substrate or substrateless incubation?

I use perllite as a base, then use vermiculite to bed the eggs. the perlite keeps the water and keeps humditiy level up without soaking the eggs in vermiculite. Just damp vermiculite over the perlite and I've never had any issues with mold.

*****Remember to make sure you do not buy the vermiculite with fertillizer.

Jim Smith

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Originally Posted by cerastesruber

im a little weary of using hatchite because i have heard it dries your eggs out if it loses moisture.

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But it shouldn't lose any moisture if your egg boxes are set up right. If it does for some reason dry out, I would think it would act like any other substrate that is in contact with the eggs.

I used hatchrite last season but my tubs had air leaks and the stuff dried out in 3 weeks.
I added water every 3-4 days :O and it was no problem.
My eggs turned out perfect as did the yb babies.
This year I'll be using press n seal and hatchrite.

Even though my incubator will only hold 3 clutches I bought a giant sheet of the light diffuser and cut it up for future use. I am trying the substrateless method this year. Boxes are already made and ready to go. The perlite/vermiculite is soaked and I don't have to worry if its too wet, makes the process A little less stressful, imo.

I do use substrate, I also use the square grid and the substrate is very wet. reason for the substrate is so I don't splash the eggs when I pull an egg container from the incubator.