Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm usually not a penny pincher, but it's hard for me to find good quality vermiculite so I'll feel bad just pitching it once my babies hatch.

So, I was just wondering if you could save it and reuse it for a second clutch of eggs.

Or is it pretty much ruined/soiled after the babies hatch?

If I need to use new vermiculite I will, but I figured I'd at least ask.
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alstiver@hotmail.com

1.0 2001 Coral snow cornsnake
0.1 2002 Pastel Ghost poss Het Amelanistic cornsnake
1.1 2002 Bloodred cornsnakes
0.1 1998 Het Hypo, Het Caramel cornsnake
1.0 2000 Hypo Het Caramel cornsnake

I would think that bacteria or mold could develop over time. If I were you, I would play it safe and use new medium each time. Its been awhile since I've had to find the stuff. Is it really that hard to obtain? I guess I'll find out in a few more seasons. However, I have been hearing about 100% hatch rate using the 'no substrate' method. Maybe thats the way to go? I hated vermiculite...it was always so messy. Oh well.lol

~Jason
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www.members.aol.com/northeastsnakes
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0.2 Green Tree Pythons
2.2 Ringed Pythons
2.3 Ball Pythons
1.2 Hog Island Boas
1.1 Argentine Boas
0.1 Solomon Island Ground Boa
1.1 Brazilian Rainbow Boas
7.8 Corns (various morphs)
1.1 N. Pines (Pituophis)
0.0.1 N.Diamondback Terrapin

Try perlite instead.... not nearly so messy. Can pick up at most lawn and garden centers (i.e. at Home Depot, or Wally world- Wal-mart).

np

vermiculite but was never really thrilled about it. I have heard that perlite is better, as mariasman posted, but I can't say for sure since I don't have exp w/it.

In the future, I'll probably experiment with the no substrate method that many chondro breeders use when maternal incubation/beehiving doesn't work out properly.

But for this season, I don't have to worry about anything! I feel great about sitting back and watching everyone else stress over the trials and tribulations of breeding season. Of course I'll be super jealous, but that's what ya get when you decide to leave the hobby cold for awhile. The wait to get back into the game is frustrating from time to time, but I have some killer pythons, boas and colubrids that will hopefully produce some very nice offspring in the near future.

While my loyalty is always with corns, I must say that the Boa forum has been intriguing lately. In fact, some of the breeders over there are producing some wild offspring that will surely explode the future boa morph market. I just wish I was in on the ground floor with some of those projects. But till then, I have just finished grad school & need to find a real job again.lol

oops, there I go again...was I rambling..lol...what was the original question.lol

~Jason
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www.members.aol.com/northeastsnakes
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0.2 Green Tree Pythons
2.2 Ringed Pythons
2.3 Ball Pythons
1.2 Hog Island Boas
1.1 Argentine Boas
0.1 Solomon Island Ground Boa
1.1 Brazilian Rainbow Boas
7.8 Corns (various morphs)
1.1 N. Pines (Pituophis)
0.0.1 N.Diamondback Terrapin

I have collected some pics of others' setups using an Igloo incubater with helix controls/no substrate...however, I don't remember whose pics they were so I won't post them without permission, but if you want to check them out..let me know and I'll email them to you privately.

~Jason
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www.members.aol.com/northeastsnakes
-
0.2 Green Tree Pythons
2.2 Ringed Pythons
2.3 Ball Pythons
1.2 Hog Island Boas
1.1 Argentine Boas
0.1 Solomon Island Ground Boa
1.1 Brazilian Rainbow Boas
7.8 Corns (various morphs)
1.1 N. Pines (Pituophis)
0.0.1 N.Diamondback Terrapin