i need some advis on how moist i should keep my vield eggs

[sergio reyes]

i have 32 eggs in a still air incubator and filled it with dirt i have them at 85 degrees f. day time and 74 degrees f. night time but i need to know how moist i need to keep the foil they are in, and also if i should spray them with a spray bottle or water drops around them

 

[kinyonga]

Never had any success with eggs incubated in dirt/soil. I've used coarse grained vermiculite for years. I don't know what you mean about foil either.

This is what I do...I use a shoebox sized tupperware type container with a lid. I punch two tiny tiny tiny holes in the lid. I moisten the vermiculite so that when I squeeze a handful of it no more than a drop or two of water comes out. I fill the container half full of the moist vermiculite and make slight depressions in rows in it with my thumb to put the eggs in. The space is to allow air circulation and room for the babies when they hatch until they can be taken out of the container. Once the eggs are in the container I put the lid on and put the container where it can be kept at about 74F. IMHO 85F is too warm. Beads of moisture will form on the inside of the lid and walls of the container.

 

[sergio reyes]

sorry i ment soil, and i asked at the pet store for some kind of soil or dirt i could use and they gave a bag but i dont remember what its called i threw away th bag, and do i mist them to keep them moist or how what do you suggest i do ?

 

[KCcham]

Never had any success with eggs incubated in dirt/soil. I've used coarse grained vermiculite for years. I don't know what you mean about foil either.

This is what I do...I use a shoebox sized tupperware type container with a lid. I punch two tiny tiny tiny holes in the lid. I moisten the vermiculite so that when I squeeze a handful of it no more than a drop or two of water comes out. I fill the container half full of the moist vermiculite and make slight depressions in rows in it with my thumb to put the eggs in. The space is to allow air circulation and room for the babies when they hatch until they can be taken out of the container. Once the eggs are in the container I put the lid on and put the container where it can be kept at about 74F. IMHO 85F is too warm. Beads of moisture will form on the inside of the lid and walls of the container.

+1. This is just about exactly what we do as well. Your 85 temp seems too high. We have had great luck with the moist verm in the "shoebox". We add water maybe once during the incubation. I'm not sure how good your dirt will hold the moisture ?????

 

[kinyonga]

Don't spray water on the eggs...they seem to have a special coating on them that protects them from bacteria, etc. and you don't want to wash it off. If you make the substrate too moist, the eggs will take on too much water and the babies will suffocate. If the eggs show signs of dehydrating (denting in) then you can add a little water around the edges of the container.

 

[sergio reyes]

ok so how often should i add water around the eggs and are acouple of drops around the eggs fine to do

 

[kinyonga]

If the eggs show signs of dehydrating (denting in) then you can add a little water around the edges of the container....if this is not happening and there are beads of moisture inside the container on the walls and lid there is no reason to add water.

 

[sergio reyes]

so there is no other way of knowing if they need water until they start denting in ?

 

[kinyonga]

If there are beads of water on the inside surfaces of the container you should NOT need to add water...so that's another way to tell.

 

[sergio reyes]

no the only time that i added water was when i got the soil and it was moist when i put the eggs in, and i just checked on them and the top surface of the soil is pretty dry but i put my finger inside and its still moist in the inside so im asuming there fine right now ?

 

[kinyonga]

I didn't ask if you added water...you asked "so there is no other way of knowing if they need water until they start denting in ? "...so I told you another way.

I DO NOT know if your soil will be okay or not....I only use vermiculite because any regular type of soil that I used years ago (before I learned not to use it) didn't work. The eggs always failed/died when I used soil because its hard to keep it evenly moist.

I've told you how I incubate the eggs successfully but you are doing it a different way. Hopefully someone on here can help you...if there is anyone who uses soil.

 

[sergio reyes]

I didn't ask if you added water...you asked "so there is no other way of knowing if they need water until they start denting in ? "...so I told you another way.

I DO NOT know if your soil will be okay or not....I only use vermiculite because any regular type of soil that I used years ago (before I learned not to use it) didn't work. The eggs always failed/died when I used soil because its hard to keep it evenly moist.

I've told you how I incubate the eggs successfully but you are doing it a different way. Hopefully someone on here can help you...if there is anyone who uses soil.

if you didnt know if theres another way to check if they need water using SOIL why didnt you just say I DONT KNOW instead of giving me all this bullshit.

 

[StickyTongues]

if you didnt know if theres another way to check if they need water using SOIL why didnt you just say I DONT KNOW instead of giving me all this bullshit.

Serg,
These people are trying to help you and are detailing how "they" do it. you can take the information they are giving you and try to use your best judgment with a little common sense to apply that knowledge to your method.
Being a jerk to people on a forum with such a small and close group will only make you look bad, show your stupidity, and make it so that no one will want to hemp you with questions in the future. Just my two cents.

Danny

 

[Hoj]

if you didnt know if theres another way to check if they need water using SOIL why didnt you just say I DONT KNOW instead of giving me all this bullshit.

wrong way to speak to imo the most helpfull, knowlegeable, and respectable keeper on this forum or anywhere for that matter.
i think you should apologize
u were told alot of great info......if they dent they need moisture......seems pretty clear to me

 

[kinyonga]

Thanks for the comments Hoj and StickyTongues.

sergio reyes said.."f you didnt know if theres another way to check if they need water using SOIL why didnt you just say I DONT KNOW instead of giving me all this bullshit"...I did give you another way to check if they needed water...and I did say that I DO NOT know if your soil will be okay or not. Sorry...but I have explained everything I can to you and you aren't getting it...you still are insisting on sticking to the soil, etc. even though I've explained that it didn't work for me...so I'm done with it.

Good luck!

 

[Todnedo]

I use vermiculite and saturate it, the eggs sit on egg holders(my design) so far I am getting 100% hatch rates. temps depend on the species and incubation times.

 

[StickyTongues]

I use vermiculite and saturate it, the eggs sit on egg holders(my design) so far I am getting 100% hatch rates. temps depend on the species and incubation times.

Sounds interesting Todnedo. Do you have any pics of this setup?

DAnny