What does everyone use for incubation material?

Just wondering what everyone uses for an incubation material. I can't decide what to use for my first season. What has worked for everyone, what hasn't worked.

While looking around I found this on big apple herp.
http://www.bigappleherp.com/Big-Appl...=2&category=28

All help is welcome!

I use Calcined Clay ( Superhatch). There is a great write up on incubation mediums, what they are, how they function, pros and cons if you Google: Repashy Superhatch<br />
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I have tried vermiculite, perilite, coco coir, mixes, SIM, and Calcined Clay. They all have pros and cons but IMO the Calcined Clay has less cons. The only con that I have found with it is that it is heavy, but that is also a pro to me because of thermal mass:)<br />
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I highly reccomend anyone who incubates reptile eggs to read that write- up! If anyone has any questions I'm glad to help.

I use this type of incubation

http://stewartreptiles.com/wordpress...breeding02.jpg

so the medium is really not important it happens to be vermiculite because I have a hard time finding perlite locally.

If you are looking into getting vermiculite shop around usually the best price will be at your local feed store.

Awesome! What kind of containers do you guys use? I'm having a hard time finding any that are the right size.

I use vermiculite...it's cheap and easy to use. Easily found at garden stores...not the Home Depot/Lowe's variety, if they have it, it usually has additives.

I use 6 quart shoe box containers.

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Originally Posted by RideRed12

Awesome! What kind of containers do you guys use? I'm having a hard time finding any that are the right size.

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I use 7 quarts tubs like those http://www.walmart.com/ip/Sterilite-...of-14/15524838 for clutches up to 8 eggs and 15 quarts http://www.walmart.com/ip/Sterilite-...of-10/15528562 for larger clutches.

The tubs I usd are the same high therefore I can put the 15 quarts sideways in the incubator so it takes the place of two 7 quarts tubs ;).

I mostly use the 7 quarts one.

We use the same tubs as Deb, 7qt sterilite and 15qt sterilte locking lid tubs because they hold humidity better than $1 cheapo tubs.
Perlite and water only under a light diffuser piece.
http://i968.photobucket.com/albums/a...lutchpics2.jpg

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Originally Posted by RideRed12

Awesome! What kind of containers do you guys use? I'm having a hard time finding any that are the right size.

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I use giant deli tubs. I think there 190oz.

I use vermiculite but I'm tossing some diffuser on top this year to give substrateless a go.

SIM stands for Suspension Incubation Method.
If you are using substrate in your boxes then it is not Substrate-less :) lol

I use straight Perlite with no diffuser in six quart shoebox tubs.

I use straight vermiculite with no diffuser. Dont have anything against diffusers im just a if it aint broke dont fix it guy. Ive used vermiculite for 15 years and it works. Diffusers work fine. I know plenty of people who use em. Nothin wrong em.

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Originally Posted by rabernet

I use straight Perlite with no diffuser in six quart shoebox tubs.

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Hey just wondering, does a 6 qt tub fit a large ball python clutch of say 8-10 eggs?

And is the "diffuser" that plastic thing Deb has on top of her vermiculite?

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Originally Posted by AGoldReptiles

SIM stands for Suspension Incubation Method.
If you are using substrate in your boxes then it is not Substrate-less :) lol

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I thought that was just what those cheesy little prefab incubation containers were dubbed. I got no problem calling it substrateless if my eggs aren't nestled in a substrate.

I use hatchrite with a substrateless method using light diffuser grate and a sheet of plastic cross-stitch canvas (from a craft store cut to fit) under that to prevent sinking.

Like so..

http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l2...s/IMG_4894.jpg

http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l2...s/IMG_0692.jpg




----> Signature <----
*Factoid: "There are no such things as Hogg Island or Columbian boas"

I use the same locking boxes but I put two diffusers on top of each other and just straight water underneath. No worries about the humidity or the babies drinking "bad" water off substrate.... :)
We are not a huge breeder, just 3-4 clutches a year but this works great for us!

I use vermiculite if I'm not using diffuser and a vermiculite/perlite mix with the diffuser. I found the diffuser would sink into the straight vermiculite and the eggs would get wet on the bottom but mixing in perlite would give the substrate some body to stop the diffuser from sinking.

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Originally Posted by mattchibi

Hey just wondering, does a 6 qt tub fit a large ball python clutch of say 8-10 eggs?

And is the "diffuser" that plastic thing Deb has on top of her vermiculite?

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It has so far - but if it didn't, I'd just split the clutch into a couple tubs, or just use a bigger tub for that clutch.

Yes, the diffuser is what Deborah has on top of her vermiculite.

If the vermiculite is mixed properly eggs wont aink nor will a difuser sink.

I used to use vermiculite and half bury the eggs, then I used a vermiculite/perlite mix, now I'm using just perlite with a light diffuser cut to fit the inside of the box. The eggs always hatched just fine no matter what I've used, but this way the babies come out cleaner and don't have stuff stuck all over them.