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 #2078993


Daynegerous
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 Incubation???

OK, say I want to incubate a clutch of colubrid eggs, Ive got them in a plastic shoe box with lid, 2-to 3-inch layer of moistened vermiculite, and a 1/8-inch hole drilled in opposite ends of the box for ventilation; however my room temp is hard to regulate at 74-82°F...what is the best way to heat the shoe box? Could I use an UTH? would that dry out or ruin the vermiculite, or hurt the eggs??? or possibly a heat bulb, or would that cause the same effects?
Any advice is much appreciated! Thanks
10/01/09  12:11am

 #2079059


Peter54
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   Message To: Daynegerous   In reference to Message Id: 2078993


 Incubation???

Skip the holes and the lid and take kitchen wrapping plastic over the box instead. That kind of plastic allows a little oxygen in (enough) and very little moist out. Weigh the box so you can tell if any of the moist evaporates. If so you can take a syringe with a thick injection needle and re-moist the substrate. Put tape over the hole from the needle.

Put the box on a UTH regulated with a thermostat or a dimmer to match the needed temps. What species is this about? there are different incubation temps needed for different species.
10/01/09  08:24am

 #2079067


Daynegerous
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   Message To: Peter54   In reference to Message Id: 2079059


 Incubation???

Well I’m not actually breeding this year, but Ive been studying up, and just had a few questions. As for possible breeding in my future I’m sticking with colubrids; Grey Banded King, White Sided Brooksi, and eventually Halloween Pueblan, Ghost Honduran, and hopefully Mandarin Rat, and maybe my anery corn, but not much interest there. I will be buying a rack system soon, and hopefully expanding my collection before next years cooling months.
Do you leave your boxes on a rack, or individually heat each one? Also, are you talking about seran wrap?
10/01/09  09:14am

 #2079168


Peter54
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   Message To: Daynegerous   In reference to Message Id: 2079067


 Incubation???

Incubating Lampropeltis eggs differ some between species/subspecies living in low altitudes and those living in elevated areas. The latter are incubated in much lower temps. This of course, also means longer incubating time, up to 100 days.

Graybands should be incubated in very humid conditions, between 90 and 100 % RH.

I have never used racks other than for newly hatched juveniles. They are kept like that for about 6 months maximum. Boxes are then heated using heat tape underneath.

I don’t know the name on the plastic, I live in Sweden and we don’t have that product name here. I mean the kind of thin plastic used for wrapping sandwiches and stuff like that.
10/01/09  04:26pm

 #2079269


Daynegerous
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   Message To: Peter54   In reference to Message Id: 2079168


 Incubation???

Yeah, Ive been reading a lot of info on breeding, I just want to make sure Ive got it all down before I try, I don’t want to jeopardize the eggs, and since it is hard to regulate heat here, I might invest in an incubator!
10/01/09  08:43pm

 #2079343


Peter54
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   Message To: Daynegerous   In reference to Message Id: 2079269


 Incubation???

Yeah, heating the eggs is usually an easy task. It’s harder to cool them when temps starts to rise outside.
10/02/09  02:09am

 #2079458


Daynegerous
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   Message To: Peter54   In reference to Message Id: 2079343


 Incubation???

What do you suggest to cool them down? Turning off the uth if the room temp is high enough?
Is it true that different temps will produce either male or female?
10/02/09  02:39pm

 #2082070


OctopusInc
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   Message To: Daynegerous   In reference to Message Id: 2079458


 Incubation???

The name of the plastic you’re looking for is ceran wrap. :-)
10/09/09  01:47am


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