substrate or substrateless incubation?

Just wondering which technique is used more?
i figure that using substrate is more common but just curious.

eggs in substrate (vermiculite, Hatchrite, etc.)

or above the substrate on a grate?

thanks!

i use vermiculite but now i am putting the light grids over substrate to try and avoid possible fungus growth...Done both with and without grid and results should't change..

yea, ive only used vermiculite with the eggs in it, but thinkin maybe ill try with the gird this year

I've used Hatchrite the last couple years and like it. Probably not very cost effective if you have lots of clutches though...

I have used Hatchrite, and love it. You just pour in, add eggs, put in bator, and hatch all perfect eggs. No mixing, no hygrometer, no worries. I have never had any issues with fungus, except for eggs that have gone bad / slugs. I simply remove them, since I separate my eggs before I put them in the bator. I normally find two pound bags for between eight and ten dollars. I use about two-thirds of the bag for each clutch. IMO, well worth the money.

Hatchrite's the way to go

thanks guys, seems like youve all used hatchrite with good results.
im a little weary of using hatchite because i have heard it dries your eggs out if it loses moisture.That it sucks the moisture from the eggs to make up for it, and kills them?

Have any of you heard of that?

Substraless here, no headache when it comes to mixing and no worry that the eggs will be to wet, also very cost effective.

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p...8Clutch_03.jpg

I buy huge bags of vermiculite from the local nusery. Very cheap and never had a problem. Just wet it enough so it doesnt drip water when you squeeze it in your hand, damp not wet;). Once you get the feel for it its a no brainer.

My paranoia with substrateless is eggs may roll around more than my nerves could handle:O

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Originally Posted by West Coast Jungle

I buy huge bags of vermiculite from the local nusery. Very cheap and never had a problem. Just wet it enough so it doesnt drip water when you squeeze it in your hand, damp not wet;). Once you get the feel for it its a no brainer.

My paranoia with substrateless is eggs may roll around more than my nerves could handle:O

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You do have to watch the rolling the first 30 days Raul. :gj:

I use medium-course perlite for my 6 qrt. substrateless. I don't breathe boxes at all until I take the Press N Seal off at 45 days -- don't have to sweat the rolling because I am not moving boxes!!!! :D

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

Quote:

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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.