I used Hatch Rite for my last two clutches. I had several slightly deformed offspring - but I honestly don't think the medium was to blame (Hatch Rite has worked great for me with corns, dione, and beauty snakes. I think I am going to go back to incubating on fluorescent light diffuser over wet perlite, for this species...

My temps were also good - well within the parameters for this species and actually a bit on the low side. Something else went wrong - I have done lots of thinking, talking and research on this - and have come up with a few possibilities. Some are not related to incubation parameters and methods. A couple which are related to incubation methods are: I am thinking that air-flow / ventilation may be more important with this species eggs than many others. My last two clutches were incubated in very small tubs and inside a very small incubator. My healthiest clutch was incubated in a large tub (shoebox size) inside a larger tub which had excellent air-flow. The shoebox did not have air-holes, but was opened for several minutes every week, and the tub lid was only placed loosely on top of the tub.

Also, I wonder whether phsical disturbances to the eggs may have something to do with deformites or dead in egg. There was some online discussion a few years back about vibration from incubator fan motors causing distress to developing embryos.

On dead in egg offspring - according to some (Kohler) this is often due to the female having a deficiency in vitamins and / or minerals. The babies may have enough nutrients to develop to a certain point only and not have enough to finish developing or may develop fully and then not have the strength to break out of the egg...

I suggest reading any of Merker / Cranston's articles on the species - there is a new one in Herp Nation. also, I recently wrote one on my experiences with breeding intermedia (and problems I have had) for the SWCHR BULLETIN...
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-Toby Brock
Southwestern Center for Herpetological Research

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