Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I know most of you folks probably put your own incubators together, but I'm interested to know how each of you do it. Everyone has methods that work for them, and I'm always open to new ideas. I have been using a 30 gal tank, and putting 5-6 4in bricks in the bottom, and then filling it with 3 1/2in of water. I set the totes the eggs are in width wise in the tank just above the water. I put in a submersable water heater with a thermostat on it, and then put a piece of plexiglass with a few holes drilled through it on top. That tends to keep the humidity up some. I'm sure there are tons of other ways, and I can't wait to hear them. I wish I had pics of my setup, but I take it down after the season. If you have pics please show them. Thanks.
Ken

Ken,

Sounds like a nice economical set-up...

Check out the "Incubator Design" at Damon's website...it is found at the top of his home page...

Later,
Jim.
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CSRAJim

I pretty much use the same setup Ken uses, except I do mine in a insulated Coleman brand ice chest. It's served me well now for 9 years.
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Vichris

Vichris Variables

I use the same as Ken, except I use a rubber maid tote that is clear. I don't put holes in the tote it self to keep the humidity up and to keep bugs out. I do put holes in the egg chambers though. I open the top once in awhile to give it fresh air exchange.
take care,
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Michelle

I use the simple hovabator, it seems to work well if ou know how to use it and back up the thermostat with another one, this year i am going to use my helix control to thermostat it, because it will be warm enough in the apartment to unplug the racks, plus with the hovabator i can hide it easily in the closet so the cats dont sit on top of it, although when i have a few clutches going at once like next year i think will build something to use

Adam

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4.5 THAYERI
1.2 SPLENDIDA
1.3 ALTERNA
0.0.1 HOLD BACK RUNT ALBINO CORN
0.1.1 PYXIE FROG
0.0.1 MEXICAN RED KNEE
1.0 CHILEAN ROSE HAIR

That was some great info Jim. Thanks.
Ken

n/p

I use modified Hovabators with extra ventilation and moisture that seem to do well, but I'd much prefer a submersible heat design similar to what you use. The heat rail in the Hovabators are a little scary. Nice gentle, indirect heat that provides plenty of humidity like what you use is the way to go I think. And good quality aquarium heaters are darn reliable. That design Jim mentioned is excellent, but I think I would still use an aquarium heater in a flooded bottom and forget about the fans.
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Mike

I did not have very good luck with a hovabator. That's why I decided to build my own. I've had much better luck with the home version.
Ken

And I think the design you use is one of, if not the best, and I'm also ready to abandon the Hovabators. They work if you tweak them a little and keep the egg boxes in the center, away from the heat rail, but that limits the available space to about 1/2 of the interior. I've looked over everything from the simplest to the most advanced incubation systems and I've yet to find anything I like better than the basic design you use. Simple, extremely effective and affordable, which makes it a system that is available to anyone. Kingsnake eggs don't need high tech.

I've been looking at those submersible cable-type aquarium heaters to use in a similar simple design and I like Michelle's approach using large plastic totes. I also like the idea of pumping air in through the heated water using an aerator and low volume aquarium pump... no need for vent holes and it sounds like it helps keep the humidity up where it needs to be.
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Mike

You will find the totes hold the heat better than the glass of an aquarium. Since heat rises and water distrubutes it pretty good I don't use and air stone or pump. You can get a small power head and it is submersible and it will pump the water without an airstone or outiside device. I also like the fact the totes don't crack like glass if you were to bump it. Also once things are over for the season it all packs up in the tote for storage the next year.
take care,
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Michelle

tote. I have something in mind but I'm not sure it's what you are using.
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Vichris

Vichris Variables

A plasitc storage container. I use rubbermaid but sterilite also makes them. I also like the clear ones.
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Michelle

Hi Michelle, thanks for the notes! Always appreciated.

Those were my thoughts exactly... plastic holds heat a little better than glass and only needing it to be a few degrees warmer than room temp, the tote would be just fine. Plus it's lighter, easier to handle and comes with the lid. I still have all of my aquarium equipment so I do have power heads, but really I wouldn't be looking to move water around. With the pump and aerator I would be pumping a gentle flow of air through the incubator for a constant supply of oxygen to the eggs, which should eliminate the need for vent holes and having to remove the lid for an air exchange. I would bleed off excess air from the pump with a valve to regulate what goes through the incubator so there would be no drying effect, and not much in the way of actual air movement... no draft in there, just a steady supply of oxygen. The slight air pressure from the air being pumped in would escape around the rim of the tote as none of them seal air-tight, no vent holes necessary.
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Mike

Thanks for that idea Mike, I might hook up a air pump for oxygen, that would elminate my opening it up, I usally open more when it is time to hatch, i get stir crazy waiting on the new arrivals.
I don't put any holes in my tote due to bugs. I do put a few holes around the sides of the egg chambers for fresh air. Since they are in the main tote no bugs get in.
The first year I tried this method someone had told me to put holes around the rim of the tote and this was horrible I had knats come to it and then they got in with the eggs due to the fact they both had holes. So I went and bought a new tote and didn't put any holes in it, this stopped the bugs. I also beleive they don't seal tight enough to stop air flow especially with the cord for the heater going into it.

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Michelle

You can get a submersible heater that has the temperature gradutions on it so it is easier to dial in. I use a garden thermometer that sticks to the inside and I can view it through the side of the tote.
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Michelle

Have you seen those cool new heaters that are actually a submersible cable? Cool stuff! That's what I'm looking at. In an aquarium, you can weave the cable around under your substrate so it gently heats from there... good for your aquatic plants too and you can't see it in the tank. You run them with a remote digital thermostat which includes a separate temperature probe. They are said to be very accurate and perfect for an incubator I think. They come in different lengths and wattages and use very little power compared to the glass tube/heat element types.
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Mike

I have never seen them, but that would be cool. Where have you found them at? I would like to get one for my incubator and my fish tank. I have fish too I know they are as addicting as thayeri.
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Michelle

Watch for an e-mail, Ill get you some links. I'm a little behind the power curve after the blizzard that roared through here this week. I'm certainly ready for spring up here!

Talk to you soon.
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Mike

hey ken!!! are you gonna breed your butterfly girl this year? also... one of the people who took 1 of emilys babies posted a baby pic in the corn forum. check her out!!! the post is : "updated pic of miami female - cochran, Feb 9, 2007 " just thought i'd share ~kin
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~Sober Serpents~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~SNAKIES~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Corns:
.1 Normal (Gertrude) [just a pet...she started it all]
1. Orange normal (Romeo)
1.2 Miami Phase (Hector, Emily, Charlotte) thanks jeff!
2. Miami Phase part zigzag (Starkey, Mcvitty)[Emilys F2]
1. Amel het Blizzard (Dunesbury) .1 Blizzard (Detta)
1. Classic het Hypo, poss het Amel, Anery (Cobra)
1.1 Classics (Henry VIII, Cassy) [Emilys F1 babies]
.1 Sunglow Amel (Pepperoni)*1. Sunglow coming soon!
1.1 Hypo zig zags poss HET Caramel (Bernard, Abegail)
.1 Hypo HET Stripe (Gracie Lou) 1. Hypo Stripe (Gideon)
1.1 Anery HET Motley (Lleroy, Persia)
.2 Candy Cane (Peaches HoneyBlossom[Just a pet], Tamale)
1.1 Abbotts Okeetee (Albert[Charlottes son], NO NAME)
1.1 Snow (Crickle, Isis) .1 Green Snow (Maya)
1. Caramel poss HET Butter (Topher)
.1 Anery stripe (V) [husbands snake...he named it]
.1 Orange Reverse Okeetee (Lonna)
1.2 Bloodred HET Amel 1. Amel HET Bloodred

Others:
1. Black rat (Willard)
1.1 Striped Cal Kings (Dweezil, Skunky)
1. High-white Reverse Spotted Cal King (Wishbone) *.1 soon!
.1 Albino Stripe Cal King (Eve)
.1 Banana spotted/stripe cal king (Speckle) Thanks Jeff!!!
1.1 Thayeri (Giuseppe[MSP], Cheyenne)
1.1 Creamsicle HET Motley(Orangejello, Genevieve)
1. Creamsicle motley (Montey) Thanks Jimmy!!
1. Albino Striped Jungle Corn (NO NAME)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~LIZARDS~~~~~~~~~~~~~
.1 Blizzard Leopard Gecko(Blitz)
.1? High yellow Leopard Gecko(no name)
1. Bearded Dragon (no name)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~TURTLES~~~~~~~~~~~~
.1 white cheeked mud (Opel)
.1 snapping turtle (Snappy Jaws)

That was a nice pic Kin. Emily threw some pretty babies.
Ken