Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I understand the basics to building a mass in incubator; however, I also know that you can get some rather that are not not much more expesive then supplies already made. So I was wondering what is your opinion, would you recomend buying or building. ALso for builders what do you recommend using for the shell part of the incubator.

matt

refridgerator.... 3-4 foot of 11" flexwatt and some of that "laundry room" white, wire-type shelving--- super easy to do...already insulated and you can use the freezer part for storage- like for your perlite/verm. or scales, or whatever...

or- if you're going to build one, i've found free insulation at petstores- fish boxes.... you can get shower board and line the inside- AND you can use that like a dry erase board too.... use some cheap wood-- decking is about 5$ for a 4x8 sheet here-- with 2x4 corners-- and the insulation- and then shower board to finish it off-- silicone the corners to make it waterproof and it looks nice--

I have no good info on cheaply bought incubators... i see them for several thousand... which is not in my price range at all....

~Beth
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The rescue site: www.freewebs.com/okreptilerescue

HOW MANY EGGS per year are you planning on???
(how many females you breeding?)

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build your own .....I've seen a faily big one built using 2 insh sheet styrofoam board.......that's what I plan on having mine made from also.......I have seen people build a closet into a room with sliding glass doors....lined with foam......I have seen rooms built with plastic sheets in the old days....old refrigerators....old freezers....old rebuilt lab incubators....

....I want lightweight.......sheet foam....minimal wood support......and metal grate shelving ....

..you have less than 50 ? eggs?....Hova-Bators work....if you do it correctly.....(I got 167 eggs so far and used 4 Hovas....)
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we have built any number of incubators using 3/4" plywood. insulated with foil wrapped bubble material, heated with regular bulbs.

i gotta write an FAQ on building your own incubator eventually, there are lots of subtle details...
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robyn@proexotics.com

Pro Exotics Reptiles

I have been using a coleman food cooler for the last 3 seasons with great results. After egg season, I use the temp stat, heat panel on other critters. Cooler gets tossed into the shed until next egg laying season. Or used for camping.
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HI Matt,.........Depends on how many you are looking to incubate. if something small look up damon salceies on a google search. He has a REALLY great incubator design but you have to look hard for the link at the top......... If looking for something bigger go after a DOA upright freezer. Start calling the appliance repair shops in town. You can get your incubator cabinet dirt cheap. THESE work excellent and the magnetic strip in the door if intact will keep the door sealed PERFECT!...... Heat tape and a couple of computer fans and you are set. MOST have shelving built into them but rarely adjustible in the uprights as they are typically the evaporators......You could also try scrap metal facilities to get an upright that is DOA...............If you want a DREAM incubator find a DOA pop cooler with the sliding glass doors..... Only problem is they are heavier than H***........ I actually built my own based roughly on the design in Kevin McKurley's book...IT WAS FANTASTIC but was destroyed in the IOWA floods.....Back to the fridges...... Actually if you get a used fridge freezer you could do colubrids in the freezer and BPs in the fridge. 2 different temps in one incubator..........Oh herpstat thermostats are the BOMB!! Never been more pleased and I have owned them all. JMHO. Lee

I built this one. It worked very well this year. I am going to build another like it, or bigger in the off season. It is made from PC products. Light and a couple of fans.

That is really nice.