Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Sorry if this is a question that's already been posted, but looking through 6 pages of previous posts didn't answer my question.

I want to know if you can use a S.I.M. container in a Hovabator? I'm feeling kind of old school still using a Hovabator, but it worked for my Leopard Geckos way back when, and is still fully functional.

If not, what is a small incubator you CAN use the S.I.M. container in, other than a "fridge style" incubator?

FYI, this is in prep for breeding Tricolor Hognoses. Way, way in the future. But I still wanna know NOW!

Thanks in advance!

>>Sorry if this is a question that's already been posted, but looking through 6 pages of previous posts didn't answer my question.
>>
>>I want to know if you can use a S.I.M. container in a Hovabator? I'm feeling kind of old school still using a Hovabator, but it worked for my Leopard Geckos way back when, and is still fully functional.
>>
>>If not, what is a small incubator you CAN use the S.I.M. container in, other than a "fridge style" incubator?
>>
>>FYI, this is in prep for breeding Tricolor Hognoses. Way, way in the future. But I still wanna know NOW!
>>
>>Thanks in advance!

You can but I wouldn't. SIM says you have to put a sponge on the lid or something. Maybe GreggM will post up.

4th response down: http://www.squamataconcepts.com/forums-messages.php?id=3

I'd get a small dorm type refrigerator off craigslist and make yourself a much better incubator.
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Greg Bennett - Western Hognose Morphs
520.Hognose (520.464.6673) - www.hognose.com

I do not suggest using the SIM with a hovabator or any incubator with the heating element on the lid without the sponge lid modification. The top heating action of those types of incubators will keep humidity going into the chamber above the grid where your eggs are.

In fact I do not suggest using a bird incubator to incubate reptile eggs at all. Those incubators were not designed to incubate reptile eggs. The zoomed version is no different. Just a glorified hovabator.

The best incubators to use are refidgerator or cabinet style incubators. We are also designing and incubator spacifically for use with the SIM container that will fit both container sizes.

To be fair, I have hatched thousands of colubrids, chameleons, geckos, and chelonians out of hova bators. They work great.

Dan

They do work. I would not go as far as to say they work great. They are very subseptible to outside temperature fluctuation. In order to get the proper temperature to the bottom of the incubator the heating element needs to get much hotter because of the un-natural flow. The top heating action of hovas forces the user to wet the incubation substrate more than they should. When using hovas, you need to be certain your water to substrate ratio is on point and it leaves very little room for error. You do not want your eggs to rely on the substrate for water intake.

If you use the SIM in conjunction with a proper incubator, you can use a thin layer of damp paper towel at the bottom without having to worry about ratios or adding any water throughout the incubation time.

So to be fair, hovas work, but there are far better choices out there