Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello BP breeders

This will be my first year breeding BPs. Since I am hoping to produce pieds, DH Ax/pieds, snows, axanthics, albinos and pastels, I do not want to chance the eggs with my colubrid incubator.

What is the best incubator (in your opinion) for BP eggs? I want to buy one, not build one.

I hope to have 20-30 eggs this season and twice as many the following season. Should I buy 2 or 3 smaller incubators or one big one?

Thank you for the input.

Kevin

I use a double sliding door cooler like you would see sodas in at a convienent store. You could even use a single door cooler. It works great!! It didn't take much to get it operational. I put 4 stripes of 11 inch heat tape 4 feet long. I also put two small computer fans (one high and the other low on the opposite side). The heat tape is taped to the walls of the cooler and plugged into a Helix Control DBS1000. I have never had it anywhere close to full and have plenty of room left with 25 clutches in it(I estimate it will hold about 40-45 clutches at the same time) . With the Helix, fans, heat tape and cooler, I have less than $350 in my incubator.
www.twistedconstrictors.com

Where do you get the sliding door coolers? Also, by what means do you ger the power cords through? Do you drill a hole in the back? I am thinking about trying to make my own for next year. Yours sounds great. Could you share a photo?
Thanks in advance.
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Cheers,
Jessica Gibbs
Ball Pythons; Corn Snakes; Green Tree Python; Jungle Carpet Pythons; Bci; Bcl
3.0 Crazy Dogs and 2.0 cats
Some Tropical Fish
...........and growing!

I actually found my cooler on Craigslist. A pub was selling it because it wouldn't keep the drinks cold enough. Above the doors is a area where there were florescent lights. I removed the lights and drilled a hole on each side. On each side I ran the power cord to one fan and two of the heat panels, and did the same with the other side. I then mounted the Helix in the center and put the temp probe through a hole that was already there for the wires from the lights. I then filled the holes with the spray foam that you can get at Wal-mart. Got everything connected and turned it on. It worked awesome. I also put a thermostat that Helix Controls sells on it so I could double check my temps. The temps stay at a constant 89.1 degrees. It is a big incubator, but I dont think I will ever out grow it!!

I will try to get a pic and post it on here.

Thanks
Shawn Turnage

www.twistedconstrictors.com

.
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Cheers,
Jessica Gibbs
Ball Pythons; Corn Snakes; Green Tree Python; Jungle Carpet Pythons; Bci; Bcl
3.0 Crazy Dogs and 2.0 cats
Some Tropical Fish
...........and growing!

Natures Spirit incubaters work great for smaller breeders. Look it up, I love mine!!!
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Chris & Alliey
www.bloodyleopard.com
E-mail Us

Not sure what's the best, and this was not cheap, but I really like the one I got from Habitat Systems Ltd. Hollow core PVC 41x30x23 with 4 adjustable shelves. Holds 12 shoe box-sized tubs. Single fan but provides adequate circulation. Temps never seem to deviate more than a few tenths. Comes with a Helix. Totally reliabe so far.

if your definetly planning on getting bigger through theyears i would get a bigger one now so your not wasting money buying 2-3 over the course of a few years. also you may want to look at the fact that your only looking to produce say 30 eggs next year and your incubator holds 300 then their is a lot of wasted energy going to heat empty space that will cost you extra money on electricity. so a small incubator could be beneficial at first.
its really up to you
adam jeffery
p.s. i have been looking to get a single door cooler to build my own like the other poster, if your mechanically inclined at all its a great way to save money and get professional results
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" a.k.a. farfrumugen "
When I die, I want to go peacefully like my Grandfather did, in his sleep -- not screaming, like the passengers in his car.

Hello,

Be careful about making one large incubator. If you have one giant incubator and it fails you lose everything. If you have 2 or 3 wine cooler size incubators with your eggs evenly distributed and one fails you only lose 1/3 of your eggs or less. It is like that old saying. DO NOT PUT ALL YOUR EGGS INTO ONE BASKET. I have chatted with a few of the larger breeders and they all use this system. If you want to buy an incubator ready to go, the Natures Spirit is the best you can find and use for the money.

Good Luck,
Bill
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0.1 Het Albino
0.1 Spider Het Albino
1.0 Albino
0.1 Spinner
2.1 Super Pastel
0.1 Jungle Pastel
0.1 Het Pied
1.0 Pied 50 percent
0.1 Clown
1.1 Het Lavenders
1.1 Het Caramel Albino
0.3 Normal
1.1 Kids
0.1 Spouse
1.0 Chocolate Lab

How many egg containers will fit in the Nature's Spirit?
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Cheers,
Jessica Gibbs
Ball Pythons; Corn Snakes; Green Tree Python; Jungle Carpet Pythons; Bci; Bcl
3.0 Crazy Dogs and 2.0 cats
Some Tropical Fish
...........and growing!

Hi,

I have not used them. But I have been told if you use a shoebox you can put in at least 10 some claim more.

Bill
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0.1 Het Albino
0.1 Spider Het Albino
1.0 Albino
0.1 Spinner
2.1 Super Pastel
0.1 Jungle Pastel
0.1 Het Pied
1.0 Pied 50 percent
0.1 Clown
1.1 Het Lavenders
1.1 Het Caramel Albino
0.3 Normal
1.1 Kids
0.1 Spouse
1.0 Chocolate Lab

Thanx for all the great info. Very much appreciated.

Kevin