Incubation experiment

Are these things possibly just the same material as cricket water polymer crystals?

And wouldn't cricket water gel work the same way?

However, if you're going to do that, why not just go substrateless and use actual water? I guess if you used the gel, you'd eliminate the risk of sloshing.

The polymer crystals are pretty cheap. 1 oz makes a gallon of the stuff, and costs under $5.

Theoretically could be re-used after it dries out, too.

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Originally Posted by jsmorphs2

Seems to me that the way they work would draw moisture away from the eggs and do the opposite of what you'd want them to do.

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They only draw in moisture when in direct contact with it (actually sitting in water)
When not in water they slowly loose moisture through evaporation depending on the temperature/dryness of the air would speed that up,they don't really pull moisture directly out of the air, least not to noticeable degree.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by WingedWolfPsion

Are these things possibly just the same material as cricket water polymer crystals?

And wouldn't cricket water gel work the same way?

However, if you're going to do that, why not just go substrateless and use actual water? I guess if you used the gel, you'd eliminate the risk of sloshing.

The polymer crystals are pretty cheap. 1 oz makes a gallon of the stuff, and costs under $5.

Theoretically could be re-used after it dries out, too.

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I don't think polymer crystals form perfect beads like these 'spitballs' but thats the one one reason why I'm trying these out.Say some eggs hatch over these and some of the goo gets down in them, their perfect spherical shape makes them easy to just rise the whole batch, polymer crystals are uneven ,sometimes granular and I don't think they are as tough as these spheres.
I'm trying to see if I can get something that's not as messy as vermiculite/hatchrite or the other actual granular mediums and far more simple, as well as possibly infinitely reusable.Plus right now I only have 1 clutch and I don't think you can buy 1oz of polymer crystals, I keep seeing 1-5lb bags :P

I'll still be using a traditional medium for most of my clutch, but maybe one or two eggs will be put in a seperate tub over these spheres.

Its the Same thing as Water crystals i give my Dubia Roaches, Crickets. You would have to test it out but in a Air tight container it might be too moist causign condensation.

You can get the crystals from reptile basics cheap. One ounce makes a gallon of water and as long as the lid is air tight the water wont leave.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kyote19

They only draw in moisture when in direct contact with it (actually sitting in water)
When not in water they slowly loose moisture through evaporation depending on the temperature/dryness of the air would speed that up,they don't really pull moisture directly out of the air, least not to noticeable degree.






I don't think polymer crystals form perfect beads like these 'spitballs' but thats the one one reason why I'm trying these out.Say some eggs hatch over these and some of the goo gets down in them, their perfect spherical shape makes them easy to just rise the whole batch, polymer crystals are uneven ,sometimes granular and I don't think they are as tough as these spheres.
I'm trying to see if I can get something that's not as messy as vermiculite/hatchrite or the other actual granular mediums and far more simple, as well as possibly infinitely reusable.Plus right now I only have 1 clutch and I don't think you can buy 1oz of polymer crystals, I keep seeing 1-5lb bags :P

I'll still be using a traditional medium for most of my clutch, but maybe one or two eggs will be put in a seperate tub over these spheres.

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Calcined Clay ( Superhatch) does all of the things your wanting and more. It is very clean, can be cleaned (boiled), is simple to set up, and you can see how hydrated it is visually(changes color). Repashy has a good resource page on incubation mediums on there site. I hope this helps.

I have a 1 ounce packet I've been using for months, I got it on Ebay.
I see what you're saying about the round shape, but i would think if you just put them all in a strainer, you could rinse the crystals, too.
It's what they did when the person in the video smashed them that makes me think they're the same substance.

I don't think they would cause any more condensation than plain water. ;)

They probably are made out of the same thing as the crystals, I don't really doubt that I just thought the orbs were somehow stronger but they both do seem toe do the same thing. I was thinking over-condensation might happen but so far I've only gotten humidity up to 75-80 with unregulated temps.

I do have some medium thats like hatchrite or something, its from NSreptiles so I'm not really needing to buy anymore egg hatching mediums this year with only one clutch expected. I'm more in need of a decent digital thermometer/hydrometer that people use for the incubator, cause right now I'm just using one of those analog hydrometers from ZooMed:rolleyes: and a regular glass thermometer from a old hovabator.