Reptile & Amphibian Forums

It is that time of year for incubating eggs. I should have some batches of eggs that are hopefully good. In the past I used perolite 1/1 ratio of water and had good luck. This year I wanted to know if It would be a good idea to make a little incubator out of a 10 gallon tank with water heater at the bottom? If I made the incubator do I still need to have a 1/1 ratio of perolite to water? Do these type of home made incubators work? I am having to go low dollar this year. Just had to replace a water heater (house) which means I am out 740 pesos.

I also remember Merker or Anderson saying something about the last week opening up the containers to give them plenty of air and put moist paper towels on top of the eggs to help soften the eggs.

Any advice would be super appreciated. For the first time I may actually have some Locality Alterna hatch out.
Wooooohoooooo!

Thanks for your time!

Steven Owens

2 years ago I had some eggs and I just let them incubate at room temperature.

Thanks,

Steven

Steven:
For colubrid eggs I don't bother with an incubator. I just stick them somewhere with a temp range around 78-83F A bit of variation won't hurt them. I run 100% on fertilized eggs.

I don't use anywhere near that ratio of water to perilite - I put just enough water in there to ensure moisture, and aim for as dry as possible. In fact, in Arlington, I'd just open the Perilite bag and let it soak up moisture from the air - that would probably make the perilite plenty damp enough.

Troy

Steven,
I too use perlite and have been successful in hatching quite a few clutches of triangulum and alterna over the past few years. Like Troy said, I tend to keep the perlite relatively dry. I use small sweater boxes to incubate the eggs. I put in a small amount of perlite, just enough to cover the surface area, pour in just a smaller amount of water and take a moment to mix up the two. Once it is good and mixed, I add the eggs and then place a small deli cup full of water for humidity at one end of the box. A few holes have already been drilled in one end of the box for air exchange. A lid is added and the box is put up in a closet in the snake room. I check on the eggs every few weeks and add water to the perlite if needed. I have used this technique for years and have had really good and hatch rates. Hope this helps and good luck.
Nathan

With a 1:1 ratio by weight, I think a lot of people have had trouble with full-term dead babies from Chihuahuan desert colubrids. The eggs become too rotund, and some of the babies can't get out of the eggs.

Steve Hammack did a study on Elaphe a few years ago, including some desert Elaphe like TX and Mexican Baird's, and he found that the best all-around ratio was 2:1. 1:1 was too wet. 10:1 was really dry, but he still got good results out of that group.

DR
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