How to set up an egg tub

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by sho220

What's the purpose of the cling wrap?

---

To make sure that you maintain the humidity and all as well as the water not all evaporating and going bone dry.

never tried to breed my bp's but thinking of it ..have ?wouldn't just putting flex watt under tub to heat it remove need for incubator?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by yukon

never tried to breed my bp's but thinking of it ..have ?wouldn't just putting flex watt under tub to heat it remove need for incubator?

---

No, that would just leave room for way too many variables in the tub itself.

You could do it, but it would be a possible problem with keeping the temps even and stable.

Thanks! So, should I go with these plans? http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?t=71770 :gj:

And how early should I set it up? Not until she is ready to blow, or sooner?

Oh... I just skimmed that egg tub thread, and it's for putting inside an incubator. :D Do you know of any good links for making my own?

what about air for the hatchling?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by merdcme

what about air for the hatchling?

---

After they hatch and you want to leave them in the incubator, you can take off the press and seal to allow for air flow.

I personally immediately take them out when they hatch and sex them and put them in individual tubs.

Quick question - I've noticed on all the YouTube videos I've watched that when people use a grate, they usually lay the eggs out one by one because they've caught them early enough. If you catch your eggs after they've all stuck together, is the grate still an OK idea?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by AcePythons

Quick question - I've noticed on all the YouTube videos I've watched that when people use a grate, they usually lay the eggs out one by one because they've caught them early enough. If you catch your eggs after they've all stuck together, is the grate still an OK idea?

---

As I don't use the grate method, I would not be comfortable in answering this question, but I would assume it would be fine as long as the ambient temps are still 89-90 degrees and the humidity is fixed.

the info , i've been lookin for... thanks!!!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by frankykeno

It helps keep the humidity in with the eggs without a lot of condensation dripping down on them. We air our eggs by removing the lid and lifting a corner of the cling wrap about every 3 to 5 days. Once they hit day 45 we remove the cling wrap all together and just pop the lid every day for a few seconds to air them (you'll see a lot more condensation developing at this point as they approach their hatching date).

---

This is critical. BG knows many rookies that have suffocated their snakes by not giving them air later in incubation. It's one reason BG likes to keep a couple small holes in his boxes. As long as there is not too much air circulation in your incubator, they won't dry out too fast with a couple small holes. BG recommends this(small holes) for people that are very busy and may forget to give their eggs air.:gj: Just make sure they don't dry out. That's almost as bad.

my country has an average temp all round of 82-88 degree and humidity of 85%. im thinkin of juz using a heat pad below my egg tub to heat it to a constant temp of 88-90 degree becos in my country weather i m confident of maintaining the temp.. so do i still need a incubator?:confused:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by qinw

my country has an average temp all round of 82-88 degree and humidity of 85%. im thinkin of juz using a heat pad below my egg tub to heat it to a constant temp of 88-90 degree becos in my country weather i m confident of maintaining the temp.. so do i still need a incubator?:confused:

---

Yes, 6 degree swing in temps is too much IMO

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by snakesRkewl

Yes, 6 degree swing in temps is too much IMO

---

but.. isnt an incubator is the same as a heated egg tub? when it can stay a constant temp n high humidity in the egg box..

i can use a spare room n maintain the temp at 84-85 constant.. n heat the egg tub to 88-90.. so is juz like a big walk-in incubator..

sorry but if i really wan to get an incubator.. can i get this?

http://www.asby.com.sg/mini.pdf

is the cheapest in my country.

All good posts thank u's :banana:

wait.. you dont need holes in the box?

I agree to have a couple small holes in the tub for air freshness, etc. The developing snakes need air/oxygen.

QUOTE=Big Gunns;1300411]This is critical. BG knows many rookies that have suffocated their snakes by not giving them air later in incubation. It's one reason BG likes to keep a couple small holes in his boxes. As long as there is not too much air circulation in your incubator, they won't dry out too fast with a couple small holes. BG recommends this(small holes) for people that are very busy and may forget to give their eggs air.:gj: Just make sure they don't dry out. That's almost as bad.[/QUOTE]

what if they do dry out? what would you do then? Do you mist the eggs? or the vermiculite?

Don't mist the eggs, just pour a little water into the vermiculite mixture.

I do have a couple small holes in my incubator tubs, but GOOD LORD, did I just quote BG. When he sees that his head will be as big as a basket ball. LOL

Edit:
I just wanted to add that I think we all do this a little different. Nothing is written in stone. I will say that I observe my incubator, it's temps, it's humidity, etc just as much as I monitor my snakes.

Is press and seal the same as wax paper? :-)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by muzikfreakah

Is press and seal the same as wax paper? :-)

---

Nope.. Wax paper will not stick or seal.

Any substitute for that? Don't think we have that here in the Philippines :(

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by muzikfreakah

Any substitute for that? Don't think we have that here in the Philippines :(

---

You can do a pane of glass or something (plastic wrap?). Anything to keep the seal completely closed.

Got it, we do have plastic "seran" wrap, thanks :)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

How bad is a perlite with fertilizer in it? I was thinking of doing a 1/2 hatchrite 1/2 perlite with the perlite on the bottom, but does the fertilizer part really matter then? Does this set up sound like a good idea?

Fertilizer will contaminate the eggs and possibly kill them.

Well I'm definitly not using that then!

2011 was my first season breeding and after lots of questions, videos and forums I used the following method:

Tub was dependent upon clutch size, I used a 6 qt. for my 4 egg clutch and 15 qt. for my 12, 8 and 10 egg clutches. I cut the plastic egg crate to fit the bottom of the box. I used vermiculite only, mine was sealed and dry as a bone. I used equal parts vermiculite and water (by weight) mixed thoroughly. Being my first time, a went by weight as opposed to feel. I placed the egg crate on top of the mix and laid the eggs on the crate without separating the eggs until later on the incubation process. Honestly, I was just to nervous to separate them until after they had sweated quite a bit. I put the lid on the box. I didn't drill holes or use any cling wrap. I labeled the box, placed the box in the incubator, marked the calender and that was basically it. I looked in on them every 3-4 days, opened the lid for a little air. I separated the eggs probably around 44-45 days. I had 34 eggs, all pipped between 51-52 days. They were out by 53-54 with only one poor little guy that had some deformity and died. I also prepared the boxes and had them in the incubator for 1-2 days before I expected eggs to by laid. Hope this helps, good luck everyone.

I read the entire thread, thank you for the write up! Could somebody pm me where you buy your vermiculite/perlite online? There aren't any local shows that I will be attending, and I will be needing this very soon.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by adamsky27

I read the entire thread, thank you for the write up! Could somebody pm me where you buy your vermiculite/perlite online? There aren't any local shows that I will be attending, and I will be needing this very soon.

---

I searched around and found that most get this locally at places like Lowes.

Thanks again for the write-up!

Great Thread :D

Im new to this site and this is my 1st post

Im planning on Breeding my BP's end of this year and this Thread has Helped LOADS :gj:

Thanks all :cool:

Awesome! I didnt know if what materials I would need. Its seems really simple. Thank you!

Great write up and very helpful comments. I plan on breeding next season as well and this really helped clear up a lot of questions!

-Jeremy

great thread but do you put any holes in the tub???

this is just superb! :)

quick question: do you put airholes in the container?

Press & seal cuts down on condensation on the lid right?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BAIIPYTHON

Press & seal cuts down on condensation on the lid right?

---

No, the press n seal is going to get condensation on it, it's too keep the humidity in.

Sent from microwave using Tapatalk 2

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Coleslaw007

No, the press n seal is going to get condensation on it, it's too keep the humidity in.

Sent from microwave using Tapatalk 2

---

Ok. So if I'm not using and have enough humidity don't bother using it. Right?

I personally would use it. My first clutch I didn't use it at first and my eggs started to dimple. Started using it and they plumped back up. I used the substrateless incubation method, which I feel more comfortable with, but I think it should be about the same either way.

Sent from microwave using Tapatalk 2

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Coleslaw007

I personally would use it. My first clutch I didn't use it at first and my eggs started to dimple. Started using it and they plumped back up. I used the substrateless incubation method, which I feel more comfortable with, but I think it should be about the same either way.

Sent from microwave using Tapatalk 2

---

Well I just put the eggs in the incubator yesterday. Is it safe to take the egg box out and put it on now?

I have air wholes around the egg tub to keep the humidity perfect. Would these wholes be causing more condensation?

I took the lid off and noticed condensation already building to the point it ran off when I turned the lid. I put a paper towel across the tub then put the lid back on. So any water dropping will hit the paper towel instead of the eggs.

Your thoughts????

Also I figured try this vs press and seal cause this way will collect any water dripping. Press and seal with still allow water to drip.

Adding the paper towel took care of the condensation building up on the lid & dripping. My question is does anyone else do this?

home depot thermo rock, med grade. 500g X 500g of water and your done!

Very nice writeup. I still need to find some tubs but I have to wait for the incubator.

Can i use heat mats inside a refrigerator with a thermostat to hatch my ball python eggs??
This will be my first time to hatch ball python eggs...

Sure - I don't see why not. Most folks use 12" Flexwatt connected to a good T-stat, but I'd imagine if you can get the heat pad to keep the temp constant, it would work fine.
Whatever you do, don't put the egg box directly on top of the heat pad. Just use the pad to get the internal ambient temp up to 89 degrees.

Is there any hole on the top?

I understand you don't want water dripping on the eggs I assume to keep mold from growing on the eggs. But it seems to me there wouls be a lot of condensation on the lid in a sealed container and you are bound to get some water drops on the eggs ,if that happens what do you do ? Im guessing just use a paper towel and gentle soak up the water droplet but im not sure.

If you are getting a lot of moisture sitting the tub at a slight angle can make it drain harmlessly down a wall.