Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Have any of you guys used the fine ground vermiculite ? I always use the coarser version but ran out and my husband found 2 very large bags of the fine stuff (for egg incubation).

I used it briefly with some agama eggs, seemed to me to have dried out at a faster rate, but maybe I'm imagining it to be different as I have always used the coarser kind.

Anybody used this (Finer ground) and have any thoughts ?
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PHEve / Eve

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Eve,
I've found that fine vermiculite is better for potting soil and not so for egg tray medium. I used to use the fine instead of the course but have had much success hatching a variety of herps over the years by using the course instead. Fine verm acts as a sponge as it holds moisture right up against the eggs therefore depriving the eggs of much needed oxygen while at the same time keeping the eggs too wet. Thus ... often causing mildew, fungus and poor looking egg surfaces in general. The great thing about course verm is that there's nooks and crevices between the larger particles which allows a lot of the moisture to eventually end up towards the bottom of the egg tray (similar to how perlite works). When the moisture is settled at the bottom of the tray, the incubating temps allow it to rise toward the surface in a form of steam. This is more beneficial to the eggs as they get a more equal share of moisture and oxygen.

Hope this helps,
John

the fine stuff... Did not like it at all.
Thanked my hubby for the thought LOL, but when I used it once I could tell it was not what I like. And it did dry very fast in my opinion.

Thanks for your imput, Yes helped alot. I had already ordered the coarser vermiculite, as I will be needing alot of it soon . Thanks JohnC

By the way Nice uro pics ya sent me , Best wishes with that, hehehee
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PHEve / Eve

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