Perlite/Superhatch/Hatchrite Comparison

[Gregg M]

-So no one medium is better than another?.

-Will one medium hold moisture better than another?

Your incubation medium is not what is important... Its the humidity level that is around the egg and the eggs ability to exchange gases that is important

-Will a medium with more acidity help keep eggs from molding??

Mold should be a non-issue when it comes to live, healthy eggs... Mold will almost never grow on live eggs... I have had bad eggs mold up right next to good ones with no ill effect to the good eggs...

-Why do the eggs swell so big in other substrates, I'm assuming it is due to water intake. If this is true does the embryo asorb any of the water?

Eggs will swell depending on the humidity in the incubation container... The egg will absorb humidity in order to sustain the growing embryo... Too much or too little humidity intake can cause issues... This is where human error comes into play... When eggs dent or become over humidified, is it the substrates fault??? No, it comes down to the one providing the environment for the eggs...

Gregg you have been doing this for a long time so I respect your answers but I think the incubation period is important to the developement of the embryo including it's initial size. I don't think it will change the adult size of the gecko, just the hatch size.

Again, it is not the incubation substrate or egg size that determines hatchling size...

Trust me, I have been researching and studying incubation methods, common and uncommon substrates used... There is an actual science to all of this... Its not just adding water to a substrate and putting eggs in it... I have tested more incubation substrates and methods than you can imagine... It is what helped me come up with one of my patented products being released this year...

 

[leoman777]

gregg whats the name of your product and when will it come out??

 

[Gregg M]

I have mentioned it a few times... Its an incubation container and it will make its public debut at the Daytona show... Thats all I am willing to say at this time...

 

[OhioGecko]

"Trust me, I have been researching and studying incubation methods, common and uncommon substrates used... There is an actual science to all of this... Its not just adding water to a substrate and putting eggs in it... I have tested more incubation substrates and methods than you can imagine... It is what helped me come up with one of my patented products being released this year... "

If the Incubation process and medium doesn't matter than why a patented product? Would it be because it helps take the human factor out and aids in providing the necessary humidity to the egg which in turn provides a healthier hatchling?

Eggs will swell depending on the humidity in the incubation container... The egg will absorb humidity in order to sustain the growing embryo... Too much or too little humidity intake can cause issues... This is where human error comes into play... When eggs dent or become over humidified, is it the substrates fault??? No, it comes down to the one providing the environment for the eggs...

Greg, you are saying exactly the point I'm trying to get across. But I believe that some substrates is less forgiving than others. Some substrates can hold moisture better than others. If the substrate lets moisture to gravitate to the bottom of your egg container is it an inferior substrate to one that doesn't?

Let say someone comes up with a substrateless incubation container. And that it provided just the right amount of moisture to the eggs and took all human error out of the process. You would have eggs that didn't dent and eggs that didn't have to much moisture. All the embryos would receive just the right amount of water. Don't you think that you hatchlings would hatch out healthier and therefore rid the days of the sunken egg and puny hatchlings?

 

[Gregg M]

Let say someone comes up with a substrateless incubation container. And that it provided just the right amount of moisture to the eggs and took all human error out of the process. You would have eggs that didn't dent and eggs that didn't have to much moisture. All the embryos would receive just the right amount of water. Don't you think that you hatchlings would hatch out healthier and therefore rid the days of the sunken egg and puny hatchlings?

With that idea, I am certain that there is more to the method besides the humidity... I would think that the eggs also under-go unrestricted gas exchanges and heat retention inside the container... Again, there is much more to incubation than "do this ratio and add eggs to substrate"... Besides, the method you are talking about is on a whole different level... Its like comparing natures spirit incubators to Do-It-Yourself incubators that utilize fish tank heaters and a 10 gallon AGA... LOL... Sure the fish tank incubator can work but which one would you put your best eggs in???

 

[GeckoGathering]

Pebbles medium?

Your incubation medium is not what is important... Its the humidity level that is around the egg and the eggs ability to exchange gases that is important

Eggs will swell depending on the humidity in the incubation container... The egg will absorb humidity in order to sustain the growing embryo... Too much or too little humidity intake can cause issues... This is where human error comes into play... When eggs dent or become over humidified, is it the substrates fault??? No, it comes down to the one providing the environment for the eggs...

Greg, good comments.
Agreed........but IMO
Substrates don't matter but some are easier for less human error.
So in a sense a substrate choice does matter.
Perlite was described by the Hoffman company(makers of perlite and vermiculite) as a drainage and aeration volcanic product.
Vermiculite as a moisture retention product.....................................
So as your comment:
Your incubation medium is not what is important...
Its the humidity level that is around the egg and the eggs ability to exchange gases that is important.

That is what perlite appears to allow with the less than saturation
level of water. Creates humidity around the egg.
In my mind pebbles will work as long as a person can figure the
water needed to create the right humidity around the egg.
But I would rather stick with perlite as it has a proven track record,
at least in my mind.
Let me know if you figure out the water ratio for pebbles.....
Take care. HJ

 

[sammer021486]

Greg, good comments.
Agreed........but IMO
Substrates don't matter but some are easier for less human error.
So in a sense a substrate choice does matter.
Perlite was described by the Hoffman company(makers of perlite and vermiculite) as a drainage and aeration volcanic product.
Vermiculite as a moisture retention product.....................................
So as your comment:
Your incubation medium is not what is important...
Its the humidity level that is around the egg and the eggs ability to exchange gases that is important.

I am by no means well learned in incubation mediums and incubating eggs because I just started breeding this year. But wouldn't super hatch (aka aquatic plant soil) be a better product for a beginner? It is relatively cheap I can buy a 2kg bag for $10CND and it can be easily sterilized and re-used by boiling in water or baking in the oven. On top of that there is no measuring of how much product to water ratios. You just soak it for a few minutes then let it drip out the excess water, place it in your container and its ready for the eggs. I had access to vermiculite, but decided to get the super hatch, because I did not want the hassles of too much or not enough moisture around the eggs. As a beginning breeder I know that the super hatch has helped take some of the anxiety out of incubation process. The super hatch I use is quite small, allowing it to come in less contact with the surface of the egg giving more surface air exchange.

So based on what I took from the quote I believe that super hatch does provide a beginner with a better chance of less human error for the humidity being too much for the eggs. But as said I haven't tried any of the other incubation mediums and it is my opinion that super hatch helps a beginner out.

 

[GeckoGathering]

Eggs

As a beginning breeder I know that the super hatch has helped take some of the anxiety out of incubation process.
So based on what I took from the quote I believe that super hatch does provide a beginner with a better chance of less human error for the humidity being too much for the eggs.

Since I have never had reason
to use super hatch, I am not one to answer your questions.
Sounds as if you sold yourself on it though.
Good luck. Take care. HJ

 

[gators0204]

I am by no means well learned in incubation mediums and incubating eggs because I just started breeding this year. But wouldn't super hatch (aka aquatic plant soil) be a better product for a beginner? It is relatively cheap I can buy a 2kg bag for $10CND and it can be easily sterilized and re-used by boiling in water or baking in the oven. On top of that there is no measuring of how much product to water ratios. You just soak it for a few minutes then let it drip out the excess water, place it in your container and its ready for the eggs. I had access to vermiculite, but decided to get the super hatch, because I did not want the hassles of too much or not enough moisture around the eggs. As a beginning breeder I know that the super hatch has helped take some of the anxiety out of incubation process. The super hatch I use is quite small, allowing it to come in less contact with the surface of the egg giving more surface air exchange.

So based on what I took from the quote I believe that super hatch does provide a beginner with a better chance of less human error for the humidity being too much for the eggs. But as said I haven't tried any of the other incubation mediums and it is my opinion that super hatch helps a beginner out.

Yes, absolutely. That was one of the initial reasoning why i used 3 different mediums, which was for my own curiosity. You can also tell when it need more moisture by its changing of the color. So far to me it looks as though the superhatch will be my medium form here on out.

 

[gators0204]

Greg, good comments.

But I would rather stick with perlite as it has a proven track record,
at least in my mind.

So does calcined clay, with what seems better hatch results and less error and less cost.

 

[GeckoGathering]

Super hatch

Yes, absolutely. That was one of the initial reasoning why i used 3 different mediums, which was for my own curiosity. You can also tell when it need more moisture by its changing of the color. So far to me it looks as though the superhatch will be my medium form here on out.

Hi Gators. You talked with me
about super hatch before, and have me interested in trying it.
Maybe when I run out of this bag of perlite I have I'll try it out.
Glad it works well for you. Just one question...
when it looks to need moisture, do you have to take your
eggs out to spray or wet it down? or how do you do that?
Thanks again for input.
Take care. HJ

 

[sammer021486]

Hi Gators. You talked with me
about super hatch before, and have me interested in trying it.
Maybe when I run out of this bag of perlite I have I'll try it out.
Glad it works well for you. Just one question...
when it looks to need moisture, do you have to take your
eggs out to spray or wet it down? or how do you do that?
Thanks again for input.
Take care. HJ

From what I have read on it if you use a sealed container and only open it once or twice a week for air exchange. You should never have to add water to the super hatch throughout the duration of the incubation.

 

[gators0204]

Hi Gators. You talked with me
about super hatch before, and have me interested in trying it.
Maybe when I run out of this bag of perlite I have I'll try it out.
Glad it works well for you. Just one question...
when it looks to need moisture, do you have to take your
eggs out to spray or wet it down? or how do you do that?
Thanks again for input.
Take care. HJ

I haven't had it dry out on me yet. It actually keeps the moisture so well that it doesnt dry out.