Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Dear GTP breeders, I think you guys are best to ask...do you use the Suspension incubation medium method to incubate eggs? Squamata Concepts mfg's a plastic box, split level, with the water on bottom, eggs above, the eggs are not on any substrate, but on a grid. Do you just put water in bottom or damp vermiculite/perlite/sponges? These boxes, about $30 each fit my new incubators with capability of incubating at low temps (mid-70's f) best...but I have not used them before and wanted details on what works best. Thank you, Vic

The concept behind these boxes is a popular and proven method of incubation. Whether you use straight water or some other saturated media, such as vermiculite or sponge, won't make a huge difference, IMO. I have used them and preferred wet vermiculite. I would be concerned sponges would result in mold or mildew growth, and I am always paranoid about water splashing up should the incubator ever be moved or even bumped.

My issue with the standard boxes is that they are small and I learned the hard way that chondro eggs, and probably all reptile eggs, need to breathe, especially in embryo's final stages of development, and the amount of ventilation provided, size of box, and number of eggs per box is important. Can they be used successfully for chondros? Yes, and have been. Personally, I would want to limit the number of eggs per box to about 5 or 6, and provide ventilation holes as well. With that in mind, it would be more cost effective to create your own egg box, or go with their larger size box.

You mentioned your incubator performs best in the mid 70's. I do not think anyone incubates below 86, and many go higher than that. Just something else to think about.

bsharrah, thank you for your response...it is your voice of experience that I am seeking. Regarding the low temps, I am incubating Eastern Indigos (Drymarchon couperi) eggs, and they seem to do best at the low end of normal temps, with long incubations (115-120 days average at those temps). The low temps seem to minimize spinal kinks, and the neonates assimilate all the egg yolk, hatching fat and robust. Is my assumption correct, most GTP breeders use the SIM technique to incubate eggs?

I sought out you GTP folks, knowing you, the Varanus and Heloderma keepers collectivley pioneered the SIMS method, I also am old enough to remember the difficulty in raising and breeding GTP's, and I applaud the pioneers (Rico Walder, Trooper Walsh, Gene Bissette,Bushmaster, others) who figured out herpetoculture of these spectacular animals. Someday I want to work with them, but I don't know if I can control myself on feeding, as I am used to fast growing and very high metabolism Indigos, which I stuff with food like a sausage...

Thank you, you gave me some good ideas. I have been cruising the .99 stores etc. and finding various plastic boxes to make SIMS type incubation boxes.

I used these egg boxes last year with good results. I put wet perlite in the bottom.

Thanks Coach, and congratulations on hatching GTP eggs, that is a real accomplishment. I bought a few of those Squamata Cpts. boxes, but I also want to make some of my own that will better fit my incubator. Does it matter how much water you add to the perlite? What ratio did you use watererlite by wt., or did you just add and guess? Did you drill holes in the lid to prevent condensation from dripping on the eggs? Thanks for any specific tips, Vic

You can make it as wet as you want. I just put the perlite in to prevent the eggs from any splashing. You don't want the eggs to get wet. I had two holes in the top. One for the temp probe and one for air which I ended up putting tape over. Any condensation can be carefully wiped off about once a week. Good luck.