Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am breeding balls for the first time this year, and am happy to say that I believe there is some development and eggs will be laid. I have a few questions

is there any reason not to use expndable coconut fiber for laying/incubation subtrate? I was going to try to use something more common among breeders, but I have lots of this coconut fiber with no use for it. I don't see any reason why, if it holds moisture and is not poinonous, that it shouldn't work. but there might be something I don't know.

don't ask, but I am in possession of an infant warmer, like the type they use in hospitals, and I'd like to use that to incubate. again, no reason I know of that it shouldn't work, but what do you know?

The coconut fiber stuff is messy and is like sand and(my guess is) it could get stuck underneath the snakes scales. I would stay away from it personally.

More ineresting is this baby warmer thing. You are not speaking of an incubator, you mean the baby warmer thing they stick the new born infant under to keep the little baby warm - no?

You can use any heat source...almost. What exacty is the heating element comprised of in one of those things? Is it a heated coil like in a electric heater? Is it a ceramic element? Does it use bubs, etc...etc...

Take some pics and describe it to me in detail and I can help you out if youd like.

This one has me curious...

it is one they use to warm newborns, it came from a hospital. it's all over head, and it has what looks like flourescent bulbs with a metal "cage". I'm not sure how the heating works exactly, but it has a built in thermostat and a place for a sensing probe(which I need to get). you can set it to work constantly or shut on/off to keep the temperature. my only concern would be that it sways the temperature too much, but I'll test it beforehand to see

The biggest things with an incubator is humidity and temperatures. Would that baby baker hold enough humidity (at least 80%, if not higher) consistently to hatch the eggs in?

The coconut fibers can and will mold with the level of humidity and moisture that you would need in the incubator. Vermiculite works because it is an inorganic substance, so there is nothing there originally for mold to grow on, unless another substance is introduced (like an egg dying or breaking).

~jenny
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