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I've seen a lot of threads debating hatch rite over vermiculite. That's not what this. I'm on the fence between the two the pros for vermiculite are that it's tried and true. Pros for hatch rite are that it's cleaner and reusable.

My question I guess is for experienced hatchrite users. From most of what I've read it appears that most of the issues with hatchrite are it's ability to loose water. And I guess the best way to use it is to add water by weight as it looses it. But I've also heard of people getting hatchrite and it not having the proper water content from the get go. So if you are setting up a new egg tray how do you know what the weight should be to have the right humidity from the start?
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1.0 Spider Ball Python
1.0 Albino Ball Python
0.1 Pastel Ball Python
0.3 Het for Albino Ball Python
0.1 Pinstripe Ball Python
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I will take a shot at this since I have used both in the past and now I only use Hatch-rite...
As with any medium you use you are always going to police the eggs just to check everything is right...if you start to see the eggs wrinkle then you know you don't have enough moisture no matter the medium you choose.
I buy Hatch-rite in the big bags and if you have used it enough you know you will see dark grey crystals in it...those crystals have moisture in them but if you see all bright white crystals then the chances are the moisture has dried up.
I have seen this in the 2 pound bags when I use to use it on a small scale or had a left over 20 lb bag from the year before...if you weight your tubs after the eggs are in it, as you should, and you weight it 30 days in you should have not lost any critical weight and all the eggs should look plump. If you have lost weight...no big deal...mist the side of the tub and areas where there are no eggs till the weight comes back to where it was when first weighted.
I hatched 15 clutches last year using Hatch-rite and only ever added moisture to 2 boxes...
Sorry so long but I figured the post needed an explanation...doesn't matter what you use as long as you know how to use it....and of course you get the expected results.
Travis
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LAIR OF DRAGONS

I've seen a lot of threads debating hatch rite over vermiculite. That's not what this. I'm on the fence between the two the pros for vermiculite are that it's tried and true. Pros for hatch rite are that it's cleaner and reusable.

My question I guess is for experienced hatchrite users. From most of what I've read it appears that most of the issues with hatchrite are it's ability to loose water. And I guess the best way to use it is to add water by weight as it looses it. But I've also heard of people getting hatchrite and it not having the proper water content from the get go. So if you are setting up a new egg tray how do you know what the weight should be to have the right humidity from the start?

Vermiculite is reusable, if you take the eggs off of it before they pip. If you get egg goo in either of them, I don't think it should be used again. The weight ratio issue regarding the original amount of moisture is explained in Barkers, they were discussing perlite and/or vermiculite, the ides is the same.

But why are you even considering using either of these methods if you don't know how to use them and aren't already using that method with good results, and figure why change something that is working.

The no substrate method is easy and fool proof, as long as you don't let the water get deep enough to rise above the egg crate. Try not to create problems for yourself, this is too easy.

The vermiculite method was the only one I've seen. Saw someone ask about a no substrate method and no one wanted to help. And I don't have a tried and true method. This will be my first clutch.
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1.0 Spider Ball Python
1.0 Albino Ball Python
0.1 Pastel Ball Python
0.3 Het for Albino Ball Python
0.1 Pinstripe Ball Python
0.1 Bumble Bee Ball Python
1.0 Hypo Ball Python
1.0 Lesser Ball Python
0.1 Mojave Ball Python
0.2 Het for Piebald Ball Python
0.1 Normal Ball Python
0.2 Het for Axanthic Ball Python
0.1 Axanthic Ball Python

>>The vermiculite method was the only one I've seen. Saw someone ask about a no substrate method and no one wanted to help. And I don't have a tried and true method. This will be my first clutch.
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"No one wanted to help?" I see quite a few helpful posts recently. Here is one for example. link
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Best regards,
AlanColesReptiles

???
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1.0 Spider Ball Python
1.0 Albino Ball Python
0.1 Pastel Ball Python
0.3 Het for Albino Ball Python
0.1 Pinstripe Ball Python
0.1 Bumble Bee Ball Python
1.0 Hypo Ball Python
1.0 Lesser Ball Python
0.1 Mojave Ball Python
0.2 Het for Piebald Ball Python
0.1 Normal Ball Python
0.2 Het for Axanthic Ball Python
0.1 Axanthic Ball Python

no substrate method is still using substrate I see...under the egg crate grating....

I had that thought....if using plastic egg crating...make it wetter than it should be....because the eggs don't touch it anyways....

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........JY

The only thing the substrate does under the egg crate is keep the water from sloshing around when the box is moved. I have seen it done with just water underneath. Any thing would work, a pile of gravel, vermic, or perlite. Even lots of pvc couplings standing on end to hold the egg crate up would be baffles that would keep the water from sloshing around.

...yea yea...I know...it sounded different than it both was....
yes...anything would work....
I would think perlite would be a good choice...it's hard, and small and doesn't absorb water at all actually....and yes...something needs to be there so it won't slosh around, holds it in place...let's it evaporate at a better rate than just a flat surfaced puddle of water....I guess it makes more surface area for evaporation?...,..would make sense.....the more evaporation the better .......

things like marbles I do not like...they always feel cold to us...even though they are the same temp as any other substrate....

........I never used no substrate method....I used vermiculite....20 years,,,in small Hova-Bators....whatever works for you.....humid and 89 degrees is all they need....

I really always wanted to hatch eggs in clay dirt....just plain old reddish,clay dirt.....just like they do in Africa....

.....it's all good.....

....
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........JY

vermiculite is reusable also.........over and over again...just add water.....

.....I went by feel on the correct water ratio....

I used hot water and added till it was wetted yet still was stirable like dry....I mixed with hand....it clumps...yet falls apart easily....

do not breathe any of them....
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........JY