Incubation substrate, what do you use and why?

[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