Perlite for reptile egg incubation

Per container (+-60gram)

Perlite is used to incubate eggs, specifically reptile eggs.

Eggs of all different kinds of reptiles including

-geckos

-bearded dragon

-snakes

-iguanas

-turtles/tortoises

Can be placed in exfoliated perlite and left to develop before they hatch.

Once in a plastic container or something of the sort, the perlite must in most cases be dampened so as to be moist – not soaked.

A depression can then be made in the perlite, large enough to place the reptile egg within and to ensure that each egg has sufficient space to hatch.

Why perlite? There are a number of reasons why perlite is ideally suited to this application. For example, perlite is a good thermal insulator and is thus able to maintain a level of humidity, crucial for keeping the eggs warm.

Equally however, the eggs cannot become too warm for risk of drying out. Perlite is also well known for its ability to retain moisture and control its slow release; it is due to this property that it is so frequently applied to compost mixes in horticulture.

For the reptile eggs, this ensures that the hydrated environment required, is maintained.

Visually, exfoliated perlite resembles a concertina. It is this structure that allows air to flow freely and thus ensures that the temperature within the container is constant.