Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Im planning to breed some normals this season and wondering which substace would be better. Ive heard "Vermiculite" is good, but messy. And "Hatchrite" is simple to use and not messy. What would you reccomend?

Thanks
Josh
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Balls for life!
1.0 Pastel BP (George)
0.1 Spider BP
0.1 Huge normal BP (Beladona)
0.0.1 Gray Banded king
0.1 7 foot Burmese
0.0.1 Red phase Eastern Hoggie
0.0.2 RES
0.0.1 Musk turtle
1.0 Cat(Higgens)
2.0 Dogs (Boomer,Buster)
1.1 Iggys (Bart, Lisa)
1.1 Beardies
0.0.1 Axthantic Red tail Boa
0.0.1 Prairie King snake
0.0.1 Savannah Monintor

I have never used Hatchrite, so I cannot say about that. But, I have used and still use both Vermiculite/Perlite mixture and no substrate method. Personally, I prefer the Vermic mixture.
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Jay A. Martin
Jay Martin Reptiles

Vermiculite/Perlite.
2:1
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www.strictlyballs.ca

I used HatchRite last year and hatched all 3 clutches perfectly. Never had to worry about humidity, it was always perfect. You just dump some in the container, put the eggs in, put the lid on, and incubate.
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~* Jen *~

Pink Lady Constrictors

I have seen this stuff advertised. Does it have the water mixed in also, or does it tell you how much to add to it? What size container did you use? I am thinking of using my surplus tubs to my rubbermaid 2220 rack.
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Happy Herping,
Jody Barnes
Royal Kreationz

1.0 albino
1.2 het albino
1.0 het caramel
1.0 het pied
0.1 poss het. pied
0.4 normals (beautiful pastel sibs)

Its premaid already for you. I haven't used it yet but if you don't know the right consistency of the verm/Perlite mixture you could easily be too wet or to dry. I had this experience this past season and lost 2 of 5 good eggs. I am going to try the hatchrite since its premixed and seems to be easier to use. Also i have heard bad things about the vermiculite being toxic or something to the snake. Can anyone confirm that?

Around ten years ago, there was a problem with asbestos contaminating the Vermiculite supply. The problem mine was closed, and as far as I know, there is no asbestos problem now.

HatchRite is too expensive for my taste.

Paul Hollander

A while back, there was a thread about this. A person didn't realize their vermiculite was mixed with MiracleGro by the manufacturer. They had no problem with the babies that hatched, and a couple of other people checked their stuff as a result of the post, and they had the MiracleGro stuff also, and had no problems with the eggs hatching healthy. They did wonder if their babies were bigger than average, but it was just a joke.
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Happy Herping,
Jody Barnes
Royal Kreationz

1.0 albino
1.2 het albino
1.0 het caramel
1.0 het pied
0.1 poss het. pied
0.4 normals (beautiful pastel sibs)

It has the water already in it, you just pour and go. I used the long Ziploc disposable food storage containers.
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~* Jen *~

Pink Lady Constrictors

I used vermaculite for my clutch last year and while yes, it was messy, it got the job done just fine.

Just my two cents.

~jenny
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