Reptile & Amphibian Forums

is almost done, I am going to replace the black tape with white electrical tape. I am still debating on adding a fan or not it hold temps within 1.25 degrees from right to left. It will hold 9 clutches of eggs, the containers are rubbermaid flex and seals. As you can see (unless the hydrometer is lying) its holding humidty perfectly I just hope the eggs will fit in the containers. If they dont I will have 2 extra spaces even if the 7 females get preggers!

Nice! I use the same Rubbermaid boxes for my eggs.

Cold Blooded Addiction

do you find that they are to small I have the smaller container (rubbermaid flex and seal 1.1 gallon 4.2L) and how do you get your eggs apart?

No they work great...I usually get them from the female as soon as they are laid so they are easy to pull apart.

I missed about three clutches this year, the rest I separated...


Cold Blooded Addiction

very nice how did you make it?

the incubator and your workmanship look great. Take it for what it's worth, but I do have one considerable concern based on my experience. I believe there is a considerable danger that the boxes close to the heating element may likely get too hot when the element comes on to bring the incubator up to temperature after it is opened or when new egg boxes that are not up to temp are added. The direct radiant heat from the heating element will likely heat these boxes, at least for periods of time considerably higher than the other boxes in the incubator. I also think that a small fan would be cheap insurance and provide an added margin of saftey.
Good luck
Grant

someone else had also suggested that. What I did was push the tubs the distance they would be from the heating element then bring the temps to wear they would hit 89.5. because it stays warm in the snake room the temps even with the lid open wouldnt drop low enough to warrant a full heat blast. I have the thermostat set on proportional as an added precation I will be doing more experimenting today. I will have 7 clutches ( the incubator holds 9) if all my girls get preggers but I will start putting eggs from the farthest left part of the incubator. ill let everyone know how it turns out

I've seen the same type og incubator, only using 11 inch wide flexwatt. This way you can run it the length of the cooler so there is no worry about heating some boxes more than others. I am trying the reverse of your incubator this year. I am using a cooler as a "brumator" for kings and corns with the flexwatt. Same concept, just lower temps (50 degrees), and kept outside in a shed.

I've seen aquarium airpumps use to pump fresh air into the coolers. Just run the air line through the drain just like you did for the wireing and have it connected to the pump on the outside. You only need to let it run a couple of hours each day.

Very nice cooler incubator. Could you write up how you installed everything for those, such as myself, who want to build their own incubator?

I know it's a bit of work to do a write up but it certainly will be of benefit of many people who only have a small collection to breed. If you can also include approximate price of the setup and where you can find parts (ie like that heating element) and size of cooler (I think it says 110 on the cooler itself but not sure if that is liters or quarts or gallons).

My plan is to build a cooler based incubator and yours looks much simpler than others I have seen and read up about on the internet. Though I may move the heat element to the bottom with a fan instead of against one side (concerned it will melt a plastic container or over heat it, should it come on when a container is actually touching the element. Maybe a protective cover over the element? or heat cord instead?

Also, I noticed none of your containers have vents in them for air circulation. Doesn't mold tend to grow if the containers are too well sealed? Will you need to open each container once a week or so to 'air out' the eggs to ensure enough oxygen is getting to them?
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PHLdyPayne