BEST incubation medium for eggs?

[RobNJ]

I won't claim one method better than the next...In my experience, which isn't a whole lot of clutches, I've only used vermiculite. I don't weigh or measure anything...really just eyeball it. I prefer to go a little more on the wet side than dry side, and the eggs can handle a little bit of excess moisture just fine. If I get too much condensation on the inside of my box, I'll add a little more vermiculite. If the box ever starts feeling lighter, I'll add a little more water.

[AGoldReptiles]

I use Calcined Clay ( Superhatch). Love it!
http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?t=167333

[Lair of Dragons]

I hatched out 17 clutches last year using hatch-rite only ever added water to 2 egg bins..plan on hatching 27 this year.....if you are having to add water then maybe its the size of air holes or the amount of air holes...heat added to water and to air causes it to evaporate...I use a standard plastic shoe box with a single 1/8'" hole drilled in one end....Go to NERDS website and watch the video of how he does it....the guy hatches 100s if not 1000's of BP's every year with Hatch-rite
Travis
Lair of Dragons

[dreese88]

I didn't say it was "better". It's just the method we have choosen to use. I do feel it is the easiest and most stress/worry free method.
You don't have to worry about weighing, measuring and mixing your incubation medium. No worries about it being too wet or too dry.

Fair enough...The only thing about that the gets me. and I know I recommended the use of it to the OP, but that lighting grate just seems like your eggs could roll so easily,which effectively ruins the clutch, you know? Have you ever had a problem with that? I think I'd have to put a pencil or pair of chopsticks on each sideof individual eggs like that

[dreese88]

I hatched out 17 clutches last year using hatch-rite only ever added water to 2 egg bins..plan on hatching 27 this year.....if you are having to add water then maybe its the size of air holes or the amount of air holes...heat added to water and to air causes it to evaporate...I use a standard plastic shoe box with a single 1/8'" hole drilled in one end....Go to NERDS website and watch the video of how he does it....the guy hatches 100s if not 1000's of BP's every year with Hatch-rite
Travis
Lair of Dragons

There are no air holes in my egg boxes...and probably 85% of kevins hatch rite is recycled, if not more.

Also, this isn't my first rodeo...I know what causes water to evaporate

[sho220]

Hatch-rite ...dump it in and add eggs and wait 60 days...don't have to add water..did I get to much water....not enough water....or something they can get their heads stuck in...
Travis
Lair of Dragons

x2

[MasonC2K]

What really makes this better than vermiculite though? If you mix your vermiculite properly, you will have zero problems with moisture levels

You answered your own question sir. It's just an extra level of safety for those of us that don't trust ourselves to mix eggs and flour together much less dirt and water.

[dreese88]

You answered your own question sir. It's just an extra level of safety for those of us that don't trust ourselves to mix eggs and flour together much less dirt and water.

Lol..I guess my cooking background helped me out there. It's just the more I think about it, I would be so paranoid that I would some how make them roll if they weren't clumped

[SlitherinSisters]

I second the substrateless method wholeheartedly! It's almost fool proof, about the only thing that can go wrong is getting treated perlite/verm or temp issues. No worries with humidity or messing around with how wet or dry the parl/verm is.

[Robyn@SYR]

Substrateless method like this with egg crate light diffuser.

This is our setup as well, with 3-4" of perlite, that same grate on top. Usually do two clutches per box.

I think having a substrate in there is better than plain water, as it prevents it from sloshing around when you are moving the box. Not really substrate-less, but they are separated.

I think if your vermiculite is too dry, it pulls moisture from the eggs, as it acts like a sponge, so we don't use it for snake stuff anymore.