Attn gecko breeders: incubation medium question

[DrNick]

Evening all, I was hoping some of the experienced gecko breeders could please answer some questions for me.

After some unusual incubation periods with rough knob tail eggs I am wanting to experiment with incubation medium ratios and materials.

Currently I am using a finer grade vermiculite mixed at about 0.8 water to 1 vermiculite. I know some people have had issues with the finer stuff so one option I have is to try some of the co a r ser grades ( 3 or 4).

What ratio of water to vermiculite have you all found to be successful?? I am using sealed tubs that get aired 1 or 2 times weekly.

Also, and most importantly: I am thinking about trialling PERLITE for a while. I tried a test mix of 60:40 Perlite:Water mix and it seemed VERY dry- IS THIS NORMAL????(I understand perlite retains water differently to vermiculite, hence why I want to try it). What ratios are people using for perlite and gecko eggs??

Many thanks in advance for your time and responses.

[Glider]

It's a brave person to risk amyae eggs trying out new incubation mediums and methods!

Good luck

[DrNick]

Originally Posted by Glider

It's a brave person to risk amyae eggs trying out new incubation mediums and methods!

Good luck

asper

[JasonL]

Originally Posted by Glider

It's a brave person to risk amyae eggs trying out new incubation mediums and methods!

Good luck

I prefer to learn than to listen .

I personally think most of the problems / differences occur before the eggs have left the female, often in captivity, reptiles hold onto eggs much longer than they should, due to stress, calcium issues, and heating, this is esp. the case with lizards that like to dig deep holes to lay their eggs in. Often females have poor calcium levels due to heating and feeding inaccuracies, and pass it on to the egg. IMO, calcium levels in eggs is the biggest problem with hatchling problems.
I have used used all three major egg incubating mediums and have not noticed any outstanding differences between them, I still prefer dryer than wetter with all of them.

[DrNick]

Originally Posted by JasonL

I prefer to learn than to listen .

I personally think most of the problems / differences occur before the eggs have left the female, often in captivity, reptiles hold onto eggs much longer than they should, due to stress, calcium issues, and heating, this is esp. the case with lizards that like to dig deep holes to lay their eggs in. Often females have poor calcium levels due to heating and feeding inaccuracies, and pass it on to the egg. IMO, calcium levels in eggs is the biggest problem with hatchling problems.
I have used used all three major egg incubating mediums and have not noticed any outstanding differences between them, I still prefer dryer than wetter with all of them.

What do you prefer Jason- vermiculite or perlite???

[JasonL]

don't care, maybe to tell you the truth Sphagnum, though I think I have all three in the inc right now.

[spongebob]

Here's the high tech system that works a treat or me. Esky incubator with heat matt on pulse proportional thermostat. Each clutch of gecko eggs in a small tub 3/4 filled with 50:50 vermiculite:water. Glad wrap insert in lid for gaseous exchange. The beads of water on the glad wrap tell me there are no holes and humidity is 100%. They just sit there and dont fall on the eggs. I dont open them or do anything until they hatch. In fact I leave them well alone, apart from bringing the ones due to hatch to the top layer once they start piling up.
The vermiculite is recycled to top up the laying boxes or as substrate for crickets.
I find it cheap,efficient, and tried and tested.

[JasonL]

geez bob, packing them in tight there!!!

[spongebob]

Actually I had to move the Bredli eggs out the way!

[JasonL]

Is the beer under all the eggs??... Oh sorry, I forgot, your a pom, it's in the cupboard

[OzGecko]

Hi Nick,
I use Grade 3 vermiculite for my gecko eggs and set it up at a ratio of 1:1 by weight. Haven't had any dramas.

Regards,
Daniel

[DrNick]

Thanks for your replies everyone, I am going to try some co****r vermiculite and play with some perlite as well.

cheers,
Nick

[Glider]

I have used co**** and fine vermiculite, the co**** seemed to work better as I had trouble with the water:verm ratio in the fine stuff always seeming to be too soggy even though the forumla was the same.

If I could get it I would use the co**** stuff, but I can only seem to find the fine stuff at my local Bunnings so I try to start with a slightly drier mix and place the eggs on a thin layer of completely dry verm. Then add droplets of water if necessary until a light mist forms on the lid of the incubation container. It's a lot more fiddly than when I had the co**** stuff which just seemed to work right first go.

[Glider]

co**** co**** co****!!!

[Magpie]

I've used perlite for knobbies no worries.
Geckos, as with dragons are "lay and forget" animals, they find a spot, lay the eggs and then leave.
The eggs are, therefore, much hardier than python eggs.
They have to be able to deal with excess dryness / wetness / temp changes (althought underground temps are fairly stable).
Have you tried building or using another incubator? I had massive problems with my snake eggs last year and it turned out to be the incubator, no idea why or how, but it was.