Pre heating egg substrate

[Sevo]

Is it better to pre heat the egg containers ( substrait and container befor adding the eggs) .. or should you put them in there with the medium at room temp and let the eggs and medium slowly catch up to the incubator temps.

may be a dumb question , but I am stickler for details.

thank you in advance

Chris

[Adam_Wysocki]

Get it all ready to go and to temp before you get eggs.

-adam

[Sevo]

Adam, Thank you for the help. I have it all ready and warming up.

I am using a 2:1 mix of vermiclite and perlite. I read snake keepers web site, it seemed to make sence that the perlite would help air flow

. Do you do that or do you use straight vermiculite.. Anyone else this is directed to you all as well. PLease dont hesitate to post about your substrate

[jglass38]

Adam, Thank you for the help. I have it all ready and warming up.

I am using a 2:1 mix of vermiclite and perlite. I read snake keepers web site, it seemed to make sence that the perlite would help air flow

. Do you do that or do you use straight vermiculite.. Anyone else this is directed to you all as well. PLease dont hesitate to post about your substrate

I only use Vermiculite. It works for all the big boys and I don't want to reinvent the wheel

I am sure the Perlite will work well. Lots of ways to do things!

[jamesw]

Straight vermiculite for me, i stick with what works.

[Adam_Wysocki]

Adam, Thank you for the help. I have it all ready and warming up.

I am using a 2:1 mix of vermiclite and perlite. I read snake keepers web site, it seemed to make sence that the perlite would help air flow

. Do you do that or do you use straight vermiculite.. Anyone else this is directed to you all as well. PLease dont hesitate to post about your substrate

I use straight vermic ... been doing it that way for over a decade ... I love the stuff and I know how to get it "just right" by feel at this point.

Over the years I've tried combinations of vermic and perlite and even straight perlite ... just wasn't for me ... not saying anything bad about it, I just like vermic better. There are so many ways to successfully incubate eggs these days, it's really a matter of personal preference.

I know this is your first year so you want to get everything "perfect" ... but after you do this a few times and get comfortable with the process, I'd encourage you to experiment with incubation mediums ... experimentation and learning is what this stuff is all about ... you might find something you like better down the road ... or you might find that what you're using now is perfect for how you do it.

Keeping my fingers crossed for some nice big clutches for you!!

-adam

[muddoc]

Sevo,
I think you have received some great info here, but I thought I would throw out how I do it. I use the same thing as you, a 2:1 Vermiculite/Perlite mixture. It worked great for me last year and I didn't have a problem with a single egg. I only lost two eggs, that were looking bad as soon as I put them in the box. As for water, I tried to measure evrything last year to come up with some kind of formula. I never could come up with a set recipe for incubation media ( I was trying to do this for my wife who was going to be setting up clutches for me while I was offshore). It didn't take long with trial and error to figure out the amount of water to add. I agrre with Adam, that after a few times, you'll get to where you can feel the medium and know if there is enough water or not.

Also, I do preheat my incubation box with the medium in it. I also keep 5 to 6 jugs of water in the incubator at all times. It helps with Heat exchange, i.e. stabilizing the temps quicker after opening and closing the incubator, and it also allows me to add water, that is the same temperature as incubation, to the incubation medium, if needed, during the entire incubation process. Hope that helps.

[Brad Boa]

I use straight vermeculite, I make up a few containers two weeks before my eggs are due. I put them in the incubator so they are at the right temp. Good luck I hope you have a good season. Brad Boa

[Sevo]

I know this is your first year so you want to get everything "perfect" ... but after you do this a few times and get comfortable with the process, I'd encourage you to experiment with incubation mediums ... experimentation and learning is what this stuff is all about ...

Keeping my fingers crossed for some nice big clutches for you!!

-adam

Adam, Thank you for the kind words and advice. I know with time I will get comfortable with it, I really am glad this board is here to ask questions or I would be going nuts

Sevo,
I think you have received some great info here, but I thought I would throw out how I do it. I use the same thing as you, a 2:1 Vermiculite/Perlite mixture. It worked great for me last year and I didn't have a problem with a single egg. I only lost two eggs, that were looking bad as soon as I put them in the box. As for water, I tried to measure evrything last year to come up with some kind of formula. I never could come up with a set recipe for incubation media ( I was trying to do this for my wife who was going to be setting up clutches for me while I was offshore). It didn't take long with trial and error to figure out the amount of water to add. I agrre with Adam, that after a few times, you'll get to where you can feel the medium and know if there is enough water or not.

Also, I do preheat my incubation box with the medium in it. I also keep 5 to 6 jugs of water in the incubator at all times. It helps with Heat exchange, i.e. stabilizing the temps quicker after opening and closing the incubator, and it also allows me to add water, that is the same temperature as incubation, to the incubation medium, if needed, during the entire incubation process. Hope that helps.

Tim, you have always helped me out on the phone or on the net.. i really appreciate it. I like your idea about the jugs of water. Great for adding water and your right about it helping to stabilize the heat, didnt even think of that...

I use straight vermeculite, I make up a few containers two weeks before my eggs are due. I put them in the incubator so they are at the right temp. Good luck I hope you have a good season. Brad Boa

thanks brad, I too hope it goes well. Good luck to you all as well. It seems like its going well for everyone.

I will do as you guys said and get to preheating my substrate. The incubator is holding temps. I had to add a light in it to help add just a little more heat as the 4 11" flexwatss were strugling to keep it at a constant temp. The light bulb was just enough to give a kick it needed.

thank you again to everyone for your help.

I will post pics as soon as I see some eggs... come on eggs. damn this wait is killing me.

Chris