Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have tried the equal parts by weight. That was still very dry. I tried the 5:1 ratio and that was too dry also. I have been adding a little water at a time to try and get it just right. One has quite a bit of condensation on the lid but not so much that it drips. Is this ok? it still doesn't hold its form perfectly when squeezing it though. Almost half of it still crumbles.
-----
.1 Snow Corn "Hope"
1. Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Chunk" (Goonies)
.1 Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Peaches"
.1 MO Locale Black Ratsnake "Molly" (Flogging Molly)

"Have you ever tried simply turning off the T.V., sitting down with your kids... and hitting them?"

What are you using for substrate? Vermiculite?

The substrate should feel damp but not wet. The paper that I posted a link to the other day used a 2:1 water to vermiculite by mass as a starting point. They added the eggs, and weighed the container. Once a week, they weighed the container and added water to the contained to maintain the same mass for the container.

As far as condensation on the lid goes, try putting a few more vent holes in the lid. That should solve the problem.

I am posting a link to the paper for you. Good luck with your breeding project.
Phenotypic consequences of nest-site selection

I just saw your post below. You have three things going on here. The first is that you don't have any vent holes in the lid of your container. Second, you don't have a cover on the tank or any insulation around the tank. Finially, your incubation temp for an American Rat Snake is on the low side.

Try wraping the tank in a blanket, put a towel over the screen top, put vent holes in the lid of the plastic container, and up the incubation temp to around 82F for Corns, Emoryi, and P. o. ssp.

If you are going by the temperature on the digital thermometer in the pictures then ignore it. I hadn't even plugged in the heater yet. I am keeping it 82 in there. I don't plan on having air holes in the incubation box either.
-----
.1 Snow Corn "Hope"
1. Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Chunk" (Goonies)
.1 Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Peaches"
.1 MO Locale Black Ratsnake "Molly" (Flogging Molly)

"Have you ever tried simply turning off the T.V., sitting down with your kids... and hitting them?"

Then plan on condensation on the lid. What do you need the lid for?

To keep it humid. I am hoping to not have to add any water during the incubation process. I don't trust myself not to screw it up......
-----
.1 Snow Corn "Hope"
1. Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Chunk" (Goonies)
.1 Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Peaches"
.1 MO Locale Black Ratsnake "Molly" (Flogging Molly)

"Have you ever tried simply turning off the T.V., sitting down with your kids... and hitting them?"