Breeding Questions

[Morris Reese]

I plan to breed hopefully by next year. I am trying to learn all I can now and start getting prepared. I have a couple of questions and will probably post more on this thread as I go along. I want to thank everyone on here in advance for all of the great advise I have received so far!
I have been looking at all of the incubation pictures and noticed that some eggs are sitting on light grates and some are just sitting on what looks to be vermiculite? Is one way better than the other. I thought the idea was to keep humidity high and the eggs dry. I am thinking of maternal incubation, but I will have an incubator just in case something goes wrong!!!

[brock lesser]

Just different ways to reach your goal. Both work well and it comes down to what works best for you.
As far as maternal incubation, unless your temperature and humidity are spot on I wouldn't recommend it.
Good luck and have fun.

[Morris Reese]

Just different ways to reach your goal. Both work well and it comes down to what works best for you.
As far as maternal incubation, unless your temperature and humidity are spot on I wouldn't recommend it.
Good luck and have fun.

Thanks!!! If you imbed the eggs in the vermiculite do you still keep it really moist. If I'm not mistaken you mix water and vermiculite by weight 1:1. Is this still true if you don't sit the eggs on a grate?

[Stewart_Reptiles]

When it comes to incubating just like pretty much everything else it comes down to what work best for you and what you prefer.

I have been incubating eggs with the substrateless method for 7 years and never had any issue, I like this method, it's easy and foolproof.



I use 7 quarts tubs, 6 cups of vermiculite, 3 cups of water and incubate at 89 degrees.

The substrate is not in contact with the eggs, the eggs never get wet and never dry out.

Maternal incubation can be done successfully however your husbandry must be perfect to start with, conditions are often a lot simpler to provide in a very controlled environment such as an incubator.

My goal is to put all my chances on my side which is why I use an incubator.

In the end it's all about what YOU like best.

[Morris Reese]

When it comes to incubating just like pretty much everything else it comes down to what work best for you and what you prefer.

I have been incubating eggs with the substrateless method for 7 years and never had any issue, I like this method, it's easy and foolproof.



I use 7 quarts tubs, 6 cups of vermiculite, 3 cups of water and incubate at 89 degrees.

The substrate is not in contact with the eggs, the eggs never get wet and never dry out.

Maternal incubation can be done successfully however your husbandry must be perfect to start with, conditions are often a lot simpler to provide in a very controlled environment such as an incubator.

My goal is to put all my chances on my side which is why I use an incubator.

In the end it's all about what YOU like best.

Thanks Deborah!
I think I would like all odds in my favor especially since this will be my first breeding, so I am leaning toward setting up an incubator.
I have plenty more questions, but I won't bore you with all of them at once!
Thanks again!