Reptile & Amphibian Forums

As yall know I just got my frist clutch and all the eggs have bright red blood veslles well I am useing hatch rite and not thirlled and well there is condeensation on the front just not the back and some of the eggs have dimpled just a little barly even but have so I put some damp spamgdom moss should have I done this?

As long as the sphagnum is not TOO wet, there is no reason not to do that. I personally prefer to mix up vermiculite or perlite (usually vermiculite, in my case) from scratch, both because it is MUCH less expensive if you hatch large numbers of eggs, and because I only trust myself to get the right ratio of water:vermiculite
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Brad Chambers
WWW.HCU-TX.ORG

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

As Brad said, using damp (NOT WET) moss is fine.. You can also use damp paper towel as well.

I gave Hatchrite a shot and in my opinion for the cost it offers NO advantages over mixing your own incubation medium. But, if you only have a clutch or two it cant hurt to use it.

I know that Hatchrite tells you you do not have to add water, but if your eggs continue to dimple in, you may need to add some water to increase your humidity a bit. I needed to add water when I used it.

~ Mike Russo

I used hatchrite this year with my pyro eggs. Within 2 days the eggs were denting in. I took the hatchrite out and mixed it with some water,put it back in and then put a damp paper towel over the eggs. Within 2 days the eggs filled back out and now look fine. That was on May 13th so I am confident they are still good. The hatchrite felt very dry to me and even when I crushed it betwwen my fingers I couldn't feel any moisture. Despite their claim of not having to add water I am convinced you need to.

This is my second year using the hatch-rite and I just love it.I have only had to add water once or twice to 30 or so shoe boxes so thats not bad.I think it may depend on where you live also.I always had problems with egs going bad from to much moisture before with vermeculite even when I used little water.I had egs actually burst on me before,split open on the side once in a while.I do better with hatching eggs on the dry side even though I live in the desert.
Just experament and do what works best for you and not the next guy.

L8r Shannon