Vermiculite Methods

[gaz_morgz]

I have brought a bag of vermiculite already so am gonna use this as my incubation medium.

My incubator is a plastic tub half filled with water, an aquarium heater and 2 bricks to support the egg tub. I had a tub with holes in the lid but the vermiculite was geting too dry so now i have another tub without holes but there seems to be a lot of condensation on the lid, the temp inside tub was around 80*f with holes and 82*f without, the plastic tub with the water in has a lid on but is only half on as temps were more steady than when lid was on fully.

My 1 and only egg so far has dented very bad and i am sure it wont be fertile but incubating anyway, but my question is are there any other ways of improving my incubation method and if anyone has any tips they could provide would be much appreciated.

 

[Jenn]

I have not incubated any eggs yet but i will be soon. I just got my hova in today and I will be using Albeys method to incubate. I was not sure if I could post the link but there is step by step instructions if you google it im sure you can find it.

 

[Gregg M]

but my question is are there any other ways of improving my incubation method and if anyone has any tips they could provide would be much appreciated.

I am not a big fan of "wet" incubation techniques... And to answer your question, there are other ways to inicubate your eggs... All I can say at this time is that the Daytona reptile show will open the door for a really cool, cutting edge incubation method that works better than most methods...:main_thumbsup:

 

[Sunrise Reptile]

OK, I gotta update my "Pros and Cons" list so I can show my better half! :main_laugh: Any little bit to convince her that Daytona is a nice place. Thanks for the ammo, Gregg!

I'd use perlite over vermiculite or coco fiber to incubate eggs any day.

 

[crotaphytidae]

Gregg, did you improve on your method even more. If so that makes me very curious.

 

[Retribution Reptiles]

Gregg are you foreshadowing to your method of egg incubation?

 

[shawn119]

I have a method. Use vermiculite in a plastic container and make sure it is moist at all times. The container should have a lid and water should evaporate and cling on to the lid. If the water is dripping you are putting to much water. You have to handle this carefully or if water drips it could mold the eggs.

 

[gaz_morgz]

I am not a big fan of "wet" incubation techniques... And to answer your question, there are other ways to inicubate your eggs... All I can say at this time is that the Daytona reptile show will open the door for a really cool, cutting edge incubation method that works better than most methods...:main_thumbsup:

If only i lived in the US never mind close to Daytona

 

[Hopefull Monster Geckos]

What I do is soak the vermiculite completly then pick it up in your hand and squeeze it until it stops driping put it in the container spread it out then set the eggs in.

 

[Gregg M]

If only i lived in the US never mind close to Daytona

Dont worry, I will be exporting...:main_thumbsup:

 

[GeckoGathering]

I'd use perlite over vermiculite or coco fiber to incubate eggs any day.

I'll second this (Albey Perlite Method)
and add any day or night, without an incubator for females....
and include what I call the, "let her tell you she is bred method"
of breeding.
results 2008 100 % hatch. 23 for 23.......
take care. Hj

 

[gaz_morgz]

Already got bag of vermiculite.

Damn if this egg colapses i will try the perlite as that is what seems to be the most popular choice on your of the pond.

That albeys method seems to be very popular, Hovabators over here cost around £60 - £70 GBP so over $100 USD so making a home made incubator is alot cheaper for me, especially when i have all the kit already.

Any of you that have used homemade incubators have a preffered way, mine is with water in plastic tub and submersible heater.

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

I have been using vermiculite as an incubation medium for 13 years. My method is to put the incubation container on the scale and then zero it out. I then put in vermiculite until the scale reads 1 oz. I then use my water mister and spray down the vermiculite until the scale reads 1.8 oz. (1 : .8 vermiculite to water ratio). The containers have no holes in them, and I open them every week or two to exchange the air. If the substrate started feeling too dry (especially in the male incubator), I remove the eggs gently, put the container back on the scale and mist it with water until the weight show 1.8 oz + whatever the empty container weighs.

 

[gaz_morgz]

I have been using vermiculite as an incubation medium for 13 years. My method is to put the incubation container on the scale and then zero it out. I then put in vermiculite until the scale reads 1 oz. I then use my water mister and spray down the vermiculite until the scale reads 1.8 oz. (1 : .8 vermiculite to water ratio). The containers have no holes in them, and I open them every week or two to exchange the air. If the substrate started feeling too dry (especially in the male incubator), I remove the eggs gently, put the container back on the scale and mist it with water until the weight show 1.8 oz + whatever the empty container weighs.

What incubator do you use may i ask?

 

[gaz_morgz]

Using Vermiculite in a container with no air holes, quite a bit of condensation, should i put holes in or not?

 

[Hopefull Monster Geckos]

if there is condensation then generaly is is to moist

 

[gaz_morgz]

I thought that but the vermiculite doesnt seem to be very moist. My first clutch collapsed other day and was denting aswell and vermiculite around it was pretty dry.