Need a low-maintenance, high-success incubation medium

[snakewispera snr]

I use the vermiculite wrung out and a covering of dry pearlite.... The tubs I use have domed lids so the condensation doesn't drip onto the eggs but runs back down the sides into the tub....
And for mould issues I use athletes foot powder to control it.....
Air exchange is taken care of by looking into the tubes every couple of days and I use quite deep tubs so there is a nice air space above the eggs....

 

[Nanci]

I have only used HatchRite. As-is. I didn't feel I had to add water or take it away. It feels dryish when it comes out of the bag, not super-moist.

 

[Nanci]

Mike, above, was the person who finally got through to me to stop freaking out about measuring humidity...If the media is right, the humidity just is what it is.

 

[Caryl]

Gee, maybe I need to locate some HatchRite, along with containers that have domed lids.

Does anyone know what is acceptable as a bottom-end low temperature for eggs that are being incubated at room temperature?

 

[Susan]

Susan, I used the moss before but kept getting little bits of fungus on it after a couple days. Maybe I didnt wring out enough moisture?

I've used two different brands of moss over the years, and one (Better-Gro Orchid Moss) is definitely superior to the other, and I'm sure there are even better brands. You also have to make sure you have a fresh bag, not one that has been sitting around for a year or more (an older open bag is even worse). Also, if you get a patch of fungus growing, just remove it and replace that space with fresh moss, or you can completely change the moss out if need be. I do squeeze as much water out as possible, and the females get to use it as a lay box for a week or so first (I don't use a lid on my lay boxes) so the moss does get a chance to dry out a bit before eggs even go in it.

Susan, your set-up sounds like what I did last year, apart from putting the eggs in an incubator rather than on a shelf. Apparently I got things too damp, though, and it ended badly. Shoeboxes didn't fit into my incubator. I'm guessing that the shallower containers I used didn't have enough "head-space" for proper circulation.

Question: I know that the room-temperature method works for many. How cool is dangerously cool?

Nanci, have you used other media around the eggs? And if so, which was the most stable as far as humidity goes? I really don't want to ruin apparently good eggs again. (And yes, remembering how excited I was about my first pippie I can believe you were just that thrilled with yours!)

If I sound paranoid, it's probably because I guess I am. :shrug: I'm supposed to be able to put at least some weight on my left leg in a few weeks, but the doctor said I'll have "major restrictions" for at least 3 months after that. My small hobby collection is already a lot of work on crutches, and that will intensify with the breeding season. That said, they've never been more important to me. Thanks again for the thoughts.

No matter what medium you use or incubator set-up, you're going to get those clutches that goes bad sooner or later, and some years are going to be worse (some MUCH worse) than others. It happens to all of us if you stay doing this long enough.

As for how cool is too cool for incubation, my personal opinion would say nothing below the low 70's (72ish). And unless you have a large number of clutches, 99% of people have at least one spot in their home that would do well to incubate corn snakes by doing nothing except sitting the container on the shelf. For a couple of years (until hubby took the space over and I decided it wasn't worth the effort to fight with him over it), I used the shelf in the laundry room. I would close the vent to keep the A/C out and keep the doors closed at all times. The room stayed in the 70's constantly, getting an occasional boost of heat whenever I used the dryer.

 

[Caryl]

Thanks for the reply. Assuming we don't have a freakishly cool summer here on the coast, I'm sure room temps won't dip below the 70's.

Yeah, I've been involved in animals long enough to know that Murphy is always near, and some years he sets up housekeeping. I'm just hoping to make the environment as Murphy-unfriendly as possible, and trying to stave off potential problems that might occur with my limited mobility. I really appreciate the input and help.

 

[Nanci]

Here's my "new" set-up! The one on the left is the new one from ThinkGeek. The one on the right is cooler because I just turned it on for the picture. I am running the new one for a week or two just to make sure it's fine, then I'll shut it off until I actually have gravid snakes! I had to kick my baby wine refrigerator off the counter for this...

 

[Caryl]

ThinkGeek? I just ordered shirts from them for my kiddos. I didn't realise they sold incubators. Shipping is probably a bear, though. How many clutches fit in those, Nanci?

 

[Nanci]

Shipping was less than $20...ReptiPro apparently just stuck a sticker on that refrigerator/warmer and called it an incubator. Now they are all over the place with so many rebrandings. But it is virtually identical. I think the AC adaptor changed slightly since last year. It will hold three clutches. There is about 6 inches of space between them and the upper cupboards, and about 4 inches in front of them. They have about an inch of breathing room behind them. I like having them in the kitchen where they are right there, easy to check, easy to add water to the trays, etc.

Link to ThinkGeek.

 

[Stormy]

I know this is an older thread but I just came across it, went to ThinkGeek and the fridge/warmer Nanci is showing here is on sale right now for 10$ off and then if you add in the coupon code nextorder you get another 10$ off.

 

[Caryl]

Thanks, Stormy! One of my girls is blue for a pre-lay shed, so I'm going into set-up mode.