check out www.uline.com for more vermiculite.

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Originally Posted by dmaricle

does it hold water as well as the miture. do you have to add much water during incubation?

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I add enough water so that the perlite can be balled up like a snowball. :)

I put the perlite into a rubbermaid tub. Then the light crate, then eggs. I seal the tub with press 'n seal and I dont mess with them for the first month. I then will usually let the eggs breath after the first month, check the moisture level (which is fine 90% of the time) and then I put the press n' seal back on for a couple of more weeks until the eggs pip or I cut.



Hopes this helps! :)

It doesn't matter what substrate you use. You could use cypress mulch. Doesn't matter whatsoever.

With substrateless you want the perlite to be wet enough to where water pools but not to where the perlite floats. It needs to be firm enough to hold up the grating. Sloshy is perfectly fine since the eggs aren't touching the substrate. Some people, especially chondro people, use just water underneath the grate and hold it up with pieces of PVC.

I've used perlite(even the miracle grow kind, haha) and perlite/vermic mix. The vermiculite was too expensive here in my town to want to buy it again so I just get the perlite.

I'm using only perlite this season substrateless. It is working great so far. Becky is right on. Doesn't matter how much water you use really. Enough to keep that humidity up. I am using press n seal also with it.

Yes perlite is perfectly fine. I recommend Hatch rite for smaller clutch seasons. I used it and never had to add any water entire incubation and hatched all 5.

Its pricy but worth it in long run.

I'm using straight Perlite without the grate, and have a clutch due to hatch in about a week to ten days from now. I've had no issues, I just mixed it so that it was slightly moist to the touch, put Press & Seal on and popped the lid on.

Bought 4 cubic feet of it from a local nursery after seeing that this is how Albey incubates when I visited him. Figured if it works for him, there's no reason I can't use the same method. I have the lighting grate (stored in a closet), and haven't had to use it.