How do you incubate yours?

There is a lot of reading material regarding incubation methods.

a lot of people do the raised above the vermiculite thing where the eggs are on egg crate, but does anyone incubate with their eggs directly in the vermiculite any more?

What are the pros and cons of the 2 please?

My frst eggs are due on 9th April or thereabouts and I am having serious nervous wobbles about the best way to incubate :(

Thanks xx

The more things I can fool-proof for myself the better. Egg crate does that - you don't have to worry about getting the substrate too wet to mold your eggs while keeping humidity where it needs to be for the entire incubation period.

Yes, there are those that still place eggs directly in the substrate, but those are usually the folks who've been doing it that way for awhile with good results.

Been doing this ever since I started, never felt compelled to change a thing.

http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/a...Incubation.jpg

Put them in get them out 60 days later does not get simpler than that.

Pros: the eggs never get too wet, and never dry out (pretty much fool proof regardless of your experience), and no worry bout mixing anything.

Con: None

Thanks Eric, Deb :D

I have my egg crate etc all cut to size and in my tub inside the incubator. Temps and humidity are holding but have gone on a bit of a reading fest this last few days. I am a nervous wreck which I guess is normal for a first timer lol

The more I read, the more I am doubting myself and my ability to do this. I have successfully bred various gecko species in he past so shouldbe well versed in incubation methods and mediums by now but there is always going to be that touch of self doubt with the first time breeding a species.

Just the one pairing for me and it's quite an important one for me because i have always dreamt of owning a BEL so hope and pray to the odds Gods that this lesser x purple passion will give me at least 1 out of the egg xx

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Originally Posted by embrit345

Thanks Eric, Deb :D

I have my egg crate etc all cut to size and in my tub inside the incubator. Temps and humidity are holding but have gone on a bit of a reading fest this last few days. I am a nervous wreck which I guess is normal for a first timer lol

The more I read, the more I am doubting myself and my ability to do this. I have successfully bred various gecko species in he past so shouldbe well versed in incubation methods and mediums by now but there is always going to be that touch of self doubt with the first time breeding a species.

Just the one pairing for me and it's quite an important one for me because i have always dreamt of owning a BEL so hope and pray to the odds Gods that this lesser x purple passion will give me at least 1 out of the egg xx

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We have all been there especially for the first ones, it gets better after a while you just don't think about it anymore, once you have your method down, just just do your thing put your eggs in and forget about them well except Eric he can't help but staring thinking they'll come out sooner. ;)

I also use the light diffuser over my substrate to help fool proof. Haven't had an issue or reason to try changing it up.

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Originally Posted by Deborah

We have all been there especially for the first ones, it gets better after a while you just don't think about it anymore, once you have your method down, just just do your thing put your eggs in and forget about them well except Eric he can't help but staring thinking they'll come out sooner. ;)

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Oh honestly Deb, I have my vivs and a small rack system in my living room and I must have my face in them all at least 10 times a day lol I will struggle so hard to refrain from peeking although I do have a clear sided incubator so that i can see directly into the tubs during incubation hahaha

I think egg watching will be my new full time job xxx

I do the light diffuser thing with 2 stacked on top of each other with no "substrate", just water. I used to use vermiculite under the diffuser but got lazy one day and stopped. Just the water works fine but you have to be careful if you have to move the tub so the eggs don't get wet.

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Originally Posted by Deborah

...well except Eric he can't help but staring thinking they'll come out sooner. ;)

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:8: I can't even be mad about that. This is me with literally every clutch. That reminds me - that chair got thrown out after the last clutch of last season. I need a new incubator chair!
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...%2Foiv7ukI.jpg

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Originally Posted by JodanOrNoDan

I do the light diffuser thing with 2 stacked on top of each other with no "substrate", just water.

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I've only hatched one clutch but this is the same thing I did. I tried using substrate at first and I couldn't get the humidity high enough. Also the substrate got a little messy...

Ill be doing this again this year


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I think I'm way too nervous about accidentally splashing the water, so I'm going to try it with the vermiculite first and see how it goes.

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Originally Posted by Eric Alan

:8: I can't even be mad about that. This is me with literally every clutch. That reminds me - that chair got thrown out after the last clutch of last season. I need a new incubator chair!
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...%2Foiv7ukI.jpg

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Should get a recliner and side fridge for the beer :rolleyes:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Deborah

Been doing this ever since I started, never felt compelled to change a thing.

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...Incubation.jpg

Put them in get them out 60 days later does not get simpler than that.

Pros: the eggs never get too wet, and never dry out (pretty much fool proof regardless of your experience), and no worry bout mixing anything.

Con: None

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I'm not sure I could ever find a straight answer to this, but is it okay to leave some eggs stuck together like this for the full 60 days?

From what I understand, as long as you can see whats going on with the eggs and they all fit in the tub, most people will opt not to separate them at all. some still worry about spreading if an egg goes bad though. I think it's a persoanl preference and finding what works for you thing.

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Originally Posted by redshepherd

I'm not sure I could ever find a straight answer to this, but is it okay to leave some eggs stuck together like this for the full 60 days?

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I always keep them together when they are stuck those happened to be freshly laid and so when I picked them up they were not attached to each other.


When they are stuck I leave them be and even if an egg or 2 go bad it will not affect the healthy ones like this (I usually don't take pictures off eggs later during incubation but those were at 55 days and I wanted to show that bad eggs did not affect healthy ones.)



http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/a...ggsGoneBad.jpg

Deb at what point would a bad egg become a concern? Xx


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Originally Posted by embrit345

Deb at what point would a bad egg become a concern? Xx


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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They don't except for the smell especially if the baby developed to a certain stage and than died the stench can be pretty bad, those I posted above had weak veins from the start so I was pretty sure they would not go full term they started molding 3 days later, not much of a smell to them even at 55 days.

Eric if you stay chairless you can get a good butt and leg workout in every day!

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j2...901_110232.jpg

I've seen people use sponges under those egg crates to keep the water from splashing on the eggs.

I'm coming up on my first clutch of eggs, I decided to go with this stuff. It has really good reviews on Amazon.com. Here's the description:

Pangea Hatch is a premium grade Clay Incubation Medium for reptile eggs. Pangea Hatch is highly porous and holds many times it's weight in water. It does not break down, does not compact, or float and It's color changes based on it's moisture level so you can easily monitor it and add water as necessary. It can be re used indefinitely by cooking or boiling to sterilize. An inert, neutral 100% natural mineral blend, this product lasts year after year without breaking down. Each particle contains thousands of internal and external pore spaces.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1


https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...UKLo%252BL.jpg

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Originally Posted by cchardwick

I've seen people use sponges under those egg crates to keep the water from splashing on the eggs.

I'm coming up on my first clutch of eggs, I decided to go with this stuff. It has really good reviews on Amazon.com. Here's the description:

Pangea Hatch is a premium grade Clay Incubation Medium for reptile eggs. Pangea Hatch is highly porous and holds many times it's weight in water. It does not break down, does not compact, or float and It's color changes based on it's moisture level so you can easily monitor it and add water as necessary. It can be re used indefinitely by cooking or boiling to sterilize. An inert, neutral 100% natural mineral blend, this product lasts year after year without breaking down. Each particle contains thousands of internal and external pore spaces.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1


https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...UKLo%252BL.jpg

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Great for geckos, because the temps are not as high when you incubate, but be warned for snakes not so much you need to add water back because it will dry out faster do to the higher temps, I know a few people that have uses it and their complaint was was that is was drying out. The goal is to put your eggs in the incubator and forget about them not having to check and add water if needed.

High price incubation medium when straight perlite is really cheap , can be re-used as well (also I just dump it in my garden) and can be pickup from your local nursery.

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Originally Posted by HannahLou

Eric if you stay chairless you can get a good butt and leg workout in every day!

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You know, that just might do it!
On an unrelated note, I want to know what the conversation was like in the moments before this picture was taken between you and whoever took that picture! :weirdface

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Originally Posted by Eric Alan

You know, that just might do it!
On an unrelated note, I want to know what the conversation was like in the moments before this picture was taken between you and whoever took that picture! :weirdface

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It was just my husband sitting on the couch teasing me as usual about constantly checking if anyone had pipped yet.

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Originally Posted by HannahLou

It was just my husband sitting on the couch teasing me as usual about constantly checking if anyone had pipped yet.

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So much of a let down. I empathize with the teasing (my wife is the same way), but I was hoping for a better story. Here I am thinking, "Hey - can you get a pic of my backside bent over starring into this wine fridge for my snake friends on the internet? Trust me - they'll love it! What? How is that weird? Just take the picture, will you!"