Reptile & Amphibian Forums

What do you guys use to incubate your eggs? I've worked with colubrids most of my life and have always used the Hovabator or the newer LLL Reptile digital incubator. But for ball python eggs, I don't think either is big enough. I was looking at the Avery incubators which seem large and fairly reasonable. Any other recommendations? Thanks a lot.

free scrap fridge off of craigslist, heat tape, a few small computer fans...vwwwaalllaa incubator large enough for a couple dozen clutches. I use home mades, cheap, easily constructed and with a decent thermostat they work just as good as a store bought in my opinion.

>>free scrap fridge off of craigslist, heat tape, a few small computer fans...vwwwaalllaa incubator large enough for a couple dozen clutches. I use home mades, cheap, easily constructed and with a decent thermostat they work just as good as a store bought in my opinion.
>>------

Agreed, and in most cases work better IMO.
-----
Best regards,
AlanColesReptiles

I use modified hovabators.
I've also used home made units.
Like the others have said, these work fine.
You can get a scrap freezer, refrigerator, wine cooler, etc.
Use some heat tape, computer fans that run on 110v, etc. and you can incubate a few dozen clutches.
You can also let mom do her job.

Thanks for the replies. I think there are some vids on Youtube that show how to construct one. I do like the idea of building my own. How did you modify the Hovabator?

I built this a few years ago and have hatched a lot of Beardies and now snakes with it....Frig free...Helix really only cost. I like light bulbs that way I know its working. Computer fan and 12v converter from Radio Shack...light fixtures water proof wiring all from Lowes..held 17 clutches this year and I have to go to a stand up Freezer for 2012...need more room.
Travis

-----

LAIR OF DRAGONS

Thanks. I guess I'll give it a shot. Sure sounds cheaper than buying some of the commercial ones.

old fridge,...OR....make a box from 2 inch thick styrofoam...line a closet...make a closet, then line it...all kinds of stuff....all you need is 90 degrees....constant 90 degrees.....

.......back in THE OLDDD dayZzz....I went to Pete Kahl's...he had like a big glass door over a room /closet?....and Paul Miles.....he had like this BIG plastic tent /room in the middle of the "barn".....with thermostats hanging in tandem from the ceiling.(Hova-Bator wafer thermotstats).....it all works...

.......get big enough, you could just bump a whole room to 90 degrees with a big fan running in it....?....

...
-----
........JY

I used Hova Bators for 20 years....1...to 4 at a time....as snakes lay eggs you pull them and add new ones as they go....
I usually empty the first one before I fill the third or fourth one...then just fill the first again....

worked for me.....I finally unplugged the last one for the last time yesterday....

.....where do you live?....

....never used a 'bator for colubrids....

oh..and I have put 28 burmese eggs in a Hova-bator and hatched them all.....

.....
-----
........JY

I use Nature Spirit Incubator

http://www.nsreptiles.com/incubator.html

http://www.nsreptiles.com/
-----
Ritchie Luna
My Facebook Profile - you can add me if you want- click here

Hi Mike,

I incubate all of my herp eggs in a closet. I use an oil filled radiator controlled by a basic Ranco on/off thermostat and keep the egg boxes on wire shelving. It can be set up in an hour for around $100.00, does not need to be insulated, is cheap to run, and most importantly it keeps a large volume of air stable.

If you are incubating one species, then circulate the air with a fan to prevent temp stratification and fill the whole closet with ball python eggs; otherwise allow stratification to occur and incubate different species on different shelves, ex. - bps on top at 88, monitors in the middle at 85, and colubrids down low at 80.

I messed around with hovibators, fridges and plywood boxes for years before finally setting up shop in a small closet. I slapped myself in the forehead and shouted "duh!" when I realied how cheap, simple and effective the closet incubator is.

I cannot take credit for the design though as I ripped it off from Dave Barker and Frank Retes. Good luck.

Will