Reptile & Amphibian Forums

below dicusses moisture issues in Woma eggs. As some of you know I was breeding Womas in the late 1980's and early 1990's when they were expensive and much desired. The most sucessful way I incubated them was in a "float". By that I mean I put the eggs on dry vermiculite in a small box. I then put that box in a larger box with an inch or two of water. I then put a top on the bigger box and not on the small box containing the eggs. I maintained a temp. of 88-89 degrees and had good hatch rates. I advised J. Terry the same last year on Blackheads and he was sucessful. This float system is well known in some circles but few people will give out the information. I hope this helps....TC

Thnks for that info. Were there any issues with too much condensation on the lid of the larger container. If so, how did you deal with this?
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"He who would stifle debate rather than engage in it, does so at the expense of his integrity and credibility"

Mike Curtin

I never had enough condensation to become a problem. I did check daily and wipe down the top just to be safe...TC

This is the old basic tried and true method of the 10 gallon tank, two bricks and a fish tank heater. Works great for lots of types of eggs, although I would say that there are more efficient ways now.

I'm saying place the box in an incubator NOT a 10 gal. aquarium. I've never heard of a 10 gallon aquarium incubator but I guess it might work if you only had a few eggs....TC

How funny! I just saw one of those for the first time a few weeks ago. My friend told me that once it's set up, it's stable and effective.

I'm glad this topic has given this forum a kick in the ***. KS been pretty dead lately and there's alot of good info out there as we can see.
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"He who would stifle debate rather than engage in it, does so at the expense of his integrity and credibility"

Mike Curtin

Tom, I would think it is pretty much the same concept as the grating over perilite. You may want to clear up what you meant by "float" somebody may actually try a container floating in the water like a boat! LOL I also have used six qt containers dry (over grating) in 15 qt containers with perilite and water, but I used a lid raised one inch off the 6 qt containers to stop the droplets of water from the condensation on the 15 qt lid. The only reason I use perilite is to keep the water from splashing around and to give more surface area to help with the humidity. I would worry that the dry vermiculite would extract water from the eggs and the air. I know Joe hatched out 3 BHP's but what number of eggs did he start with? What was your Woma hatch rate on dry vermiculite? Thanks for the info. Tom

I'm about 10 days away from mine laying. I made the vermiculite a bit drier than I usually do for pythons, but I would imagine it's still not real dry in underground burrows where they would normally be laid. There's always some moisture transference, especially near the end of the hatching time. I think condensation on the sides of the containers is ok, just not on the eggs. LOL....I remember 20 years ago hatching Carpets in a 10 gal tank with paper towels covering them.
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1.1 Blackheaded pythons
1.1 Woma
2.1 Aussie Olives
1.1 Timors
1.1 Bloods
1.1 Balls
2.2 IJ Carpets
1.0 Coastal Carpets
1.2 Macklotts
1.1 Papuan Olives
2.0 Jungle Carpet
0.1 Carpondro
0.1 Jungle/Diamond cross
.1 Brazilian Rainbow boas
0.1 child, CB
0.1 wife, WC

Is this your first year breeding them? If so, good luck and take the advice I neglected last year. You can always add more water to the mix, but you can't take it out. So far, condensation hasn't been a problem for me this year(I thought for sure it was too dry at first), as opposed to last year...shakes head with the memory of nearly immediate egg deaths

Again, Jaykis...good luck and I can't wait to see pics!
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"He who would stifle debate rather than engage in it, does so at the expense of his integrity and credibility"

Mike Curtin

My IJPs right now have no holes in the plastic shoebox. I think for the Womas I'll put holes in them for air flow. I have a Lab-Line commercial incubator and I put an open shoebox on the bottom with water in it. I've had success with that with my Coastals, IJPs and the Carpondro offspring last year.
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1.1 Blackheaded pythons
1.1 Woma
2.1 Aussie Olives
1.1 Timors
1.1 Bloods
1.1 Balls
2.2 IJ Carpets
1.0 Coastal Carpets
1.2 Macklotts
1.1 Papuan Olives
2.0 Jungle Carpet
0.1 Carpondro
0.1 Jungle/Diamond cross
.1 Brazilian Rainbow boas
0.1 child, CB
0.1 wife, WC

Best of luck! Keep us posted!
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"He who would stifle debate rather than engage in it, does so at the expense of his integrity and credibility"

Mike Curtin