Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have built an incubator based on pictures and information I found on Websites. I have done my research. My incubator is a 10 Gal aquarium with 4 inches of water. I have a 75 watt aquarium heater in the water. (It'shttp://forums.kingsnake.com/post.php?action=newtopic&catid=50 rated for 15 gal aquariums) The aquearium heater is turned all the way up and my water temps are 78 - 80 degrees F. The egg box is 1/2 inch above the water. I am using peat moss as a substrate. Substrate temps are 78-80 degrees F. I want to incubate at 80 degrees for the first two weeks, to get femailes, then bump up temps to get brighter colors. How can i raise my temps? Should i get a higher wattage aquarium heater? My humidity levels are at 60%. Is this a correct humidity level? Should i have a top on my egg box?

Thanks in advance for all you're help!

Dan
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1.0 Albino Leopard Gecko - (Maverick)
0.1 High-Yellow Leopard Gecko - (Charlie)
0.0.1 Albino Corn Snake - (Cleo)
1.1 Mangrove Watersnakes - (Kaa and Kali)
0.0.1 Common Snapper - (Shredder)
1.0 Cockatiel - (Buddy)

The first incubator i ever used was a 10 gallon styrofoam cooler with a night light on the inside kept the eggs in a sealed small mealworm cup with some vermiculite and sprayed the inside with water everyday to keep the humidity up, it worked great and i even managed to be just in time to see them hatch.

I've heard of the aquarium idea before it sounds like it will work as long as you have a good seal to keep in the heat and humidity, the only thing i would recommend is using vermiculite instead of the peat moss because it holds humidity better. I think as long as your humidity level is good inside you wouldn't need a top on the eggs...

as for how to raise the temp??? what about adding a small heat lamp to shine through from the outside and create the greenhouse effect... not too sure about that one.

In your Styrofoam cooler, what did you use to keep your temps constant? the night light? Also, when you misted it, you misted around the cooler and not the egg container itself? (just wondering because I read not to mist the eggs directly). Just to clarify as I am researching this as well.
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1.1 Western Painted Turtle (Mougly, Scooter)
0.1 Albino Leopard Gecko (Daphne)

Personally I make my incubators but my situation is a little different. If you want to get a cheap incubator that works try a hovabator. http://search.ebay.com/hova-bator_W0QQfnuZ1QQfsooZ1QQfsopZ3QQxpufuZx
Also for a how to try the Albey method.
http://www.albeysreptiles.com/incubate-eggs.htm
I have used this for years with great success.
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Brian
www.windycitygeckos.com

im not stressing over the humidity thing here but i am thinking when your babies hatch you are running with a high drownding rate! they could easily fall over or crawl over the edge.

Thanks for the imput. I have added the cover to the eggs. So now hopefully they will hatch!!!!

dan
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1.0 Albino Leopard Gecko - (Maverick)
0.1 High-Yellow Leopard Gecko - (Charlie)
0.0.1 Albino Corn Snake - (Cleo)
1.1.4 Mangrove Watersnakes - (Kaa and Kali and their babies)
0.0.1 Common Snapper - (Shredder)
1.0 Cockatiel - (Buddy)