My Vermiculite is dry

[KingPythons]

My girls taking care of her eggs the ol fashion way but my vermiculite seems kinda dry. Some of the vermiculite around the eggs are semi moist. Should I mix some fresh vermiculite or should I ride it out? Humidity is in mid 80's.

[tonkatoyman]

If the vermiculite is dry simply add water. Do it slowly and carefully so you "Do not wet the eggs" but just add some water. You have me curious. Are you incubating them using mom or an incubator. If you are using mom why are you using Vermiculite. The eggs can get too wet. Condensation problems too wet can kill the eggs. Put the eggs and mom in her normal surroundings and keep the humidity high. The process has been used successfully by several on this site. We have not done it yet but know others who have.

[mpkeelee]

ya, im wondering why you are mixing the two incubation methods. either maternally incubate with the moms original setup, or artificially incubate. dont mix and match, your gonna kill your eggs. keep an eye on them in case you need to pull the eggs and put them into and incubator

[LotsaBalls]

I'm curious also. Vermiculite and mom, how's that work?

[muddoc]

I don't think there is a problem with using Vermiculite in the tub with the Dame. However, I do have one question. The 80% humidity that you are measuring is coming from what location? I ask this, because if you do not have a probe of some sort inside of the snakes coils, then you are not correctly measuring the humidity that the eggs are incubating at. I say this, because snakes are very good at regulating incubation needs on their own. Some species of pythons actually vibrate the eggs with their body to generate heat. I am not aware of Ball Pythons doing that, hence the need to regulate temps during maternal incubation. However, Ball pythons, and other species of snakes do regulate humidity pretty good. How do they do that? Well if the humidity is a bit too high, they will loosen their coils to allow some of the humidity to escape. If the humidity is too low, they can urinate and tighten their coils to raise the humidity. With that said, I would still want the humidity to be as high as possible in the tub. However, "snake moms" have been doing a pretty good job at keeping their species alive by successfully incubating eggs for many thousands of years. They know how to do it.

As others have said, I would not risk adding water to the vermiculite. Mom will add her own if she feels the eggs need it. Just keep your temps between 86 and 90, and you should be ok.

I hope that helps,

[KingPythons]

I admit I let mom do the work. I had vermiculite as a substrate in her hide box. Doesn't anybody use a hide box? Wait I thought the point was to use a hide box and give her something to lay on did I do something wrong??? I used vermiculit for ground cover and I didn't super wet it up of course. The humidity I am getting is simply out side of her hide box, so the whole tub basically. I have tempts at 88-91 with humidity around mid 80's. I'm giving mom a chance to do her work. I know if I set the temp at 92 and humidity at 90% I'm giving mom no chance to do her thing... Or am I wrong?

[KingPythons]

It looks like this

[SnakeGirl3]

I'd say don't add water--Mom will do what needs to be done. Also, don't bother Mom too much. Just check her daily to be sure she's coiling all of the eggs, but don't poke and prod or remove her and replace her too many times, as this can stress mom out and cause her to abandon the clutch. I've not yet personally maternally incubated, but I have a local friend (who's a member here as well--hopefully she will chime in) who has maternally incubated several successful clutches, and she's given me notes on everything. I am going to attempt a maternal clutch this season as well.

[KingPythons]

I'd say don't add water--Mom will do what needs to be done. Also, don't bother Mom too much. Just check her daily to be sure she's coiling all of the eggs, but don't poke and prod or remove her and replace her too many times, as this can stress mom out and cause her to abandon the clutch. I've not yet personally maternally incubated, but I have a local friend (who's a member here as well--hopefully she will chime in) who has maternally incubated several successful clutches, and she's given me notes on everything. I am going to attempt a maternal clutch this season as well.

I bet I know who you talking about

[SnakeGirl3]

I bet I know who you talking about

Quiet Tempest? Yep, that's her.