Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Gearing up! (How to set up an Egg Tub)

Well, last week sometime, I showed Lewie how to make a snake egg incubation tub.

I wrote an outline of this last year, and will do so again this year on the blog. You all ready??

Here we go!





What you need:

-A tub that fits in your incubator (I use 6qts or 15qts, depending on the clutch)
-Vermiculite (I use two grades (2 and 4) that are above and below the actual one most people use, as I can't find it often..Use what you can find. Grade 3 is best)
-Perlite (withOUT any Plant Food Additives)
-Press and Seal plastic wrap, or something similar
-Water (distilled or purified is best)
-An Incubator to put the boxes in




Alright!!!

You got it all ready?

Well, now, take two parts dry Vermiculite to one part dry Perlite and mix it together in your box. I use one part small Vermiculite, one part Big Vermiculite and one part Perlite.



Mix mix mix!!!

Now one the blend is combined evenly, add water slowly... Mix while adding water and keep clumping up the substrate until you can get it into a ball that won't crumble easily and won't leak liquid if you squeeze it. If it does, you have too much water.



If it breaks apart with a few prods, and isn't squeezing water out like a sponge, then you are ready!!!



Put a layer of Plastic Wrap over the tub, to seal in the humidity.



Press the tub top on the box, and you are SOLID TO GO!!!



Place the box in the incubator for a few days to make sure that the temps are even and the tub isn't collecting water on the plastic wrap. If it is, the humidity is too high, and add a bit of vermiculite to make it drier.

Remember: It is always better to have it drier than wetter. It's easier to correct dry than wet.

I hope this has helped you all, and if you have any questions, you know what to do :)

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Great Write up Heather

Tim