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ICBW, but it looks like lava rock, which generally holds heat & moisture pretty well.Found this online--- But there might be other forms (new learning lesson here).
... Except that it's actually easier to teach an old (healthy) doggo new tricks than a young pupper.Off topic! I am understanding "it's hard to teach an old dog new tricks". I like the old ones-- Note to world::: Stop creating new tricks.
WOOF!It’s the new tricks that we are learning that are keeping our chameleons healthy and living longer lives! Bring on the new tricks I say!
The substrate is basically crushed terracotta. I use it. Mine is Pangea hatch. Is the brand. The Idea is that you can see it get lighter in color as it dries so you can track humidity.Funny I have never seen this substrate before but that means nothing, since I am old school and learning the new stuff (within the last 8 years).
MHO-- Does your set-up contain the sponges on the sides like on their website? IF yes, that could be where the humidity is coming from. If no, do you add water to the bottom, since it does not look like this substrate retains water and could be used for stability in holding the egg in place..
I have a feeling I might be getting hammered (schooled) soon, since I am unaware of this product..
I have seen them selling eggs on e-bay and aware of the breeder in that area of CA. along with read comments on successful hatching..
This coarse vermiculite is what I've used for many many years...and it seems to work well. The finer vermiculite dries out too quickly IMHO. I've never tried things like hatch rite so I can't speak about them. I've never used that sponge method or a real incubator either.Found this online--- But there might be other forms (new learning lesson here).
There is a little bit of mold around the edges. Will that affect it?This coarse vermiculite is what I've used for many many years...and it seems to work well. The finer vermiculite dries out too quickly IMHO. I've never tried things like hatch rite so I can't speak about them. I've never used that sponge method or a real incubator either.
My "incubator" has always been a people's heating pad...the kind that don't shut off automatically and have 3 heat settings. Over/encasing it there is a frame made of 2x2's. On top of the 2x2" frame is window screen to keep the egg containers off the heating pad. I put the containers of eggs on top of the screen and set the temperature on the heating pad for the right range to incubate eggs...usually about 74F for most eggs.
The reasons for not setting the containers directly on the heating pads are...
The heating pad is not the exact same temperature in every area due to the way it's made and the difference in heat in the different areas seems to cause deformities at times....like crooked spines, etc.
I had some babies hatch and develop MBD almost immediately after hatching and I didn't know if it was the heating pad electromagnetic field that might have been causing it or something else...but when I raised the egg containers up higher, I had no more MBD in hatchlings. Just theory...no scientific proof at all that I know of.
Using this incubator, I hatched quite a few species of chameleons, geckos, turtles/tortoises, cone heads, water dragons, etc. ...so I never changed to a different incubator.
If the egg is getting close to hatching, it should shrink more, get more "windows" in it, dent to some extent and slit at the end soon.
I'm not sure if the mold is an issue. I've never had good eggs mold...just infertile ones. I've also had a red growth on some eggs that were taken from a WC female that died before she could lay the eggs that didn't affect the eggs.There is a little bit of mold around the edges. Will that affect it?
It was sweating on and off the past few weeks and seems to be only on the sides between the rock and the egg. You have to zoom in to see it.I'm not sure if the mold is an issue. I've never had good eggs mold...just infertile ones. I've also had a red growth on some eggs that were taken from a WC female that died before she could lay the eggs that didn't affect the eggs.
The mold was only on the sides? Did you wipe it off without disturbing the egg?It was sweating on and off the past few weeks and seems to be only on the sides between the rock and the egg. You have to zoom in to see it.
No I didn't wipe it off because we were afraid of messing with it. I only took pics when the breeder asked me to carefully take pics and when we zoomed in it was around the egg.The mold was only on the sides? Did you wipe it off without disturbing the egg?
I hope you're not taking the lid off the container to check on it too often. You don't want the humidity levels changing all the time in then incubation container...so don't disturb the container often.
Thank you! That's an awesome article! Hopefully something happens soon we're so nervous over here!