Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've noticed with the influx of hatchling pics, that perlite is being used a bit more (with the white grating on top). Is this considered the "no substrate method" and if so what are the advantages or disadvantages over vermiculite. Congrats on everyones clutches.
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Jon F

>>I've noticed with the influx of hatchling pics, that perlite is being used a bit more (with the white grating on top). Is this considered the "no substrate method" and if so what are the advantages or disadvantages over vermiculite. Congrats on everyones clutches.
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>>Jon F

Yes this would be the no substrate method. I use vermiculite, however, I do plan to put my next clutch - due in 15 days - on a no substrate incubation plan. I have tried it in the past (once) without success.

Pros
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* You can see more of the eggs and see if anything bad is starting to take place.

* You don't have to deal with vermiculite. Although, it's not an issue as IT DOES NOT contain asbestos.

* You don't incur the cost of vermiculite.

Cons
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* Eggs can be extra sensitive to temperature fluctuations. While vermiculite can "hold" heat fairly well, air does not.

* Eggs can be extra sensitive to humidity (or lack of). Same as above.

Which is better? I'm not sure at this point. I think the no substrate method is less forgiving than using a substrate like vermiculite. You may even want to consider maternal incubation.
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Jay A. Martin
Jay Martin Reptiles

I use vermic for years..I used perlite once maybe?..this year I used a mix of the two and prefer it...

had one box of corn eggs do really badly..it was pure vermic.....too wet?.just bad luck?.......boxes of mixed that are dryer are doing better..but yes all the corns are different...some just do badly.(morph-wise)...

balls.....I use vermic mixed.......only had a couple eggs ever go bad...........they usually always hatch.......even when they shrink up and get wrinkled.......I used to worry about keeping them full and plump.....now I let them be and don't worry at all...............................(wierd.....worried when they were all worth $30 each and now that some are worth up to $5000 I don't care).....go figure.......
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................aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhOK

"Which is better? I'm not sure at this point. I think the no substrate method is less forgiving than using a substrate like vermiculite. You may even want to consider maternal incubation.
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Jay A. Martin
Jay Martin Reptiles"

Since i wasn't exactly sure how wet was "too wet" for vermiculite(My first breeding season)...i went ahead and used the no-sub method.

It didn't achieve full humidity though,until i added a layer of plastic wrap to the container lid.After that it worked very well for me.

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Charles Glaspie