Reptile & Amphibian Forums

In my preparation for eggs, I have come across a major problem...noone sells vermiculite!!! i happened to come across a bag at the reptile expo i go to and bought it. i paid 4 dollars for a ziploc bag full of vermiculite!! this stuff is like gold to herpers!! i went to Home Dopot today and my local greenhouse, and they dont have it!! all they have is perilite. from what i hear perlite is better than vermiclite, because its wet at the center, and dry on the outside so the eggs sit on a dry surface, but its still moist. idk, i guess i have to settle with that. anyone know where to get some?? anyone have an alturnative solution? this bag is gonna run out eventually, so either i find vermiculite, or im using perlite...ohh man!! LOL.
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Guy LoPresti

2.2 collared lizards
Lizzy
Stevie 2
Ike
Adrien
1.1 firebelly toads
1 baby emperor scorpion
ceasar "caligula"
( if you know what caligula means you'll get it)
4 dogs
groucho
charles
bugs

We have had good luck with clean, damp (not wet) sand. Just make sure it does not dry out. A sealable plastic container 3/4 full of damp sand with one corner popped loose for a little circulation works well as an incubation container. The eggs are placed in indentions in the sand with the top surface showing. About once a week water can be sprayed on the sand to keep it damp. While spraying, the eggs can be covered with cotton balls so as not to soak them.
The incubator is a stryrofoam Hovabator kept at 83 degrees.
I am not sure there is a big difference between Vermiculite and Perlite, they should both work well.

Good Luck,

alright. i dont wanna risk using sand with my first hatch (new experience for me) and doesnt sand tend to breed fungus and stuff, wereas vermiculite is resistant to it? ill keep sand in mind though for future use. im going to buy some perlite tho because it seems just the same as vermiculite. Thankyou for your help by the way. sand seems more natural, but i just dont wanna risk anything with the eggs. what should the humidity be in the incubator/ around the eggs?
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Guy LoPresti

2.2 collared lizards
Lizzy
Stevie 2
Ike
Adrien
1.1 firebelly toads
1 baby emperor scorpion
ceasar "caligula"
( if you know what caligula means you'll get it)
4 dogs
groucho
charles
bugs

we use perlite for all of our incubators. i prefer it over vermiculite. they work differently, you can hatch eggs on both.

i wouldn't use any substrate that you had to add water to once week or month. you should be able to set it up at the beginning of the season, let it stabilize to temp and moisture levels, and be done with it.

Home Depot, along with most any other nursery or garden center, sells vermiculite. in giant bags.
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robyn@proexotics.com

Pro Exotics Reptiles

>>we use perlite for all of our incubators. i prefer it over vermiculite. they work differently, you can hatch eggs on both.
>>
>>i wouldn't use any substrate that you had to add water to once week or month. you should be able to set it up at the beginning of the season, let it stabilize to temp and moisture levels, and be done with it.
>>
>>Home Depot, along with most any other nursery or garden center, sells vermiculite. in giant bags.
>>-----
>>robyn@proexotics.com
>>
>>Pro Exotics Reptiles

so your saying that perlite is better because you have to water it once and you dont have to moisten it once a week? i bought perlite today so im all set!! all i need is the eggs!! i have the incubator and everything!! i guess ill use perlite. i have both. thanks alot.
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Guy LoPresti

2.2 collared lizards
Lizzy
Stevie 2
Ike
Adrien
1.1 firebelly toads
1 baby emperor scorpion
ceasar "caligula"
( if you know what caligula means you'll get it)
4 dogs
groucho
charles
bugs

i set the water content of vermiculite once as well, ideally.

the main difference is that the vermiculite absorbs water/moisture. the perlite does not, it is more like a rock, and the water goes to the bottom of the container. vermiculite brings water content into direct contact with the eggs, something i don't want. if it is too dry, it can also pull moisture from the egg itself, something else i don't want.

both can be used for incubation medium, perlite is just easier and more forgiving. it is also easy to set up a non-contact substrate setup using the perlite.
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robyn@proexotics.com

Pro Exotics Reptiles

alright... ill use perlite then. what about using vermiculite on the bottom and perlite as the rest of the medium, i heared that works pretty well. it seems perlite is better because it keeps the eggs dry. thanks
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Guy LoPresti

2.2 collared lizards
Lizzy
Stevie 2
Ike
Adrien
1.1 firebelly toads
1 baby emperor scorpion
ceasar "caligula"
( if you know what caligula means you'll get it)
4 dogs
groucho
charles
bugs

How about arcillite clay. Works like perlite in where the water is absorbed, retained within the tiny cells of each granule, and the surface remains dry to the touch therefore you're eggs won't be sitting on moister.
However, arcillite has two advantages over perlite. First, is that you can tell when it's wet or dry. It turns to a reddish brown clay color when wet and a dull color when dry. Perlite doesn't change color,it's always white. The other advantage is that you can reuse it by boiling sterilition. You can't do this with perlite either.
Of course, I belieave that any media should do fine if prepared right.. I've been using vermiculite with success, but I don't like the idea of the eggs sitting on moist surface, so I'm opting to arcillite clay this time. You can get it under many brand names and usesages, but the one readily available is Schultz "Aquatic plant soil" at Walmart, Home Depot, Lowe's, Oshgarden or any nursery for about 7 bucks the 10lb bag. That's alot! Remeber, you an reuse it! Good luck with your eggs.

why not lay it over a base of lollipops and fluffernutter?

you can incubate eggs over plain water if you do it right. but there is no reason to make it more difficult than it needs to be.
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robyn@proexotics.com

Pro Exotics Reptiles