Egg humidity

[SlitherinSisters]

Thank you! So I assume you don't use holes... That was always my assumption but its nice to here it from someone with experience.

Nope, no holes, just snap the lid on and put them in the incubator. I tried press-n-seal a couple years, but it wasn't necessary.

Here is a picture so you can see what it looks like inside, I don't have a good picture of the entire tub. You can see how wet I keep the perlite. The eggs are wet because I mist them once I cut them.

[MorphMaster]

Nope, no holes, just snap the lid on and put them in the incubator. I tried press-n-seal a couple years, but it wasn't necessary.

Here is a picture so you can see what it looks like inside, I don't have a good picture of the entire tub. You can see how wet I keep the perlite. The eggs are wet because I mist them once I cut them.

Thanks for the pic. Now is it actually called an egg crate or something else? I like the idea of just putting the eggs in the bator and not worrying, just being excited. I am so grateful for your time!

[MorphMaster]

I never see this question asked, but how mic substrate is used? About a third of the height of a 6 qt tub? About that... I just thought I might as well ask so I don't run out of humidity or something because I didn't use enough substrate.

[slitheringreptiles]

I never actually measured my humidity once my eggs were in there tubs. I just make sure the vermiculite is wet but not drenched. as long as you dont have any condensation dripping onto the eggs your fine. But like someone mentioned already as close to 100% the better

[BHReptiles]

Thanks for the pic. Now is it actually called an egg crate or something else? I like the idea of just putting the eggs in the bator and not worrying, just being excited. I am so grateful for your time!

You can get it from Lowe's or Home Depot for about $13 a sheet (it's like a 2 x 4 sheet and will give you enough for several egg boxes). Don't ask for an egg crate because they will think you're crazy. As them for a "light diffuser sheet". It's usually near the lumber with all the sheets of melamine, plywood, etc.

As for the actual mixture, I put in about 2 inches of vermiculite and SATURATED it with water. Then, I put two sheets of light diffuser (cut to fit the size of the box) on and then I will put my eggs on it (once they are laid of course....) and stick it in my incubator.

[MasonC2K]

Anywhere between 90-100% is fine. You can't have too much as long as water isn't accumulating on top of the eggs. I've seen Kevin from Nerd put his eggs in straight up muddy vermiculite.

[don15681]

my very first clutch of eggs I used a 6 qt sterilite tub, perlite which was so wet I had to use 2 light diffusers as one would sink into it. I didn't put any holes in my container or lid. before I got half way thru the 60 days for incubating my eggs. my eggs were really collapsing. towards the end of the 60 day, the top of the egg was touching the bottom. I did lose a few but some did survived. my next clutch after I talked to a few local breeders, recommend glad press n seal. I never had a problem since. and it's been over 7 years. I use to use perlite, now I zip tie two 3/4 inch pvc pipes to the diffuser and add water, no perlite. yes it will help reduce the chance of a splash. I carry my egg box a good 20 feet to where I check on them. I don't walk slow with them. I never splash yet, and if I did splash them. they would be OK. it's being constantly wet that hurts them. I can open my egg boxes every day if I wanted to and it doesn't hurt my humidity with them. in the vpi book, it said to check on your eggs every so often. how are you going to learn anything or correct something if you don't know it's happening. if you get too much condensation on the top and it drips on the eggs. tilt the box a little so it runs down the side instead. condensation is a problem cause by difference in temps. temps from the outside of the egg box to the inside of the egg box. my eggs get fresh air once a week when I check my eggs and the last 2 weeks I peel back a corner of the press n seal to make a very small opening for air when the eggs require it the most. what others posted isn't wrong. it works for them. we all live in different places with different conditions. you need to figure out whats best for you.

[Don]

Nope, no holes, just snap the lid on and put them in the incubator. I tried press-n-seal a couple years, but it wasn't necessary.

Here is a picture so you can see what it looks like inside, I don't have a good picture of the entire tub. You can see how wet I keep the perlite. The eggs are wet because I mist them once I cut them.

This has been my exact experience with tubs. After the press-n-seal a few years, I ditched it for just the regular top that came with the tub. No difference in hatch rate or success from using the press-n-seal. However, I've quit cutting eggs. The babies that I let come out on their own seem to have a better feeding response. Everyone develops their own methods. Experiment with a few things and you'll come up with your own method.

[KatStoverReptiles]

Last year (1st clutch) I used a 6qt Sterilite tub. The lids are loose, at best and I had humidity issues on day 2. I used the substrateless method with about 1.5" of vermiculite soaked and a light diffuser. I ended up having to press n' seal them to keep the humidity in. Had 100% hatch.

This year I've found some sterilite locking tubs. They are significantly smaller than the 6qts, but the lids are much tighter. I used more like 2.5" of vermiculite soaked and 2 layers of light diffuser. Haven't had the eggs in the 'bator long enough to evaluate, but during my test runs I had condensation buildup on the sides of the tubs...which I never had during testing last year.

[MikeM75]

This is my first year breeding, so I don't have a lot of experience, but...
I purchased an incubator from Hot Box Incubators about a month before I was expecting eggs, and when it came in I set it up and turned it on to make sure temperatures would stay consistent. Temperatures did very well the whole time, I set them at 90 degrees. I am using the 6 qt sterilite with vermiculite, about 2 inches, with the light diffuser on top. I made sure the vermiculite was saturated with water, just shy of soupy so it wouldn't splash up on the eggs when I move them to check on them. I also used the press n seal on the top of the tub and then put the lid on it, not sure right now why I kept the lid on but... whatever. So far I have opened the press n seal twice just to sort of ventilate for a couple seconds and make sure they were visually ok for what I can see. The second time I opened the lid and peeled back the press n seal I candled them to make sure I wasn't getting excited for nothing and the were great.

So far so good, they aren't dimpling or anything, I see a little condensation point on the side of the tub, to me it just says there is still plenty of water in there, not that it has a choice because it is sealed with no holes but...

Anyway, I will see if this works out long term as my clutch is due 5/10.