Hi John,
I was reading below where you talked about incubation of Collared eggs using Perlite. Here is your paragraph for reference:
For the egg box used in incubation, I use Perlite as a medium. I started using Perlite, because I can't find Vermiculite around here anymore. I put about 3" of Perlite into a deli-cup container. I add water until it is all moist. The material is quite different from Vermiculite, as it will not feel very soft/wet. The best feature of the product, is you will be able to see cleary the water level in the deli-cup. I wet it evenly, then keep the water level at least 1" below the bottom of the eggs. You can then watch the level, and add more water as needed. Very cool feature. Hope this helps you out.
John Eddington
So from the sound of this...you are using a clear deli cup where you can actually see the level of water in the cup from the side? I've never heard of that. And the eggs just sit on top of the perlite and don't get too wet? I've used perlite to incubate gecko eggs, monitor eggs, chameleon eggs, and now collared eggs...all with varying degrees of success. But I've always followed a very strict weight measurement in mixing the perlite with water and then basically sealing the container accept for a couple pin holes. From your description, is sounds like you literally pour water into the mixture and you can see it pool near the bottom of the cup. This sounds like it would be too humid for, especially for collared eggs...but you've really got my attention with this technique, because I've never heard of it before. I do know that perlite feels dry to the touch, even when I've carefully measured the water and mixed it. I would assume you've been succesful hatching collared eggs then if you are suggesting this?
That would be very cool indeed, because I find it difficult too keep eggs from drying out, especially when they have to be incubated for 7 months at higher temps, like some chameleon and monitor species.
Jason
