substrate or substrateless incubation?

[cerastesruber]

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!

[hmj75]

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..

[cerastesruber]

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

[sho220]

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

[Wh00h0069]

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.

[Southernshooter]

Hatchrite's the way to go

[cerastesruber]

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?

[Stewart_Reptiles]

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

[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

[Bill Buchman]

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

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

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!!!!