Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am considering using hatchrite as a substrate this season. Anyone using hatchrite and what were your results? Holes ? No holes ? Egg container used ? Hatch rate ? Day Hatched ? Mold ?
Bad Eggs ? Thanks in advance Bryan

I have used vermiculite for 20 years. I used hatchrite this year for the first time and it was very simple to use and required less maintenance from me to maintain humidity. It does not mold and is very clean to work with compared to other mediums.

Hatchrite seems to work fine-no better or worse than vermiculite or perlite. But it IS more expensive than either of those, and, with hundreds of eggs to incubate per season, I don't see any reason to switch to it.
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Brad Chambers

The Avalanche has already started-it is too late for the pebbles to vote....

Hatchrite would be a good choice for a first-time breeder or someone only incubating a couple of clutches. Any more than that, you really have no business not learning the right way to mix your incubation substrate. Just my .02...

Mixing vermic to the right consistency is not rocket science, although for someone doing it for the first time without having seen the right way to do it in person, you can sleep easier buying something pre-mixed.

It is also true that vermiculite, which is extremely dusty out of the bag, is now a know proven carcenogen that causes lung cancer and it has been strongly suggested by many industries that it no longer be used in any way without a respirator mask.

It isn't the vermiculite, but asbestos which was found to be contaminating it. If I remember correctly, vermiculite was actually taken off the market for a while because of this. I would imagine that current supplies are asbestos-free. I'll look into it.
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Brad Chambers

The Avalanche has already started-it is too late for the pebbles to vote....

That's true about the asbestos. From what I've been able to find out the problem was with one mine in Libby MT that was contaminated with asbestos, which unfortunately supplied the majority of vermiculite in North America. The mine was closed in 1990 and other mines have been tested free of asbestos. Here is a url that I found about the issue.

www.schundler.com/techverm.htm

You are correct.
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Jay A. Martin
Jay Martin Reptiles

Very easy to use, I like it much better than anything else!

A few small holes in the container is a good idea and it works straight out of the bag. It may be a good idea to weigh the container with eggs and w/o when you first set it up....into incubation you can check the weight to see if water needs to be added. If any eggs go bad remove them and double check your initial weight to see if you should add a bit of water. I just do it by feel.

I really don't think you can do any better and it is SO CLEAN!

Kevin
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I used it last year.

I wouldn't get it again , for the money , you can just get Perlite and wet it yourself.

Also , on a few of my bags , the water settled at the bottom , which dried alot and soaked the others , killed some of my eggs.

So my opinion is for the money , you can get a big bag of perlite and do it yourself much cheaper. cool hope that helps

Derek
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Romans 10:13

"For whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved"

Hebrews 8:12

" For I will be merciful to their iniquities , and I will remember their sins no more"

Well, I don't think you need it for your boa
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-David Harrison-
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