03-19-2014, 04:02 PM
I began experimenting after your comment Phil on using less media and found the drop was good for my melanogaster cultures. I've dropped to 1/4 cup of dry media per melanogaster culture, but I maintained 1/2 cup for hydei. I keep melano cultures for 4 to 5 weeks and hydei for 6 to 8 weeks, so these amounts seem to get me through those periods. That would drop my estimate to ~$0.14 per melanogaster culture and leave the ~$0.27 per hydei as is, not including the cost of the cup, lid and coffee filters.
I'm still not using Methylparaben, but that's simply because I'm lazy and I can get all the stuff I am currently using at the grocery store and GNC next door...
The problem I struggle with the most is keeping the culture moisture content consistent over the course of the year as the weather changes. I stopped measuring water content and started "eyeballing" it to get the right consistency. The indoor RH moves from 50% in the summer to 30% in the winter. I'm guessing that has an impact...
I'm still not using Methylparaben, but that's simply because I'm lazy and I can get all the stuff I am currently using at the grocery store and GNC next door...
The problem I struggle with the most is keeping the culture moisture content consistent over the course of the year as the weather changes. I stopped measuring water content and started "eyeballing" it to get the right consistency. The indoor RH moves from 50% in the summer to 30% in the winter. I'm guessing that has an impact...
Jim from Austin | https://www.oneillscrossing.com/dart-frogs/
fantastica nominant | summersi | reticulata | A barbotini
fantastica nominant | summersi | reticulata | A barbotini