Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello.
I have been placed in charge of building a basic incubator for a clutch of ball python eggs that is due to be laid in mid March.

I figured I would start out with a styrofoam fish shipping box, and use a 4" X 5" Exo Terra heating pad as a heat source. I already have a thermometer and a hygrometer to install in there too. I was thinking of using vermiculite, or vermiculite/sphagnum mix, as a medium.

Is this okay??? Please correct anything that can be corrected so that the eggs have the best chance of surviving. I have never built an incubator for a ball python before; as much help as possible would be greatly appreciated. Incubating tips would be nice too!!!

Thanks!!
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Molly Denton

Owner and lover of:
3.2 Spoiled doggies (Koda, Babs, Utah, Mace & Scooby)
1.0 Savanna Monitor (Mackoi)
1.0 Veiled Chameleon (Mr. Beefy)
2.1 American Toads (Talya, Basil & Chippy)
0.0.1 Fat-Tailed Gecko (Bones)
0.2 cute mice (Kami & Pepper)

There are many different ways to build your own incubator, the important thing for it to do, no matter how it's built, is maintain a constant temperature and humidity throughout the incubation period. A small fluctuation of temps ( /- 1-3 degrees) is fine. A therostate or rheostate should be used to ensure control over temperature fluctuations etc and making sure there is no change harmful fumes, or electrical current can premeate the interior (or even exterior) of the incubator.

Most breeders of snakes use either vermiculate, perlite or a compination of the two. Typically the ratio between vermiculite and water is measured by weight, instead of volumn.

some good sites about building your own incubator I have included below. I haven't built any of them myself but will be something I plan to do this summer, so I have it ready when I am breeding my snakes.

www.morion.com/teo/english/babies/incubator/incubator.html

www.familyzoo.us/how_to_build_an_incubator.htm

There are others out there, but these are the ones I happen to have bookmarked.