Here is my method.
When I started 12 years ago, I used wet vermiculite 1:1 volume. I did not have any issues as long as the eggs had whitened completly before setting in vermiculite. If I put them in while clear or yellow/pink I lost those.
In 2001-2002, I went to perlite 1:1 weight with fantastic success.
Willing to try some new stuff, from 2003-2006, I began to mix vermiculite with perlite and use much less water. Results were good there. I added small amounts of water until microbubbles would form against one side of the container.
For the 2007-2008 season I tried peat moss as the substrate but found that as it sat, it heated slightly above the temps I was going for. It may be due to the fact that some organic substrates actually decompose and create heat in the process. I did not like the results with my hognose eggs. It was however excellent for the box and mud turtle eggs I was incubating.
This year I used perlite exclusively and am pleased with the way things are going. I buy the bagged stuff at WM sunset brand with the ziploc type closer. When put into the container I do not add water but keep it as moist as it is in the bag. If the bag had a hole in it I would have to add moisture.
I only add a bit of water as necessary as conditions appear dry.
I have not tried hatchrite. Seems a lot like perlite.
I know of one breeder that hatched an entire clutch on calcisand.
Another several years back that hatched some in a tuna can, dry, that was placed into another large sealed container filled with wet mud.
Seems that as long as there is consistency, you are good.
KR
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Thank you,
Kevin Rhodes
http://www.freewebs.com/spreptile/index.htm
http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc314/lifesciences/?action=view¤t=09-09hognose001.jpg
When it`s to dry You can always do something. Eggs in to wet conditions have no chance to survive 