Reptile & Amphibian Forums

OK, I went to the local feed store and picked up a hobavator........fo fifty bucks . If I'd known they were just pressed foam I might have tried sooner to build one out of a cooler.

Couple questions..... 1. Has anyone used the perlite/florescent grate combo in one of these and if so, how well did that work?

2. Should I need more depth that is available in a hobavator for a single clutch of Ball eggs? Thanks in advance.

Quig

I've never put substrate in the actual hovabator. I put eggs or clutches into containers and incubate that way. You could if you were incubating a single clutch; But if you need to conserve space, or seperate multiple clutches it's just easier that way. I also use a thermostat to control the heating elements. The wafer thermostats are decent, but I don't trust them. Other than that, they are no different than any other commercial incubator. Temperature and thermal mass still applies.

I put my eggs in containers and would have put lids on them. My girl had already laid 6 eggs before I found out and they were stuck together, so I put them in vermiculite and they still stuck up too tall to put the lids on. Instead I taped the breathing holes on the top of the hovobator and poured water in the base to help raise the humidity. I will also add water to the corners of the vermiculite as it starts drying out.I just open the hovobator once a day to allow fresh air to get inside. Hope this helps. Chris

i used hovabater for first clutch. had 11 eggs! i too used a container but couldnt put lid on so used plastic rap with holes n over. i found it to keep temps exactly an dall eggs hatched fine.
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GOOSEBALLS

lamina1982@hotmail.com

Hovabators bottoms are too short for snake eggs

use shipping boxes ..use the bottom of the box and the top of the Hovabator......make sure it fits....check with pet shops for fish shipping boxes first or any styrofoam box that fits and is taller.like 3 or 4 inches taller than the origional bottom.

I put vermiculite directly into the Hova and put like 4 or 5 clutches right into it......did this for loooong time......it works......I used 3 last year..and as some eggs hatch , I usually cut them and take them out because I have new eggs to take their place.....

the grate and perlite no substrate method in a Hova with no other separate containers does NOT work in the Hovas....been there killed that......killed alot....I mean alot....dried them out then drowned them........oops......

....good luck.....with just one batch..I'd use separate boxes and a TALL bottom box......

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good luck'

.(hope I didn't spell any words wrongly )....?....

LOL
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