Incubation Question

[ChrisP]

After reading that thread on substrates here is my plan for incubation:

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

My question is 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 ?

Any feed back is greatly appreciated

[Bigfish1975]

I would put them in an egg box. Personally I use an 6qt or 15qt sterilite depending on clutch size tub with vermiculite and water mix, a diffuser on top of the substrate. I don't use press and seal of put any holes in the box. Its a solid box with a solid lid. I just take a peak every couple days, open the lid for a little fresh air. I've had success with this method for my first 2 seasons....But as you can see this isn't rocket science and there seems to be numerous ways to do it. Good luck and have fun.

[Jonas@Balls2TheWall]

Problem with not putting them in the egg box is when they start to hatch they will be going for a swim.

[gsarchie]

Problem with not putting them in the egg box is when they start to hatch they will be going for a swim.

Not if you move them to a tub with wet paper towels when they start to hatch.

[ChrisP]

if i wanted to this with out substrate how would I do so?

[gsarchie]

egg crate over water, eggs directly on the egg crate.

[Jonas@Balls2TheWall]

Just to point out another downside to the method..... If you have to move the eggs for w.e reason, it becomes very difficult. Having to put them in a tub and take them back out is not ideal. Also with no substrate underneath the egg crate it is difficult to pin the eggs down with Popsicle sticks or what not because there is nothing to place the sticks into. If you want to go the aquarium heater route I recommend you place some vermiculite or perlite in a tub, mix 1:1 ratio with water, place egg crate on top, secure your eggs so they dont move around and then place them in the incubator. Since you will have the bottom section of the cooler filled with water you wont even need a lid on the egg box because you will have plenty of humidity. However, keep opening of the cooler door down to a minimum and make sure the incubator is somewhere that people cant walk into it. I would also test the setup weeks before a clutch to make sure you can get the temps you need.