Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a gravid corn (about a month along) and wondered if people are using the Hovabator with good success. I guess I am asking if you use a system you have built, or do you trust one you can buy. Thanks in advance.
Dave

I have a hovabator. next year i hope to try to build my own, as well as have my Hova. I got my "broken deep freezer" from craigslist a lil late.... so i hope for next year... until then, i will throw a pretty cloth over it and call it a table
~kin
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~Sober Serpents~
www.freewebs.com/soberserpents
Corns, Creamsicles, A Black Rat, Thayeri, Cal Kings, A Jungle Corn(Just A Pet), A Ball Python, A Bearded dragon, Leopard Geckos, Green Anoles, a Snapping turtle, and a white cheeked mud turtle

I've used a hovabator for several years and had a great deal of success. If you only have 2 or 3 clutches of eggs, it's a good way to go. These days I have too many eggs for a hovabator, so I made a couple "home made" incubators.

The thing to remember with a hovabator or any inexpensive setup, is that it's made to heat, but not cool down. When eggs are heated at a steady temperature in the low 80s and a heat wave comes along, spiking the temperatures into the 90s, then you can get birth defects, specifically spinal kinks.

Therefore it's a good idea to set up your incubator in the basement or other cool area in the house.

Tim

Third Eye

Put the hovabator on a timer in heat wave weather.
Mine goes off at noon and doesn't come back until 9.

That gives the temp inside the hovabator a chance to cool somewhat before the hot part of the day comes.

When it still gets too hot - I've had success putting synthetic ice cubes in the hovabator. These are some kind of gel pack in the shape of an ice cube, freeze them first.
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I decided my old sig was too big.

I actually dont use any type of incubator. The average temp in my reptile room is right about 80 degrees.