Coco fiber lay box - substrate moisture / temperature

[indyana]

Can someone describe the right amount of moisture for a coco fiber (Eco-Earth) substrate lay box? Actually, I was looking for a video, as it's helpful seeing something as opposed to reading about it... so if anyone knows of a good video of preparing the substrate, please share.

I'm always wondering whether the humid hides should be just dry/cool or actually a bit damp...?

Also, I've heard that it's best if the temperature of the lay box is around 85 F or so. Please give your opinions on that as well.

I have no females yet, but I'm trying to design some new setups.

 

[warhawk]

I use coco fiber for some of my moist hides. It works very well and holds the water very good.

I keep my moist hides right on top of the heat tape and I need to add more water every 5-6 days, so it holds the water very well. I use tupper ware containers for hides and put the fiber in the hide, add just a little water and give it time to absorb into the fiber. After 20-30 secs add more water, I keep doing that until you notice the water not absorbing as fast, normally when it slows down let it sit about a min and the little standing water will absorb. If you see standing water in the fiber after 2 mins you can poor it off no problem.

I have thought about using the coco fiber for a lay box but I have not tried it yet.

 

[indyana]

I am particularly interested in preferred egg laying conditions for females. Hmm, perhaps I should have put this in the breeding forum instead? Hopefully, someone will have time to answer at some point.

 

[Neon Aurora]

I'm by no means an experienced breeder, but I thought I would give my two cents. =) My female seems to prefer the coco fiber moist (less than sopping wet but more than just slightly damp). She digs in it more when it's wet. I have about 2 inches in there, and she always digs down to the bottom to lay her eggs and buries them, so I think she prefers to have some depth to it. Her laybox is on the cool side of her tub, so it's typically about 75 degrees (the same temp as the room) and that seems like it works fine. She seems to like it the way it is. She spends a lot of time in there and is always digging in it.

My other female (only 44 grams, so not breeding this year) also seems to like the coco fiber moist and deep. I think she's ovulating (even though she still eats, so weird), and she digs under the same conditions as my other female, but doesn't dig if the coco fiber dries out.