incubation questions

[Swistable]

I have my eggs sitting in coconut husk substrate. I have found out my hygrometer was in accurate I have a new one that works and I cannot get it lower than 90%... my temp goes from 83-84.4F ... I read that people put their eggs in vermiculite but I cannot purchase it in my area they removed it everywhere due to link of asbestos. Could it be because coconut husk causes too much humidity?
This is the link I used to build my incubator. www.youtube.com/watch?v=T86nPATEckA

Here are my eggs

 

[Swistable]

I can remove some of the coconut husk maybe that would helprovide reduce humidity ?

 

[PatsyB]

Do you have good ventilation in your incubator? Coconut husk is really funny stuff. When it's dry and you pour water on it, the water runs right off or pools on top of it. But once it's saturated it's really saturated. Maybe you can replace some of the wet with dry. Also, I noticed that when it stays wet for long periods of time with not a lot of ventilation, like under feeding bowls, mold can start to grow. So be careful that your eggs aren't getting moldy.

 

[ilovebeardies]

Coconut husk retains water once saturated pretty well I believe you could also use pearlite I believe its called its the next best thing to vermiculite

 

[Swistable]

Yeah I want to get them out of them coconut husk... one of them don't look too great.. I guess any gardening place should have pearlite I will try that . Thanks to you both..
No not much ventilation I been thinking on how I Cando that. . I literally did the same set up as my youtube video there's only one hole out the big box with holes on the box my eggs are in.

 

[ilovebeardies]

I think once you change the substrate your humidity will be better you are measuring the humidity from inside the containers and not the whole incubator itself right?

 

[Swistable]

Its in the container with the eggs. I will be going to change the substrate. Hoping it s not too late.. problems with the hygrometor didn't let me learn this sooner ): .. only one of them looks weird so far but yeah..

 

[ilovebeardies]

I don't think it will hurt to much, my temps were off at first and my eggs are doing great still

 

[diegothediggy]

I don't think it will hurt to much, my temps were off at first and my eggs are doing great still

How long do ur eggs have left? If u dnt mind me asking

 

[ilovebeardies]

How long do ur eggs have left? If u dnt mind me asking

Not at all! They are on day 46 today! I've kept my incubator between 84-86F, I've read that incubating at lower temps usually produces more females but extends incubation time. So to be honest I have no idea lol

 

[diegothediggy]

Not at all! They are on day 46 today! I've kept my incubator between 84-86F, I've read that incubating at lower temps usually produces more females but extends incubation time. So to be honest I have no idea lol

How long on average do they take to hatch ?

 

[ilovebeardies]

I've read that 50 is the minimum and the max I saw was a little over a 100 days

 

[hodged02]

The five clutches of eggs my mate has incubated for me were kept at 34 degrees and took between 60-90 days, got clutch no.6 (14 eggs) in a similar DIY incubateor to yours but I do have vermiculite (hate the stuff when it's wet as gets everywhere)

 

[Turkey Hunter]

Have you considered using "hatch rite" media. You can buy it from lllreptile.com. Its foolproof.