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Incubation temps for eggs

HoggyMomma Mar 01, 2012 09:38 PM

First off, I have scoured the old forums for answers to my questions to no avail. I am now posting them here so perhaps someone else may benefit--and, of course, to get them answered for my little old self.

So it's premature, and counting snakes before eggs and all that, but still, I want to be prepared beforehand: incubating Tricolors.

The only temp suggestion I can google is 82-84 for Lystrophis, but I'm not quite sure how old that data is. And since I've ever only hatched Leopard Geckos eggs (eons ago), I wanna do this right. What is the best temp for hatching Tricolor hognose snakes?

And, I was planning on using my good old Hovabator, but then I started thinking there might be something better now (again, working with Leopard Geckos at least 10 years ago). I came across the S.I.M. container (which looks AWESOME!! and has gotten some rave reviews here on Kingsnake), and yet, it will not fit into my Hovabator. I COULD make an incubator, and probably will, but are there any great incubators out there that will take a S.I.M. container AND not break the bank. If not, which homemade incubator works the best--mini-fridge, wooden, styrofoam cooler? I am assuming all of these need a set up involving flex-watt or heat tape, a darned good thermostat, thermometer, and some way to keep the correct amount of humidity. There are plenty of plans out for all the above mentioned versions of the homemade incubator, which I will find and figure outhow to put together (or ask hubby for help), but first, which one is the best to use for a small-scale breeder who intends to only have a single laying snake at a time?

Thank you again, all of you who read, and especially all of your who answer. The previous postings I have done have all garnered varied and usually good/useful replies. I appreciate this site of like-minded reptile loving humans!

Replies (5)

GregBennett Mar 01, 2012 10:17 PM

I prefer temps around 79-82 degrees.

I know someone that goes as high as 84 degrees but I wouldn't recommend it. He hatches hogs at around 47-50 days.

At around 81 degrees I usually hatch hogs around 55-58 days.

79-80 degrees would probably yelled a hatch day of around 60 days.
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Hognose Snake & Select Ball Python Morphs

Greg Bennett | www.hognose.com

Gregg_M_Madden Mar 02, 2012 04:37 AM

80 to 81 degrees will be just ine for tri colors.

The SIM containers are awesome tools to help hatch eggs without messing around too much with the water to substrate ratios. Removes a lot of human error. I am the co-inventor/desiner/producer of the SIM incubation container and I appreciate you looking into the product.

This type of incubation is not suitable in a hovabator style incubators. You would need to set up a bottom heated or air cirulated style incubator. Old wine refridgerators work great or even the old college dorm style refridgerators. Heat tape on the bottom add thermostat. ready to go.

Here is one of my setups.
Notice the rolled up heat tape on the very bottom. It is about 3 feet of 11 inch that is loosly rolled up and secured to the bottom. Thermostat probe is on the center shelf. Very simple, easy, and inexpensive home made incubators. They look nice too.

GregBennett Mar 02, 2012 10:06 AM

>>I prefer temps around 79-82 degrees.
>>
>>I know someone that goes as high as 84 degrees but I wouldn't recommend it. He hatches hogs at around 47-50 days.
>>
>>At around 81 degrees I usually hatch hogs around 55-58 days.
>>
>>79-80 degrees would probably yelled a hatch day of around 60 days.

I didn't even see that you were talking about tri-colors. My numbers listed were for westerns. I have no idea about incubation times when it comes to tri's.

Jenea on another site talks about 78 being a good incubating temp for Tri's. Here's a link to her post. www.reptileradio.net/reptileradio/showpost.php?p=701456&postcount=7

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Hognose Snake & Select Ball Python Morphs

Greg Bennett | www.hognose.com

HoggyMomma Mar 02, 2012 11:05 AM

Thank you--she's who I got the pair from last year. I should remember that I've got her info on speed dial!

johnnic Mar 03, 2012 02:50 PM

i'd go lower. 75 to 80 (max). ironically i just sit the eggs in the top shelf of my snake room (which stays around 76 degrees). humid environment with good air flow. substrate usually vermiculite but i've used anything from sphagnum to peat moss. as long as the eggs are not sitting on anything sopping wet. around 75-76 degrees, babies take longer but come out bigger and feed more readily. when second clutches come around in the summer, my snake room gets around 80 degrees. at that time, i move the eggs to the bottom shelf in my snake room to maintain them around 75-76.

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