Hatchrite or Perlite?
- Thread starter Stitchex
- Start date
. So...out of the two substrates(hatchrite or perlite), which one has been most trustworthy?
jakemyster44
Member
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- 588
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- Perrysburg, Ohio
Mary,
Hatchrite is just pre-moistened perlite. You have to use it in a completly sealed container (pop the lid once a week or some air exchange) or it will dry out. Honestly, here is what I would do (you have a gram scale right?)
1. Follow Albeys method (it uses perlite, and I have heard great things about it!) http://www.albeysreptiles.com/incubate-eggs.htm
** you can either put this in a sealed container and be set (just having to open periodically for air flow) or you can put it in a container with a few holes in it and continue with the steps below.
2. after placing the eggs in the container, weigh it again (the whole thing, but not with the lid on)
3. Every week or so, take of the lid (remeber, we weighed it the first time with no lid) and weigh it again.
4. If the weight has dropped a little bit (due to water evaporating and exiting through the air holes) then add water to the sides of the container untill it reaches the original weight.
This year I will be using SuperHatch, I'll let you know how it goes. If I were you, I would just buy some perlit for cheap rather than buy the HatchRite, just my two cents.
Hatchrite is just pre-moistened perlite. You have to use it in a completly sealed container (pop the lid once a week or some air exchange) or it will dry out. Honestly, here is what I would do (you have a gram scale right?)
1. Follow Albeys method (it uses perlite, and I have heard great things about it!) http://www.albeysreptiles.com/incubate-eggs.htm
** you can either put this in a sealed container and be set (just having to open periodically for air flow) or you can put it in a container with a few holes in it and continue with the steps below.
2. after placing the eggs in the container, weigh it again (the whole thing, but not with the lid on)
3. Every week or so, take of the lid (remeber, we weighed it the first time with no lid) and weigh it again.
4. If the weight has dropped a little bit (due to water evaporating and exiting through the air holes) then add water to the sides of the container untill it reaches the original weight.
This year I will be using SuperHatch, I'll let you know how it goes. If I were you, I would just buy some perlit for cheap rather than buy the HatchRite, just my two cents.
Last edited:
yellermelon
Rockin the Suburbs
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- Rock Hill, SC
i use albeys method as well
THE WHISPERER
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- California
Just curious of why you don't trust vermiculite?
N
Nigel4less
Guest
Vermiculite is known to be cancerous and carry asbestos.
THE WHISPERER
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I did some searching on the internet and the only connections I found with vermiculite and asbestos was with vermiculite in isulation. The sites i visited said the vermiculite that contained asbestos only came from the Libby mine in Montana, and that was closed down in 1990. All the bags of Vermiculite that I buy say "asbestos free". I received most of my info from -vermiculite.org, cancer.gov, and asbestoscancervermiculite.info- but hearing this still leaves me concerned so I was wondering where you got your info from so I can research it some more, beings that I am using vermiculite still. thanks in advance.
goReptiles
New Member
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- 2,639
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- Georgia
I have had better results with hatchrite than with perlite, although it is a bit more expensive. I'm testing out the super hatch stuff from pangea now, and it's doing pretty well. I'll probably be purchasing more soon, and what makes it really cool is that it's reusable.
RaiQuee
Stripes are in!
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- 685
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- Big Bend, WI
I use vermiculite after having better hatch results with it. It is easier to tell when its getting dry (at least for me) plus its used for ball python eggs as well, so we already have it. If your really worried, all you need to do is use it outside. I just go out in the garage and once its wet you don't have to worry. The main concern with it being cancerous was being inhaled in its dry form. So just place it in the container outside, and once its wet your fine. Although vermiculite doesn't have asbestos in it any longer. So there is no real concern.
Otherwise I have used albeys method with good results.
Otherwise I have used albeys method with good results.
M
mcvancleave
Guest
i use perlite i can get a bag the size of two dog food bags for $20. plus the is the only option in south georgia other than ordering offline
I've used both vermiculite and perlite with the same results! I also use the baseball water technique with the same results. 100% hatch rate on fertile eggs. This goes way back to chameleon eggs and dragon eggs also. I don't prefer one over the other. Except vermiculite is softer than perlite. Only difference IMO.
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