Quote Originally Posted by Adam_Wysocki

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

Quote Originally Posted by 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.
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...

Quote Originally Posted by 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
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