Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i have a 6 egg clutch in a hovabator for about 2 weeks and the vermiculite looks a little dry is it ok to add water every so often to the sides of the egg container so some added moisture gets in there or should i change the eggs to another container with new vermiculite? thanks in advance.

Just add water around the edges of the container

My guese is that you have played the guessing game on how much water to add to the vermiculite. This video will explain a simple way to set up your nest box. The criticle issues explained in this video are the 1 to 1 ratio by weight between the vermiculite and water, the 1/8 diameter hole drilled into each end of the nest box and the incubation temperature of 89 degrees.

You can modify the size of the nest box and the amount of vermiculite you use to fit your incubator, but keep the 3 maintain the 3 key components as explained in the video.

If you have any questions please feel free to call me at 408.981.6694

Good luck with your clutch.

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Brian Gundy

www.for-goodness-snakes.com

I would take the eggs out of the nest box and replace the vermiculite using the 1 to 1 ratio, drill the 1/8 diamter holes then place the eggs back into the nest box and wait for them to hatch. Make sure if you do replace the substrate that you DO NOT change the orientation of the eggs.

Best of luck
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Brian Gundy

www.for-goodness-snakes.com

Even though that's exactly what I've done? I weighed
Water to vermiculite but for some reason it looks dry?
Do you think just add some water to the corners is not
Good enough?

Brian,
Why the holes? With holes come evaporation, evaporation is the change of state from liquid to gas, that is the principle of cooling. I agree that if every box has the same holes, you will be able to adjust and still have the temps correct. Boxes that don't have tight fitting lids can have significant air loss and evaporation which can cause varying different temps from box to box, that is the reason some use saran wrap to keep the lid closed tight. With no holes and opening the box once a week or so, there is plenty of air exchange.
As far as the 1 to 1 ratio of water and vermiculite, I believe the Barkers site showed how vermiculite can weigh different depending on how much moisture it has absorbed from the natural humidity in the air. The end result can vary drastically.
All in all though I don't think the varying temps matter much with ball python eggs, they have a much larger range of acceptable temps than other pythons that can thermo regulate.
The egg crate method makes the vermiculite water ratio a non issue.
Mike

Mike,

Before I answer your question let me tell you a story. About 20 years ago when I bred and sold colubrids I found myself in a conversation with one of the God fathers of colubrid breeders. During our conversation I respectfully asked him why he used such an un-orthodox method to incubate his eggs. He paused for a moment looked at me and said "because it works". It was one of the most profound moments for me as a snake breeder. It really didn't matter what he did or why he did it, all that mattered was that it worked. That comment spoke volummes to me and I will never forget it.

I'll be the last person that would ever say that my method works better than another method. All I can say is that my method works for me. I get calls everyday from people that are struggling to get information about husbandry, mite control, breeding techniques, how not to get bit, how to promote healthy sheds and the list goes on and on. The video was not meant to address methods that work verses methods that don't work, but to give advice to those that are sruggling to get it.

Yes with holes comes evaporation, but also ventilation. I know several world renowned breeders that go into their incubators every day to open up the lids of their nest boxes to ventilate their clutches. I just thought if you place a couple of very small holes into the nest box that it would promote a small amount of ventilation. With the method I use I never have to open the lids and my hatch rate is very consistant. If you asked me why, I'd say heck I don't know I'm just a snake breeder.

To tell you the truth I am very interested in trying the egg crate method. I already know that it works, so I don't have to question its validity, but I do like the idea of not having dirty babies. I'm always impressed with how clean babies look that hatch out from using that method.

Best of luck with your season Mike

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Brian Gundy

www.for-goodness-snakes.com

I agree with the "it works statement". I noticed that after you mentioned one 1/8 hole at each end, the OP said "I have holes all around". That is why his box is dry.

As far as dirty babies, I removed all eggs before pipping when I used vermiculite, and still do with the egg crate. I don't want a baby to somehow manage to get caught in the egg crate, I also don't want the mixture getting egg goo all over it. When I remove a clutch, there is usually another clutch coming along to take its place. Sometimes I can re-use the box the next year.
Mike

I actually used the same weight ratio vermiculite to water.
My temps are perfect and the box has holes around it.
The vermiculite just looks a little dry so I'm just
Going to add some water to the corners here and there.
Thanks for your input and always being there for us amateurs!

It is drying out because of the holes.

If your nest box has more than the two 1/8" diameter holes as described in the video you may be getting too much ventilation and your substrate may evaporate quicker than desired.

If that is the case I would still take the eggs out and replace the vermiculite with a new batch of 1 to 1 ratio. Tape up all of the holes accept the 2 small ones at each end of the box.

Remember there are many roads to Rome, find the one that works best for you.

Best of luck
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Brian Gundy

www.for-goodness-snakes.com

When I set up my egg boxes this year, the 1 to 1 ration ended up being 4 dry good cups of vermiculate to 1 liquid cup of water (almost exactly).

Easier then weighing it all out (aka I did the work for y'all. haha)
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"What is man without the beasts?
If all the beasts were gone,
men would die from great loneliness of spirit.
For what happens to the beasts,
soon happens to men.
All things are connected."

-Chief Seattle (Duwamish Tribe)

Brian, your videos are awesome.. I clicked on this one about mixing the vermiculite and next thing i knew an hour had passed and i was on like the 10th one...lol. Thanks for sharing all of your invaluable knowledge on each and every aspect of Ball Pythons. People like you are a tremendous asset such a fun and rewarding hobby.. Jay
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JEMreptiles@gmail.com from sunny AZ.

Lots of cool Ball Pythons along with
0.0.1 Vietnamese Blue Beauty and some great Bull snakes.
1.1 Argentinian Black and White Tegus
1.0 Gotti Pitbull (Tank)
2.0 Beautiful Bengals (Stryker and Cynbad)
12 Tarantulas
Last but most Important 2.2 Children

Jay,

Thanks for your comment.

I'm living my dream.

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Brian Gundy

www.for-goodness-snakes.com