Hard to find vermiculite... anything about hatchrite?

[WmHrbst]

I use sponges and a light diffuser ;-)

[Lynchman18]

That's weird you can't find vermiculite at Home Depot. I work at home depot and have worked in 5 locations 3 in san diego and 2 in northern california all 5 i've worked have vermiculite. They generally come in big green bags. Where do you live? maybe I can find out if they do have it and I can check to see availability in your area. homedepot.com has over 400k items that the strores dont have and if your current store doesn't have it i'm sure you can get it from online and have it shipped to the store for free. Let me know

[bondo]

That's weird you can't find vermiculite at Home Depot. I work at home depot and have worked in 5 locations 3 in san diego and 2 in northern california all 5 i've worked have vermiculite. They generally come in big green bags. Where do you live? maybe I can find out if they do have it and I can check to see availability in your area. homedepot.com has over 400k items that the strores dont have and if your current store doesn't have it i'm sure you can get it from online and have it shipped to the store for free. Let me know

I checked at Home Depot a couple years ago because I thought I had another bag and didn't. They also did not have it. I finally found some at a greenhouse. I always make sure to have an extra bag on hand now.

[BCS]

So, the only brand I have been able to find is Pro Mix... anyone know if this is a good brand to use? My local garden center did have some but they sold out in May!!! and have not received anymore... So what about pro mix? It is only a little bag but I only have two females that could possibly lay clutches so I do not need much anyway.

[sho220]

So, the only brand I have been able to find is Pro Mix... anyone know if this is a good brand to use? My local garden center did have some but they sold out in May!!! and have not received anymore... So what about pro mix? It is only a little bag but I only have two females that could possibly lay clutches so I do not need much anyway.

Pro "Mix"...the "mix" parts leads me to believe there may be other ingredients which may be harmful to eggs...

[BCS]

Pro "Mix"...the "mix" parts leads me to believe there may be other ingredients which may be harmful to eggs...

Yes, but they have other products too like soil, perilite and so on. The only ingredient on the package is vermiculite...

[sho220]

Yes, but they have other products too like soil, perilite and so on. The only ingredient on the package is vermiculite...

If you feel the manufacturer is being honest, give it a shot. The worst that could happen is all your eggs will die and you'll be left with nothing but heartache. Or you could just stop worrying about it and just get a bag of Hatchrite.

[BCS]

If you feel the manufacturer is being honest, give it a shot. The worst that could happen is all your eggs will die and you'll be left with nothing but heartache. Or you could just stop worrying about it and just get a bag of Hatchrite.

But i don't trust hatchrite... so doesn't that kind of defeat the point? I have heard lots of stories of people losing entire clutches due to hatchrite, but absolutely nothing about pro mix vermiculite.

[tacticalveterinarian]

Strange that the local garden and chain stores in your area don't carry vermiculite. Why not use sphagnum moss or substrate less incubation methods? Pretty much any substrate that maintains humidity can work for reptile eggs- I've used sand, perlite, vermiculite, carefresh, moss, pine, aspen shavings, etc

[sho220]

But i don't trust hatchrite... so doesn't that kind of defeat the point? I have heard lots of stories of people losing entire clutches due to hatchrite, but absolutely nothing about pro mix vermiculite.

If you don't trust Hatchrite, why even bring it up in post #1? You specifically ask for opinions on it, then dismiss them without any consideration? You don't trust something made specifically for reptile eggs, but you have no problem using something you get from a lawn and garden store?

Good luck...