iHerp Answers: substrate for egg incubation for corn eggs

iHerp Answers!

Problem?

Search Create an Account, It's Free!

Home > iHerp Answers > substrate for egg incubation for corn eggs

substrate for egg incubation for corn eggs

Posted By:

Acheron_08

ok i kind of have a two part question:)

welll my frist question is other the vermiculite what else can i use to incubate my corn eggs? the last twoclutches i did vermiculite in my little hova bator incubator. ci went to the store today to see about getting some and they told they had to pull the vermiculite b/c it had abestos(sp) in it. so was just curious what else i could do.

and my other question is well i was just curious whatcan i use for a nest box for a 6-7ft python ? lol i was looking at my diamond and thought tomyself what in the hell ami going to use as a nest box for her :)

thanks guys.


Points:	100
Topics:	Egg Laying , Incubation
Tags:	Eggs, Incubation, Laybox
Species:	Other Colubrids > Other Colubrids > Elaphe guttata guttata
Administrative:	Show/Hide

Author Comment

12/17/2008 1:25:13 AM

Acheron_08

oh one more thing sorry about the typos i have my littel demon spwan out (acheron) and he keeps striking at my hand while i am typing lol so sorry about.. and where's the edit button ?lol

Member Comment

12/17/2008 4:40:22 AM

TVR

perlite

Member Comment

12/17/2008 9:30:32 AM

TVR

As a nest box you can use a sterilite or rubbermade tub with a hole cut in the top.

Member Comment

12/17/2008 10:36:09 AM

FyreFocks

I used sphagnum (sp?) moss last year, and will probably use it again this year.

Accepted Answer

12/17/2008 1:13:12 PM

JohnJohn

I've used perlite before, and sphagnum moss. I tried a soil mixture once but I don't recommend that unless you have a way to make it really sterile. I like to use egg-crate style ceiling material over the substrate. This stuff is really cheap and can be cut to size to fit whatever container. The idea there is that the egg crate sits over the substrate so that the eggs are not directly in the substrate. I liked this because it seemed really "clean". With the egg-crate then whatever you use as substrate is just for the purpose of holding moisture. The substrate keeps everything well humidified but the eggs sit just above the substrate on the egg-crate material. This works well for corn-snake eggs....just the right size.

Member Comment

12/17/2008 1:43:46 PM

Saffleur

Check out a product called HatchRite. It's pre-mixed and I've heard tons of good stuff about it. www.hatchrite.com/

As for nest box I dunno never kept a python but I hope you find something nice!

Assisted Answer

12/17/2008 2:19:08 PM

Kaiyudsai

I've used hatchrite and it's great if you don't really know the right proportions of water to vermiculite or perlite.......... You have to be careful mixing your own, because vermiculite and perlite are 2:1 clay.... if there isn't enough water mixed in it will actually suck water out of the eggs due to the high metric potential it has as for the nest box you could use a smaller tub and cut a hole in the top...... I used opaque plastic rubbermaid tubs for blood pythons, and put spagnum on the bottom

Assisted Answer

12/17/2008 6:55:41 PM

MegF

I prefer perlite as it's not as easy to drown eggs with it. Vermiculite can cling to eggs if it gets too wet while vermiculite allows excess water to drain to the bottom of the egg tub. As long as your eggs aren't near the edges of the egg box or on the bottom, it is very hard to drown them. If you need more water, you just add a little warm water to the edge of the box and it goes to the bottom. Never had a problem yet.

Member Comment

12/18/2008 12:42:07 AM

Triangle Reptiles

I use vermiculite. I add the correct amount of water and mix it up real well to make sure the vermiculite is all damp, then I put a thin layer of dry vermiculite over that. Then I place the eggs on the dry vermiculite. The bottom layer keeps the humidity up, the top layer keeps the eggs dry. Works for me EVERY time.

Member Comment

12/18/2008 1:01:07 AM

Mongrel Kitty

I used vermiculite.
I just add water, mixed it up, and squeeze it. If it doesn't drip it's not too wet, and if it holds form when you let go its just wet enough. Add water if it isn't damp enough, add dry vermiculite if it's too wet. At least thats how I've always done it. I've never measured out water to dry parts, or anything.
But that's just me....

Member Comment

12/18/2008 1:01:45 AM

Mongrel Kitty

Oh... and definitly rubbermaid with hole in the top as a next box.

Member Comment

12/18/2008 8:52:23 AM

JohnJohn

Good post Acheron. I love hearing what everyone does. Always something good to learn here. Thanks.

Author Comment

12/20/2008 8:44:22 AM

Acheron_08

thanks for all the great info i am going to try some of these things:) but i am just worried about screwing the eggs up :(

Assisted Answer

12/21/2008 10:04:26 AM

triplemoonsexotic

My absolute favorite incubation and nest box medium is Orchid Moss. It's expensive and hard to find, but I've never found anything I've liked better.

With any organic incubation medium, I would recommend microwaving it for 30 seconds (don't forget to include a cup of water in there while you're doing it!) to kill any nasties that may be in the medium.

Member Comment

10/4/2010 3:40:48 PM

dalvers63

This question has had no activity for 14 days and will be closed by an administrator unless the original poster takes action.

Recommended Action: Points awarded

An administrator will select responses and assign points at their discretion.

Original poster, please close this question out and assign points. If you have any further information in the resolution of your problem, please post it here so that others may learn from it.

You are not logged in. If you would like to participate (it's free!), you must log in, or Become a Member!