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View Poll Results: what substrate do you use to incubate
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Hatch rite
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vermiculite
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other (please explain)
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Registered User
incubating substrate
I was wondering what kind of substrates you use. I've been looking into hatch rite but I'm not sure if its as good as they say or if its just marginally better than vermiculite
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Re: incubating substrate
FWIW...I do the substrateless method. So my substrate is basically water and plastic grating . So far it works perfect for me and there is ZERO guess work on getting the right amount of water to whatever mix ratio.
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Re: incubating substrate
I did the substrateless and used a mixture of vermiculite and perlite underneath the grate. I'll probably just use perlite this season as it's easier for me to get.
--Becky--
?.? Normals, 1.0 100% Het Pied Classic Jungle, 1.0 Yellow Hypo, 0.1 100% Het Butterscotch Hypo, 0.1 100% Het VPI Hypo, 0.1 100% Het Yellow Hypo, 1.0 Enchi, 1.1 Yellowbellies, 0.1 YB Granite, 1.0 Black Pastel, 1.0 Lemon Pastel, 0.1 50% Possible Het Banded Albino, 0.1 Spider, 1.0 Fire, 0.2 Granite
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Re: incubating substrate
I also go with the no sub method. 100% hatch rate last season.
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Re: incubating substrate
This coming season will be my twelfth year using vermic for ball python eggs ... I should go through over 160 lbs of the stuff in the spring ... I've tried everything from perlite, to sand, to substratless over the years and have had equal success with all of them ... vermiculite is just the easiest and most convenient for me.
Hope this helps.
-adam
Click Below to Fight The National Python & Boa Ban


"The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing."
- Anna Sewell, author of Black Beauty
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Re: incubating substrate
Last year I used a mixture of verm and perlite. I like the bigger vermiculite pieces with the normal perlite; I don't like the smaller finer verm. I plan on doing the same this year; had 100% hatch rate using this mixture, 12/12. Pic of one clutch; sorry for the gruesome blood, I hit a vein.
-Jen. Back in the hobby after a hiatus!
Ball pythons:
0.1 normal; 1.1 albino. 1.0 pied; 0.1 het pied; 1.0 banana.
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Re: incubating substrate
I'm a vermiculite man too. Sometimes I add perlite. I use this for all my beardie and BP eggs I hand squeeze all my mixtures (great exersize) to make sure there isn't too much moisture. I find that sometimes it comes real dry and sometimes moist so I don't go by formulas.
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BPnet Veteran
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Re: incubating substrate
I use a mixture of vermiculite and perlite. In the past I've used all Vermiculite, all perlite, Sphagnum moss, Coconut coir, and even potting soil. They all worked just fine for keeping the humidity level where it was supposed to be which is the purpose of the incubation medium in the first place. The mixture of the vermic and perlite to me seemed easier in the long run because I didn't have to babysit it as much and constantly check on the moisture levels and add more water if it seemed to be drying out. It just seems to hold moisture for a longer period of time.
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Re: incubating substrate
I used vermic this year and got a 100% hatch rate...
It's not hard to mix...being able to see a properly mixed batch in front of you helps a lot. A lot of people make it WAY too wet...it should almost feel like "did I really add any water?" In other words, dry to the touch.
That, and I feel like eggs were meant to sit in something - all the success of people using the no substrate method obviously contradicts that - but it makes me "feel better" knowing that they are sitting in something.
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