Reptile & Amphibian Forums

We are setting up out first incubator for ball eggs, have hatched many a chick but first time for the snakes. My husband is building it and is putting a fan on the inside to cycle the air around. The fan is a little loud, it kind of sounds like a blow dryer on low. My question is: will it harm the eggs/developing embryos at all to be around this sustained noise until hatching? Does it matter because they don't have ears? Or does the vibration bother them? We might just put it on a rheostat and turn it down to lessen the noise. But if that's not necessary, why waste the time, and energy of doing it?

Thanks for your help!

Reptile eggs need to stay in the same position throughout incubation. The vibration from the fan may be fine or may not be depending on the amount of vibration. Also, too much air circulation from the fan can create uneven temperatures.

Usually a single computer fan is enough. They are quiet and efficient.
-----
Best regards,
AlanColesReptiles

Most fans should not be controlled by a rheostat unless specifically designed for the purpose. It might work at the start, but will probably burn out the fan motor. When a fan motor goes, it can get very hot and raise the temp in the incubator. The electricity to the fan should also be controlled by a high temp cut-out, not just the heating elements.

Rubber mount the fan so it doesn't cause vibration, or get a smaller fan. Computer fans shouldn't be that noisy.

I forgot to mention that our fan is run by the motor of an electric remote control car, so it runs quicker than a regular computer fan. We might just have to switch out for a computer fan. It makes noise not because it's vibrating so much as that it's just loud to run!

Thanks for the input!

There is no problem in using a dimmer or drive to run any type of motor with a cooling fan.

Same goes with a "fan", the fan cool itself it's own motor.

Just have to be careful on how much you turn it down.

You shouldn't turn it lower than 25hz, no problem in running it higher than that (unless specified).

I would also recommand using a fan with the less watts but with enough CFM. (Still, remember you don't want to have a wind tunnel in your incubator, the fan is only there to circulate a little air to regulate the temperature).
-----
love this world, don't hate it.

I've never used a fan in my incubator, no fan no noise.

-----
Brian Gundy

www.for-goodness-snakes.com

You can get fans at Radio Shack for computers but you will need a 12v converter to wire it to the fan and plug it in
Thats what I use in a stand up Deep Freeze and it works great
Travis
-----

LAIR OF DRAGONS