Vermiculite and asbetos

[sebcambon]

I am going to be incubating eggs in a few weeks,and I am trying to decide on use vermiculite or not because of asbetos,what other options do I have for hatching the eggs?Thanks

 

[scottrussell]

i've heard of that too. but i only hear that vermic CAN contain asbetos, i think there are really really slim chances of it actually having it though.

 

[sebcambon]

That is what I heard,but you don't know my luck....LOL

 

[Piper]

Use Perlite, not Vermiculite. Then you don't have to worry about the asbetos
Online reptile supply dealers sell it, or you can (maybe) try a garden shop.

This place has it http://mgreptiles.com/INCUMEDIUM.html
Perlite is a mineral expanded by heating to form very lightweight, porous
white granules useful in container in incubator containors to enhance
moisture and air retention. All you have to do is add the right amount of
water and put the eggs in.. Hold humidity very very well. 99% of the
breeders out there use this now as the vermiculite contains asbestos...

 

[Piper]

Here's the same item from a store you may find local to you:

http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1335619

I always like to check around & get the best price!!

 

[Taceas]

Why doesn't someone just use sphagnum moss? Its compostable along with the shells when the squirts get done hatching out.

Plus you can cover the eggs and not have to worry about hardening of portions of the shells, and there's no complicated measuring by weight/quantity to get it moist at the perfect ratio.

I guess I just like the simplistic method. I never could get vermiculite or perlite just right, always too wet or two dry. Also didn't like the absolute mess it created everywhere.

Plus my females really liked laying in the moss, and incubating in the moss was a breeze.

But last time I checked asbestos is related to vermiculite mainly due to the minerals in the area, but not all vermiculite deposits contain asbestos. Only certain areas are prone to high asbestos concentrations.

The Libby, Montana vermiculite mine contained a high amount of asbestos and its still a big to-do up there because the whole town was pretty much exposed to it, and several people have died from mesothelioma or lung cancer because of being exposed to it without their knowledge due to a company cover-up.

Some links I found:

Asbestos - Wikipedia

Vermiculite - Wikipedia

Perlite - Wikipedia

 

[paulh]

Last year I did a google search for vermiculite and asbestos. What I found was that the asbestos problem was mostly in vermiculite from the Libby mine, which is closed, and present vermiculite supplies are asbestos free.

I've never been convinced that sphagnum is any better than damp paper towels. I've used paper towels and consider vermiculite better because some badly dehydrated eggs pulled through in vermiculite, eggs that I believe would have died in any other medium I've used. On the other hand, I've never used perlite. So vermiculite's mess is endurable, for me. YMMV.

 

[sebcambon]

I am going to use perlite I was just wondering what my options would be other than verm.I can get it fairly easy.I thought about moss,I might try now and see what humidity is I still have until middle of March before the she has eggs.I just wanted other's input and trial and errors

 

[scottrussell]

for some reason i was under the impression that vermic was like THE thing to use without a doubt 100% all the way. i don't know why i thought that; i guess i'm wrong. what does it say in the corn snake manual?

 

[sebcambon]

I think that is what most people use

 

[Taceas]

You can find high-quality vermiculite for nesting material from LLLReptile for a decent price.

They have it in 4qt and 8qt quantities.

Quite a few of the vermiculites I've found in a horticultural setting are impregnated with fertilizers, so that's just one thing you have to watch out for on the packaging.

I've never been convinced that sphagnum is any better than damp paper towels. I've used paper towels and consider vermiculite better because some badly dehydrated eggs pulled through in vermiculite, eggs that I believe would have died in any other medium I've used.

Damp paper towels? You're joking right? =P

I liked sphagnum because of its moist yet airy nature. It gently enveloped the eggs without caking onto them, as I had vermiculite do. Which is probably why those dried out eggs did well, vermiculite tends to adhere to the surface and directly allow moisture transference. And in my case, too much moisture transference.

Which is something I notice a lot of people who use vermiculite have to do, go in every so often and stir things around under the eggs so they aren't sitting on a "wet seat".

I guess the best advice I can give is to try all 3 and see which you like better. What works for one doesn't have to work for everyone. =)

 

[princess]

I used vermiculite last year with great success. I still have a fair bit left so I'm going to stick with it but I also have a bag of perlite which I'm going to experiment with. I'll see if I can put ½ a clutch in one and ½ in the other and see if there's any 'maintenance' differences in regards to humidity and all that.

I've heard perlite is not a good option as it's very scratchy on the newly hatched pippies undersides.

 

[JAG 32]

this year (first year breeding) i think i'm going to use Connie's Method with Vermiculate and buy it from LLLReptile. We'll have to see how things go!

 

[gardenmum]

I have used perlite for all my incubations and I have never had any problems with it and it retains the moisture excellently without making the eggs too moist. So, if you want an alternative, perlite works very well.

As far as moss goes, I tried it once and it was not easy to keep proper moisture without getting the eggs too wet. Maybe I just did it wrong...shrug. AND, paper towel??? That would never hold moister for any proper length of time....that would be hazardous to the eggs for sure, I would think.

 

[Jimmy Johnson]

sphagnum moss

I also use sphagnum moss.
I found it much easier to maintain moisture levels.

 

[mbdorfer]

Gino at Lost World Reptiles has developed what he calls an alternative hatching method. Using paper towels and distilled water, he boasts a 97% hatching rate. I saw him give a presentation at a show once and it was fairly impressive. :wavey: