How to set up an egg tub

[LadyOhh]

So, I was asked to do this by a friend, and have FINALLY gotten around to doing it.

Here we go!


Begin with a tub that you KNOW will fit in your incubator. I use 6qt tubs for the most part. If you can use a larger tub, feel free to do so!



Secondly, make sure that you have enough substrate. I use the vermiculite/perlite mixture, as it works for me, and I managed to get some weird sized vermiculite this year.

Here is the super fine stuff



Here is the extra large stuff



Here is perlite. Make sure that the perlite you are using is does not have fertilizers in it, as it will NOT make your eggs grow any better, but rather make it much worse



Now with my situation, I have basically taken equal parts of these three and mixed them together. Depending on the type of vermiculite you use (typically the size in between the two I use), you may not have to use perlite at all. I do because the small super fine stuff is practically sandlike.

Here is a dry mixture of all of the three parts. It will be dusty, so be careful. Make sure to mix it evenly thruout.



Now add water.

THIS IS THE TRICKY PART.

DO NOT add so much water that you can squeeze water out of your substrate. Add enough that you can squeeze it into a ball, it not fall apart, and it does not leak water. Also enough water so that you can easily break your substrate ball into pieces again.

Here are a couple examples of that.







Now if you put too much water in, add more substrate. Just keep on keeping on until you get it right.

Then add eggs (photo not included in this, as I didn't have eggs to put in the box yet)

Take some Glad Press N' Seal or something similar (generic brand is TOTALLY FINE ) and cover the box





Place the top on firmly.



And there you go!

Hope this is helpful to some...

[rabernet]

Good job Heather! I have stickied it!

[littleindiangirl]

Sweet! Great thread Heather!

[Somed00d]

Great post!!!

I would like to add my 2 cents. When your adding the water if you add equal parts of water to substrate by weight it should get the mixture near perfect. now here is my super secret method:
put the empty egg tub on the scale, zero the scale. Add the dry substrate taking note of the weight. Then add the water until the weight is double what you started with, voila perfect amount of water.

Also, you want your substrate to be as sterile as possible so working with latex gloves or really clean hands is worth a mention.

Richard

[West Coast Jungle]

Great post Heather, I spent many worried nights when I first started(Is the mix to wet? to dry?)

Richard the only problem with mixing equal parts is many nuseries(like mine) store the vermiculite outside and can be damp from rain or bone dry so I prefer Heathers way of doing it by feel in case the mix varies.

[sho220]

Great post!!!

I would like to add my 2 cents. When your adding the water if you add equal parts of water to substrate by weight it should get the mixture near perfect. now here is my super secret method:
put the empty egg tub on the scale, zero the scale. Add the dry substrate taking note of the weight. Then add the water until the weight is double what you started with, voila perfect amount of water.

Also, you want your substrate to be as sterile as possible so working with latex gloves or really clean hands is worth a mention.

Richard

I read many times that big breeders re-use substrate over and over for several years just scooping out the nasty spots and never have issues...so I'm not sure rubber gloves are necessary...

[OhBalls]

Awesome post Heather! Thanks for the great info!

[sho220]

What's the purpose of the cling wrap?

[Somed00d]

I read many times that big breeders re-use substrate over and over for several years just scooping out the nasty spots and never have issues...so I'm not sure rubber gloves are necessary...

totally true, i just said its worth a mention I know a few that bake the substrate in the oven to make sure its clean and others that reuse the same substrate and its still moist from previous years.

Richard the only problem with mixing equal parts is many nuseries(like mine) store the vermiculite outside and can be damp from rain or bone dry so I prefer Heathers way of doing it by feel in case the mix varies.

Never thought of it that way, I have not seen damp vermiculite myself but as you said its more than possible.


Richard

[Argentra]

Sweet post!! Perfect timing, too, as I should be starting some breeding this coming winter. I'm marking this one!