New eggs

[codiwatkins]

So I bought 3 eggs from the guy i got Ester my panther from. Anywhos I have a few questions.

He has them in hatchrite and marked a little black mark at the top to make sure they stay that side up. I asked him about moisture he told me that hatchrit prodices its own so there is no need to add water EVER is this correct?

Next question the hot water heater closet in my apartment stays at a constant 83 degrees.....so i was thinking i could hide the eggs out in there?? Is this ok OR is that tooo hot?? Let me know what yall think and any other siggestions would be GREAT!!! thanks BUNCHEs in advance!!

 

[Dean Pulcini]

Being in Texas your problem is going to be keeping them cool enough. Mid 70's for panther eggs produce healthy babies. I Don't use hatchrite so I cant help you there but during a 7 to 9 month incubation period I would think you would have to add some water down the line. You should be able to squeeze a drop of water out of a small hand full or it should at least stick together.

 

[codiwatkins]

thanks So you think I should just put them n like the bathroom cabinet?? I was thinking that being texas and all that the temp is def going to change so the hot water heater closet could probably get VERY HOT........... I have looked around on here for like 2 hours and all the post with links in them all say the link has been moved..........soooooooo

 

[codiwatkins]

thanks So you think I should just put them n like the bathroom cabinet?? I was thinking that being texas and all that the temp is def going to change so the hot water heater closet could probably get VERY HOT........... I have looked around on here for like 2 hours and all the post with links in them all say the link has been moved..........soooooooo

 

[SoCaliSon]

I asked the same question about water being added to Hatchrite Last year, as it said right on the bag "Ready to use- No water Necessary". It didn't sound right to me so I asked here, with plenty of responses of people telling me how great hatchrite is but nobody would directly answer my question. Well I lost all 49 eggs not to mold but to drying up and crumpling in. After the fact I brought up the question in chat, and sure enough everyone I talked to who has had success with hatchrite has added water to it, a few times throughout the incubation. I was Mad!!! It is very misleading what the bag says, cause I guess it works fine without water for some eggs, but with cham eggs, it needs more moisture I guess. I switched back to Vermiculite. As far as how much water to add to the hatchrite... I haven't the foggiest. Sorry.

~Joe

 

[codiwatkins]

I saw your post when i searched it seems like on all post people avoid the temp and water questions!! I guess i will just guess and hope it works!! I got 3 eggs for $45 the way I see it if they all 3 hatch i made out like a bandit.........If one hatches I STILL made out and if none hatch well then.........at least it wasnt like $100........We will just say I quite smkoing cigs recently sooooooooo its like money i would have been spending on my smokes anyways!!

I asked the same question about water being added to Hatchrite Last year, as it said right on the bag "Ready to use- No water Necessary". It didn't sound right to me so I asked here, with plenty of responses of people telling me how great hatchrite is but nobody would directly answer my question. Well I lost all 49 eggs not to mold but to drying up and crumpling in. After the fact I brought up the question in chat, and sure enough everyone I talked to who has had success with hatchrite has added water to it, a few times throughout the incubation. I was Mad!!! It is very misleading what the bag says, cause I guess it works fine without water for some eggs, but with cham eggs, it needs more moisture I guess. I switched back to Vermiculite. As far as how much water to add to the hatchrite... I haven't the foggiest. Sorry.

~Joe

 

[Cainschams]

I cant help with the hatchrite either. I only use vermiculite. I always keep a decent sized spot in my containers so I can push my finger into the medium and see how moist it is. With only three eggs you should have a good amount of room for testing. Some open up the containers 1 time a month but I do it every 2 weeks because I lost my first clutch due to drying up, Im pretty sure I use a plastic syringe to add water. Just dont get it on the egg or near. Most just drip around the sides. Also dont add too much at once.

GOOD LUCK!

 

[codiwatkins]

I cant help with the hatchrite either. I only use vermiculite. I always keep a decent sized spot in my containers so I can push my finger into the medium and see how moist it is. With only three eggs you should have a good amount of room for testing. Some open up the containers 1 time a month but I do it every 2 weeks because I lost my first clutch due to drying up, Im pretty sure I use a plastic syringe to add water. Just dont get it on the egg or near. Most just drip around the sides. Also dont add too much at once.

GOOD LUCK!

Thanks!!

PS I still remember that I can ask you questions!!!

 

[PardalisGirl]

I use Hatchrite.....

I do use Hatchrite. I do add a little bit of distilled water. It is NOT ready to use right out of the bag for cham or gecko eggs. I determine whether there is enough moisture or not by looking at the condensation on the inside of the container after the eggs are set up in it. I use plastic food storage containers with NO holes punched into them. I put the Hatchrite into the container and then add some distilled water. I mix it with a spoon. It should clump together but not be soggy. It should be moist enough that you can pat it down and it will stay down if you start tipping the container on it's side. No water should run off when you do that. If it does then let it run off. Then put the eggs in and close the top. Within 24 hours I look at the condensation on the inside of the container. If the level is right you will have some fine beaded condensation around the container sides and a little on the top. If you open the container and a bunch of condensation from the top flies out then it is a bit too moist. You can wipe the moisture off the top and sides with a clean paper towel and close it up again. Then check the level of condensation again the next day. Repeat this process until the condensation level looks good. If there is no condensation add just a little bit of distilled water. After about six months I may have to add some water. The Hatchrite will dry out a little from opening the container. It's not always necessary to add water. Hope this helps those who wonder about Hatchrite. I use it for all my cham and Crested Gecko eggs. Crested Gecko eggs absorb a lot of water and double in size. I do end up adding a little water half way during the incubation process (60 days incubation time).

 

[SoCaliSon]

Thanks Catherine!!! That post has answered questions that I have had for quite a while. Howdya like that... The bag has lied to us! For such a widely used product I am surprised that they haven't cleared that up. Great lesson learned to late in my case. Now that we know this... What would be the benefit of paying more(a good amount more) for hatchrite as opposed to Vermiculite? Is there a reason you use one over the other?

Thanks Again,
Joe

 

[codiwatkins]

i do use hatchrite. I do add a little bit of distilled water. It is not ready to use right out of the bag for cham or gecko eggs. I determine whether there is enough moisture or not by looking at the condensation on the inside of the container after the eggs are set up in it. I use plastic food storage containers with no holes punched into them. I put the hatchrite into the container and then add some distilled water. I mix it with a spoon. It should clump together but not be soggy. It should be moist enough that you can pat it down and it will stay down if you start tipping the container on it's side. No water should run off when you do that. If it does then let it run off. Then put the eggs in and close the top. Within 24 hours i look at the condensation on the inside of the container. If the level is right you will have some fine beaded condensation around the container sides and a little on the top. If you open the container and a bunch of condensation from the top flies out then it is a bit too moist. You can wipe the moisture off the top and sides with a clean paper towel and close it up again. Then check the level of condensation again the next day. Repeat this process until the condensation level looks good. If there is no condensation add just a little bit of distilled water. After about six months i may have to add some water. The hatchrite will dry out a little from opening the container. It's not always necessary to add water. Hope this helps those who wonder about hatchrite. I use it for all my cham and crested gecko eggs. Crested gecko eggs absorb a lot of water and double in size. I do end up adding a little water half way during the incubation process (60 days incubation time).

thank you so much!!!!:d

 

[PardalisGirl]

For Joe.........

You know Joe I just got used to using it. I'm so familiar with getting it to the right moisture level that I just don't want to switch to something else. I also like the fact that it sticks less to the hatchlings than the vermiculite. When I remove the hatchlings they don't have it stuck all over their bodies.

 

[Rocky]

i saw those eggs that were for sell on craigslist. Good luck with them i thought about grabbing some because I'm going through dallas next week

 

[codiwatkins]

i saw those eggs that were for sell on craigslist. Good luck with them i thought about grabbing some because I'm going through dallas next week

You so should....If you have the money to spare........They look healthy. And its been a month since they where laid........so from what I have read if they wernt fertile they would have molded by now...They are nice and white and seem healthy to me...PLUS he will so take less than $20 each I offered him $45 for 3 and he took it.

 

[Dez]

I use Hatchrite for my panther eggs and a good friend of mine has also had success with veilds.

We put the eggs in a container with a lid and weigh each container... If one container weighs 100 grams (eggs, hatchrite and all) and in a few months it weighs 89 grams.. we will add drops of water to the hatchrite until it weighs 100 grams again. (Im sue this is not exact because the eggs grow in size, but it has worked so far)

I thought I lost my second clutch because they where all caved in. I had forgotten to add water to them.. I weighed them and they where much lighter than they where at first. I added water and in a few days the eggs plumped back up again.. Even the ones I where sure where goners.

My eggs incubate at about 72 to 78 degrees with no diapause. It took the first clutch (hatching now) 7.5 months to hatch... where my friend with his veilds took 6 months to hatch

 

[codiwatkins]

hmmm.....i should buy a scale....The eggs seem to be ok.........there is a little bit of moisture/dew/condensation inside the tuperware dish.....but it is not alot. The color still looks good!!

Thanks for all the responses!! Hopefully around september or october ill be posting some pics for everyone!!

I use Hatchrite for my panther eggs and a good friend of mine has also had success with veilds.

We put the eggs in a container with a lid and weigh each container... If one container weighs 100 grams (eggs, hatchrite and all) and in a few months it weighs 89 grams.. we will add drops of water to the hatchrite until it weighs 100 grams again. (Im sue this is not exact because the eggs grow in size, but it has worked so far)

I thought I lost my second clutch because they where all caved in. I had forgotten to add water to them.. I weighed them and they where much lighter than they where at first. I added water and in a few days the eggs plumped back up again.. Even the ones I where sure where goners.

My eggs incubate at about 72 to 78 degrees with no diapause. It took the first clutch (hatching now) 7.5 months to hatch... where my friend with his veilds took 6 months to hatch

 

[codiwatkins]

Gonna update w/ pics every month for size comp

These are from the very first day that i got my eggs