Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Why does everyone say you need a closed small egg container? I have a hovabator that is 100% humidity and on the substrate the temp stays at 89.9 and the air is 90.2. Why use a closed container?

In an open hovabator, the substrate will dry our rather quickly if not inside an egg box, and also humidity will dip wildly whenever you open the incubator. Also, the egg box provides an additional temperature buffer, which is a really good idea with the overhead heat element...

my experience with the hovabator is exactly that...the last 2 years I have had eggs dry out...this year...closed containers....nothing but big plump eggs.
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Michael Enriquez

I see what your saying about the humidity dropping when you open it up! Why open it tho? You use perlite and the humidity stays up the perlite will NOT dry! You dont open it maybe twice to let some air in and out. You open a closed container that is smaller then the entire incubator technically the humidity in the small container is going to ecscape and be gone by the time you close it back up. Your substrate will stay moist if you use vermiculite yea..but using perlite it isnt going to dry out if you open it for just a few minutes. I guess its opinion and through experience but to me a small sealed humidified to the max platic container is not going to keep fresh air in it. I dont know. Maybe we should do a couple good controlled tests. I can open my hovabator and the humidity goes back up within about 20-30 mins. Who knows just kinda opening up a good discusion hopefully!

You asked. We told you. You don't like our answers...?

I personally don't use a Hovabator. I think its a pretty poor python egg set up. Others use them with great success. People who use a hovabator with no egg box invariably have problems. Also, if you're using the thing right out of the box its far to shallow. Finally, a new thing you brought up in your last...the perlite? You have the eggs sitting in straight perlite? That would have a tendency to pull moisture out of the eggs. I use straight perlite in my no sub set-up, but would never use it in a traditional set-up. And why do you think perlite dries out any slower than vermiculite?

I personally dont have the money to spend $500 on an incubator. Answers are always appreciated. Im just trying to see what EVERYONE thinks? Yes My leopard gecko setup is straight perlite in a small rubbermaid container. 1gram of perlite to .8grams water. Hvae used it for a while never a problem! My container just sits in my snake room though and the temp happens to be perfect. The Perlite doesnt dry up and because of the high humidity the eggs absorbe from the air to. If you let the perlite sit and it feels dry to the touch, squeeze it between you fingers and it will still feel moist. Im just seeing what everyone does. I might grab two eggs and use two different methods on them. Just to see what works best. I guess it comes down to if you have your incubator calibrated right along with your humidity

>>I think its a pretty poor python egg set up. Others use them with great success.

I would have to disagree. Maybe you are doing something wrong with the setup. I've had great success with hovabators in the past. Do I use them now? No. I don't have the space for them, but they are excellent incubators for ANY reptile eggs.

>>People who use a hovabator with no egg box invariably have problems.

I also have to say nay again. I guess it depends on the setup. I've always had a bit of condensation on the windows of my hovabators.....but I never opened them until the last couple of weeks. Just dump the vermiculite or perlite directly in the styro, add the right amount of water and then add the eggs.....get babies in 7-8 weeks.

>>Also, if you're using the thing right out of the box its far to shallow.

Agreed. They do need modification, and the best way is by using a large fish shipping styro......usually free from fish or aquarium stores.

>>You have the eggs sitting in straight perlite? That would have a tendency to pull moisture out of the eggs. I use straight perlite in my no sub set-up, but would never use it in a traditional set-up.

Again, it must be something you are or are not doing. I have incubated MANY clutches of MANY different snake in direct contact/half burried perlite. I prefer vermiculite, but it's been hard to get for several years. If you have the right depth of perlite, and the right water content, it WILL NOT draw moisture from eggs. If you are using the no-sub method, why would you use perlite?

>>And why do you think perlite dries out any slower than vermiculite?

Because you have to guage the correct moisture content with vermiculite before adding eggs. With perlite, you can just pour water in the bottom of the container. If you are loosing moisture from either method, then your container is not "tight" enough. I've never had to add water to perlite because I just pour enough in the container until I see it reach half-way up the side. Then I pour a small layer of dry on top. I've done it with everything from Balls to Burms to Chondros to Kingsnakes. Really, if done correctly, no method should dry eggs out.

I've even incubated eggs in panty hose hanging in the middle of a saturated incubator. The ultimate dry substrate with 100% ambient humidity. Pretty cool, huh?
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www.brandonosbornereptiles.com

I would have to say yes actually!!!

I bet that would work great for eggs that seem to not do so well if in contact with a wet substrate like Chondro eggs (no experience with chondros just read that here and there)

But instead of inside the pantyhose, perhaps one could make a cot like apparatus to hold eggs above the heat humidity source in a closed incubator type of set up, with a grate incorporated to make sure any neonates could not get to the saturated substrate area.

Now that would be a dry substrate one for sure. (as yours obviously was)

>>>>I think its a pretty poor python egg set up. Others use them with great success.
>>
>>I would have to disagree. Maybe you are doing something wrong with the setup. I've had great success with hovabators in the past. Do I use them now? No. I don't have the space for them, but they are excellent incubators for ANY reptile eggs.
>>
>>>>People who use a hovabator with no egg box invariably have problems.
>>
>>I also have to say nay again. I guess it depends on the setup. I've always had a bit of condensation on the windows of my hovabators.....but I never opened them until the last couple of weeks. Just dump the vermiculite or perlite directly in the styro, add the right amount of water and then add the eggs.....get babies in 7-8 weeks.
>>
>>>>Also, if you're using the thing right out of the box its far to shallow.
>>
>>Agreed. They do need modification, and the best way is by using a large fish shipping styro......usually free from fish or aquarium stores.
>>
>>>>You have the eggs sitting in straight perlite? That would have a tendency to pull moisture out of the eggs. I use straight perlite in my no sub set-up, but would never use it in a traditional set-up.
>>
>>Again, it must be something you are or are not doing. I have incubated MANY clutches of MANY different snake in direct contact/half burried perlite. I prefer vermiculite, but it's been hard to get for several years. If you have the right depth of perlite, and the right water content, it WILL NOT draw moisture from eggs. If you are using the no-sub method, why would you use perlite?
>>
>>>>And why do you think perlite dries out any slower than vermiculite?
>>
>>Because you have to guage the correct moisture content with vermiculite before adding eggs. With perlite, you can just pour water in the bottom of the container. If you are loosing moisture from either method, then your container is not "tight" enough. I've never had to add water to perlite because I just pour enough in the container until I see it reach half-way up the side. Then I pour a small layer of dry on top. I've done it with everything from Balls to Burms to Chondros to Kingsnakes. Really, if done correctly, no method should dry eggs out.
>>
>>I've even incubated eggs in panty hose hanging in the middle of a saturated incubator. The ultimate dry substrate with 100% ambient humidity. Pretty cool, huh?
>>-----
>>www.brandonosbornereptiles.com

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Roberts Realm Of Reptile Research
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Thanks,

I opened my mouth and out flowed a melody black.

Yep. I've done that one too and prefer it over the "bag" method. I still prefer direct contact over anything else.
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www.brandonosbornereptiles.com

Well if you remember me using the tank incubator with my eggs in a box with vermiculite and moss packed to the top the eggs are very well hydrated and plump and smooth like a chicken egg, just like most colubrids I incubate using same basic method just different temps.

I don't even use an incubator for my colubrids, just on the shelf in the snake room fluctuating from 76 to 86, mostly 82/84.

They (het pied) where laid on June 8 2008 and are looking good in the 10 gallon fish tank incubator lol.

>>Yep. I've done that one too and prefer it over the "bag" method. I still prefer direct contact over anything else.
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>>www.brandonosbornereptiles.com
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=========================================================
Roberts Realm Of Reptile Research
=========================================================
Thanks,

I opened my mouth and out flowed a melody black.

Yep. You should be good to go and seeing little python heads in a few weeks. I incubate my colubrid eggs the same way. I do sometimes incubate my hondos with my ball eggs though. They tend to hatch about 5-10 days earlier. Post the pics when your babies hatch!

Good luck.
Brandon
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www.brandonosbornereptiles.com

>>Yep. You should be good to go and seeing little python heads in a few weeks. I incubate my colubrid eggs the same way. I do sometimes incubate my hondos with my ball eggs though. They tend to hatch about 5-10 days earlier. Post the pics when your babies hatch!
>>
>>Good luck.
>>Brandon
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>>www.brandonosbornereptiles.com
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=========================================================
Roberts Realm Of Reptile Research
=========================================================
Thanks,

I opened my mouth and out flowed a melody black.