Reptile & Amphibian Forums

For those of you who have hatched out tortoise eggs, I was wondering what incubators gave you success. I need to buy one and I'm torn between the Hovabator, Little Giant, or just building my own, based on plans from another keeper. I was reading up on hatching chickens and the hatching percentages vary greatly from 30% to 65% with some folks. I know there are a lot of variables that go into those perventages, but with our precious tortoise eggs we want high numbers

All that said, lets take a poll of what incubators you all use:

1.) Professional Product (please give name and model)
2.) Home Made (please link plans or a pic if you can)

Thanks

Tortuga

I've used the basic Hovabator model - the model WITHOUT a fan.

Hatching rates have been low. One year it was 0%, and other years it's been above 50%-60%, but I think that's due to non-incubator issues such as fertility.

I have used the Plain Jane Hova Bators (no fan) since around 1978 and I get nearly 100% hatching from fertile eggs. Unless I screw something up, I never have problems.

Have had excellent results with the no fan hovabator for snake & lizard eggs. Haven't had any tortoise eggs.

I also use the Hovabator with no fan. The literally hundreds of eggs hatched in same have included all 4 members of the genus Pyxis, Radiateds, and all three types of Star Tortoises. You do not need a fancy incubator to hatch tortoise eggs in my experience. I haven't purchased one for a while, but the Hovabators with no fans used to cost about $40.

Bill Z

And there you have it.
If it's good enough for Bill Z, it will be good enough for you.

I did hook mine up to a proportional thermastat for my peace of mind but that's probably overkill.
Thermostat comparison chart

I also use, recommend, and have had great success with fanless Hobavators.

I few tips I recommend include:
1. Use with a proportional thermostat. I use the Herpstat II, http://www.mgreptiles.com/HERPSTATII.html

2. Get the model with a larger viewing window on top so you don't have to open the lid every time you check the eggs.

3. Install a small cabinent door handle on the frount of the lid so you can easily open it

4. Set it up somewhere cool, dry, away from windows, where there will be minimal vibration. Mine are in a walk in closet in my basement.

good luck,

John

How do you install a proportional thermostat on these? Do you have to turn the dial on the Hovabotor all the way on, so only the proportional thermostat would shut it off. Has this setup given you a consistent temperature inside the incubator?

That is correct. I just turned the incubator all the way up, hooked up the thermostat and it has worked like a charm.
jbly

I haven't had an incubator cooking for at least 5 years but if I remember correctly I used the OLD Helix thermostat.
The incubator was pugged into the thermostat, you dialed in the desired temp, & the temp sensor wired into the interior of the incubator near the eggs. I had a digital temp/humidity sensor inside with the eggs.
Again it has been a while & I have never incubated chelonian eggs just various lizard & snake eggs. Wish I had some eggs cooking. Ther's nothing quite like experiancing something hatch ... other than maybe see your own child being born.