Incubation substrate, what do you use and why?

[snakesRkewl]

No mixing needed

Perlite
Egg crate
Water until it hits the bottom of egg crate
4 tiny holes for ventilation on the upper sides of the tubs
well sealed lid, IE no using crappy $1 tubs.

All this mixing and putting eggs into the substrate was great years ago, and I'm sure many still use it as people hate to change from what works for them, but the substrateless method is just too easy.
I can't see why anyone trying to learn to incubate would want to learn to do it the harder way...

[3skulls]

No mixing needed

Perlite
Egg crate
Water until it hits the bottom of egg crate
4 tiny holes for ventilation on the upper sides of the tubs
well sealed lid, IE no using crappy $1 tubs.

All this mixing and putting eggs into the substrate was great years ago, and I'm sure many still use it as people hate to change from what works for them, but the substrateless method is just too easy.
I can't see why anyone trying to learn to incubate would want to learn to do it the harder way...

Are you using the paper type of egg crate?
Do you have a photo of the setup you use?

[Ridinandreptiles]

No mixing needed

Perlite
Egg crate
Water until it hits the bottom of egg crate
4 tiny holes for ventilation on the upper sides of the tubs
well sealed lid, IE no using crappy $1 tubs.

All this mixing and putting eggs into the substrate was great years ago, and I'm sure many still use it as people hate to change from what works for them, but the substrateless method is just too easy.
I can't see why anyone trying to learn to incubate would want to learn to do it the harder way...

You forgot to mention the straws

[snakesRkewl]

You forgot to mention the straws

I actually use plastic clips but straws are awesome too

[ChrisP]

So heres my plan for incubation after reading all this:

-1 Cooler with an underwater heater hooked up to a helix
-2 small bricks and a diffuser

so do i put my eggs directly on top of the diffuser or
do i put them in a 6 qt egg box with unmixed perlite and 1 hole on the 4 corners with press n seal on top ?

[Ally.]

This is my first year breeding, so my plan was to use the substrateless method with either vermiculite or perlite. My questions are, if the mix is too wet, will the egg crate sink into the mix? And do you guys use anything to keep the eggs from rolling around when you take them out to check on them? Or do they stay put on their own?

[snakesRkewl]

After 2 weeks the eggs will be flat on the bottom, before that I use plastic clips that hold them from rolling.

If the perlite/vermiculite has too much water then yes the egg crate will sink.
I use two pieces of egg crate per tub and that has eliminated the sinking of the egg crate.
Some people cut 4 pieces of 1/2" pvc pipe and place the egg crate on those.

[Ally.]

After 2 weeks the eggs will be flat on the bottom, before that I use plastic clips that hold them from rolling.

If the perlite/vermiculite has too much water then yes the egg crate will sink.
I use two pieces of egg crate per tub and that has eliminated the sinking of the egg crate.
Some people cut 4 pieces of 1/2" pvc pipe and place the egg crate on those.

Awesome, thank you!

[gsarchie]

Great ideas coming out here. Something that I have thought about - could I use egg crate on the pvc pipes in the cooler itself with the flexwatt running down one side, across the bottom and back up the other and then pour water into the bottom of the cooler (submerging some of the flex watt)? I know they say not to submerge their product but it is sealed, so should it still work?

[don15681]

Great ideas coming out here. Something that I have thought about - could I use egg crate on the pvc pipes in the cooler itself with the flexwatt running down one side, across the bottom and back up the other and then pour water into the bottom of the cooler (submerging some of the flex watt)? I know they say not to submerge their product but it is sealed, so should it still work?

If I understand what you're trying to do correctly.
I wouldn't use anything that has electric running thru it in water that wasn't meant to be use in water.
I would still use egg boxes in the cooler. 1 reason, every time you open the cooler to check on the eggs. you're letting a lot of cold air in. when you shut the cooler the difference in temps is going to cause a lot of condensation, which could drip on the eggs. in an incubator with egg tubs. yes you let cold air in when opening it. but the egg tubs is another barrier between the difference in the air temps and the eggs. and the temps in the egg tub isn't changed as much keeping condensation to a min.

when building an incubator for ball python eggs. the incubator is what controls the temps. the egg box controls the humidity. when you have a problem, it's much easiler to fix this way. when the incubator controls both temps and humidity, fixing one may affect the other creating problems that could of been avoided. even the big breeders who have a room for their incubator, still uses egg boxes. some used buckets with glass on the tops so they can look in. I think if you make plans for the incubator controlling temps and the egg box controlling humidity, you will be more successful with incubating your eggs. just my opinion, good luck don