Vermiculite or Hatchrite

[madchameleon]

Ok I have read some discussions on vermiculite vs. hartchrite but I haven't found a clear winner. Do any breeders on here have any input?

Anyone experience any problems with either of the two? Benefits? Mixing the two?

LLL sells both with a great bulk price on hatchrite. Although price isn't a real concern.


p.s. it is for panther eggs

 

[eriksorg]

Used them both...hatched Oustalets and Panthers...And I prefer the hatchrite...had a much better hatch rate with it..

 

[pantherlover]

I like to use vermeculite. I use the coarse one, not the very fine one. I mix it by weight. 5 parts vermeculite to 4 parts water. When I have the mixture down, I zero the scale and weigh the vermeculite and the container. Every month or so, I weigh the container and match the original weight by adding water to replace whatever has evaporated.

 

[fluxlizard]

I never tried hatchright.
I've had great success for 20 years with vermiculite so I don't think that at least for me the hatchright would be worth the extra cost.
I add some water to the vermiculite, grab a big handful, squeeze all the water I can out of it with all of my might and place a few handfuls in a tupperware type container.
I keep the containers sealed throughout incubation so I don't have to mess with weighing and adding water...

 

[canzoman]

Ha this can go back and forth.

I used hatchrite and lost 4 eggs. Switch medium to vermiculite and not I have eggs piping and 4 hatched.

So my opinion is vermiculite.

 

[madchameleon]

I keep the containers sealed throughout incubation so I don't have to mess with weighing and adding water...
Reply With Quote

Does this mean you don't have any holes in the container?

 

[canzoman]

I have small pin holes in mine.

 

[fluxlizard]

Does this mean you don't have any holes in the container?
Today 06:39 PM

Yes it does, and I only pick brands that seal tight.

You can see why on this thread here:

https://www.chameleonforums.com/best-egg-incubation-material-63238/index2.html#post594271

My current choice is rubbermaid takealong ~6"x6"x1(or 2?)". Every couple of years walmart changes brands and/or the brand I'm using messes with the design forcing me to switch. For example my last brand got some genius idea for stacking lids. The idea makes it impossible to securely stack the entire container. Who wants lids that securely stack but containers that when full with the lid in place do not?

 

[sarah777]

I've never used hatchrite but have had great success with vermiculite with panthers. As for containers go with one that has a totally clear lid so you don't have to open it every time your checking on hatchlings

 

[Peter Kraemer]

For my K.multituberculata i used a layer of clay granulate and the second layer from vermiculite - and it works....

https://www.chameleonforums.com/susi-peter-s-chamaeleons-41665/index7.html