Never again will I use Hatchrite

I've had nothing but problems with this stuff.
I checked on the eggs today and as soon as I popped off the top, I saw this. It's day 45 now for these. The eggs look the same today as they did on day 30 except now they are browning. I will be really ticked if they don't make it after all the headaches I have had with trying to keep up the humidity with this substrate.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v440/SPJ01/011.jpg

WOW im sorry man i wish you the best of luck with those :please:

And to think...I just got back from PetSmart where I asked for Hatchrite..and they had no idea what it was nor did they have it....so, i'm about to mix up the Perlite.

Wow, I have actually heard alot of great things about the hatchrite and actually have some here to use for the gecko and Ball Pythons, although I haven't used it for myself.....yet, I have heard good things. How often did you open the top of the incubation container? Also, the only bad things I heard about the stuff was the exact opposite, too much humidity. :confused::weirdface

Have you added in water throughout incubation? I only ask because, I use a mix of perlite/vermiculite. Last year, towards the end, I did have to add in some warm water. I put it into the corner of the tubs so that the water never hit the eggs, but it did Up the humidity. Maybe this is needed? This is something that I just expect when incubating; I don't think that there's a substrate out there that never requires some adjusting. Sorry that you're having dryness though.. I know that incubating is a harrowing experience no matter what, at least to me.

That is not good! Hope they make it. I have one thing to say -- substrateless!!!! I know other people have success with old school substrate, and I respect that -- I REALLY do. This is my first breeding season and to say it is going well would be an understatement. There ARE some things to worry about during the season. The eggs in my boxes have not one of them.

My recipe: mark eggs with dull pencil, 50/50 coarse vermiculite- perlite, 6/12qt sterlite box with 2 inches of mix and 1/4-1/2 inch of water in the bottom, egg crate cut to size, seperate the eggs or not(I usually do after they are marked of course)and put them in, Press N Seal over top and close lid, mark info on box( I use a sharpie on side and top - take it off with acetone after first shed), put in cooker and RELAX. I take the Press N Seal off a week before they are due -- at 48-50 days, cut all eggs after first pips -- unless I just can't help myself because there could be something snappy inside. I appreciate the virtue of other methods but all I know is I sleep GOOOOOD!!!!

P.S. Get those eggs some humidity pronto. Might not be too late. Good luck.

Sorry to hear about/see that.
Hope everything pans out okay for you!
Good Luck!

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Originally Posted by PrototypePythons

Wow, I have actually heard alot of great things about the hatchrite and actually have some here to use for the gecko and Ball Pythons, although I haven't used it for myself.....yet, I have heard good things. How often did you open the top of the incubation container? Also, the only bad things I heard about the stuff was the exact opposite, too much humidity. :confused::weirdface

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This was the first time in 15 days that I took the top off.
I have gotten the humidity as high as 92% but only because I kept adding water to the edges. Out of the bag it ran 78%.
I do not care for this stuff at all.

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Originally Posted by SPJ

This was the first time in 15 days that I took the top off.
I have gotten the humidity as high as 92% but only because I kept adding water to the edges. Out of the bag it ran 78%.
I do not care for this stuff at all.

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Wow, ok then, back to the drawing board, haha. I am reading on incubation methods now to figure out which way I am going when I start pairing up Ball Pythons, right now it is either Vermiculite or Substateless.

It really might not be too late. In one of the books I read, they showed some pictures of hatchling Burms, that had dried out alot during incubation. They still hatched, but showed signs of mild dehydration; wrinkly skin. I would gradually Up their humidity.. seems like the hatchrite Is like using old-school verm/perl, that does need to be checked and monitored, and maybe water-added, during incubation in my experience.

I use hatchrite and also vermiculite, don't have problems using either.

That's just too bad, sorry to see that.

super sorry to hear about that:( I have a question though. Did you have any moisture build up on the inside of the container at any time? The container that the eggs are in. Also did you have a sealed top on the container. Just questions. I am having a little battle with HatchRite now but I think I cured the problem. Thanks and I am very sorry about your lose:(

Nope. Never had the condensation. That was the first sign something was wrong. The tub is completely sealed. Only the humidity probe is in there.
I have been battling it since day one. No matter how much water I add, it dries out very fast. Most I could get it up to was 92% humidity.

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Originally Posted by SPJ

Nope. Never had the condensation. That was the first sign something was wrong. The tub is completely sealed. Only the humidity probe is in there.
I have been battling it since day one. No matter how much water I add, it dries out very fast. Most I could get it up to was 92% humidity.

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All my containers and tubs have a few holes, maybe that was the issue.... kinda like how a house can have moisture build up around windows because a draft gets in? Maybe you need that air exchange?

Unless you got a bad bag of Hatchrite to start with....

Hard to say of course.

I tried candling them. Difficult since they are still stuck together but the one in the front on the right actually has veins! I also added water to the medium again.

Get water on them NOW. Spray the eggs directly with water that is the same temp as the incubator, wet down the substrate and put a bowl of water in there too.

Your eggs are simply dehydrated.

You will probably get tiny wrinkly babies. The eggs will absorb some water which the desperately need. I've had the same thing happen with different substrates that dried out. It's hard to get them too moist if you have airflow but yours NEED water now.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SPJ

I've had nothing but problems with this stuff.
I checked on the eggs today and as soon as I popped off the top, I saw this. It's day 45 now for these. The eggs look the same today as they did on day 30 except now they are browning. I will be really ticked if they don't make it after all the headaches I have had with trying to keep up the humidity with this substrate.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v440/SPJ01/011.jpg

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Dude, Cut them a little.. no harm in it.. Make sure they are moving around.

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Originally Posted by wilomn

Get water on them NOW. Spray the eggs directly with water that is the same temp as the incubator, wet down the substrate and put a bowl of water in there too.

Your eggs are simply dehydrated.

You will probably get tiny wrinkly babies. The eggs will absorb some water which the desperately need. I've had the same thing happen with different substrates that dried out. It's hard to get them too moist if you have airflow but yours NEED water now.

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Done.

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Originally Posted by JASBALLS

Dude, Cut them a little.. no harm in it.. Make sure they are moving around.

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I am very nervous about cutting them this early even though there is a nice dimpled area to start with on them.

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Originally Posted by SPJ

I am very nervous about cutting them this early even though there is a nice dimpled area to start with on them.

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Thats understandable Steve. Good luck Man!

see I had the exact opposite thing happen with HatchRite. I was afraid that I was getting to much moisture in the container so I cracked the lids on the containers a little. Three hours later the eggs started dimpling. I was freaking out. I added a little bit of water back in the container with the HatchRite sealed it back up, left it over night and this morning they looked normal again. I have heard that HatchRite some times when it ships the bags may get a small whole in them and dry the chemical in them out that creates the moisture. I put of HatchRite in another container and closed it up and within three hours, even with no eggs in it, I could see some condensation. Not that any of this is going to help you at this point but I thought I would share what I had been through with the same mixture you are using.

Sorry about your troubles..I swear by hatchrite and its all i ve used for 2 seasons now...What size box are you using for the eggs and how deep is the hatchrite? any holes in the box and you mentioned that you havnt opened the box in 2 weeks?
Kevin

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Originally Posted by KMS

any holes in the box and you mentioned that you havnt opened the box in 2 weeks?
Kevin

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One little slit for the humidity probe which is covered over with saran wrap.

Well, I just filled two egg boxes - one full bag of Hatchrite each. Kevin and Kara are using it exlusively - so I still plan to use it. I'm incubating in 12 quart Rubbermaid tubs snapping lids and Press & Seal. I'm expecting a clutch a little sooner than I had anticipated, so I've just fired up the incubator in anticipation of eggs in the next few days.

It does say to check eggs once a week, and if the eggs start sinking in prior to 14 days before your projected hatch date to pour 1 ounce of water into the corner of the egg box.

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Originally Posted by rabernet

Well, I just filled two egg boxes - one full bag of Hatchrite each. Kevin and Kara are using it exlusively - so I still plan to use it. I'm incubating in 12 quart Rubbermaid tubs snapping lids and Press & Seal. I'm expecting a clutch a little sooner than I had anticipated, so I've just fired up the incubator in anticipation of eggs in the next few days.

It does say to check eggs once a week, and if the eggs start sinking in prior to 14 days before your projected hatch date to pour 1 ounce of water into the corner of the egg box.

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Good luck Robin!

That's ruff. Hope it works out for you.

:please:

Best of luck! Hopefully 100% will hatch out healthy, if a bit wrinkly and tiny. When they hatch, post some pics for sure!