Incubation media

Which do you use for your eggs?

2 parts perilite and 1 part vermiculite to equal part of water by weight.works great for me. TIMOTHY W. HURKMANS

I just use peat/saugum moss, it is cheap and bigg bags at homedepot

I use straight perlite. I use a mixture of 1 part perlite to .8 parts water. Hatching rate is usually 99%.

Sometimes I use long fibered sphagnum. Sometimes vermiculite. Sometimes vermiculite/perlite mixture, and sometimes either vermiculite or sphagnum with a perlite topping to hold the eggs off the moist substrate.
I've never been precise about measuring the media and water, I just go by feel then watch the eggs. I do it this way because it's the way I first learned years ago before I read of any actual "formulas".
I've had fine success with all methods except for pure perlite. I think that's because my "mix by feel" method just doesn't work with that media since it doesn't soak up the water like the others do, and you need to measure the mixture.
My favorite is pure vermiculite with or without a perlite topping. I'm just used to mixing the vermiculite and can tell when it's right by feeling it.
I think I'll try some of the measuring methods this year and see how that goes. I like the method of so many 16oz cups of media to one 16oz cup of water used by the Sutherlands and the Barkers. It's simple and effecient, and most likely more consistent than the way I've always done it.

I only work with Regius but use no substrate to incubate.

A few years with this method and no problems thus far.

Originally Posted by Clay Davenport

I think that's because my "mix by feel" method just doesn't work with that media since it doesn't soak up the water like the others do, and you need to measure the mixture.

That's one of the reasons I kind of like perlite, because when I use clear containers I can mark the "water line" and it is easier to keep track of any moisture loss. Still use vermiculite also, I seem to just use whatever I have on hand, which was whatever I happened to find first when I'm looking for it I guess.

The way I use perlite is to put my container on the scale and tare it out. I then add the perlite. I get the weight of the perlite and multiply it by .8. The number I get from this is the amount of water needed. I then add this number to the weight of the perlite. I use this number as my stopping point for adding water. For example, I weigh my perlite and it is 200 grams. I multiply this by .8 which equals 160. I add 200 and 160 which equals 360.
I leave the container on the scale and begin to spray the perlite with a spray bottle until it reaches 360 grams. Pretty easy and I have had awesome luck with it.
If I get a clutch that is stuck together I sometimes put a thin layer of sphagnum moss over the top.