Reptile & Amphibian Forums

looking for a new larger incubator,who`s making them . does anyone have a good recommendation?. I usually have about 15 to 20 eggs at one time with a few thru out the year.

I have been using Hova-Bator incubators for almost 24 years and have never had a problem. You can get 15 to 20 eggs in them OK too.
You do need to seal up the bottom holes though or you get moisture leaking out onto your table or floor (or whatever the incubator sits on).

>>I have been using Hova-Bator incubators for almost 24 years and have never had a problem. You can get 15 to 20 eggs in them OK too.
>>You do need to seal up the bottom holes though or you get moisture leaking out onto your table or floor (or whatever the incubator sits on).

I have used them for about half as long as Mayday and have never had a problem (knock on wood). A stable ambient room temp is ideal if possible to keep the overall temps stable. Also (once more in agreement), SEAL up the bottom holes!!! Hahaha... otherwise, well you will figure that out quick.

Matt
p.s. - I've had nearly 50 eggs in mine at a time! (Elongata and Sulcata combined)

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"Change what you cannot accept... do not accept what you can't change!"

Tod Ashley C.$.C.

Matt, it looks as though you put vermiculite on the bottom of the styrofoam box and the eggs into that. You don't use the metal mesh that comes with the incubator? I am breeding snakes for the first time this year and just received my hovabator last week. And I'm also hoping for some Russian Tortoise this spring and hoping I can incubate them together. Any comments whether this is possible?

>>Matt, it looks as though you put vermiculite on the bottom of the styrofoam box and the eggs into that. You don't use the metal mesh that comes with the incubator? I am breeding snakes for the first time this year and just received my hovabator last week. And I'm also hoping for some Russian Tortoise this spring and hoping I can incubate them together. Any comments whether this is possible?

With both torts and Ball Python eggs I simply fill the whole incubator with vermiculite. What snakes are you talking about? If Ball Pythons by chance, then I would keep them separate. I incubate Ball eggs at 90 degrees F. TOO high for most torts. If you use the wire mesh on the bottom, then you would likely be using containers of some sort for the incubation medium and probably achieving the same end result as I do here. I used the wire a few times, but simply got into filling the whole incubator with vermiculite to maximize space.

Hope that helps?! Please excuse any spelling or grammer errors... I'm beat!

Matt
p.s. - I'm using my Neodesha incubator for all my Ball Python eggs now. But, prior to that I would simply place the whole clutch in the hovabator, and cover all the eggs. I'm make sure not to be too damp but enough to keep the eggs from dehydrating. Something that just takes time to figure out (correct moisture).

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"Change what you cannot accept... do not accept what you can't change!"

Tod Ashley C.$.C.

I fill up the whole bottom with perlite.

np

I use that aquarium silicone cement. The only drawback is that it has to air dry for a couple of days to get the smell out.
Do this BEFORE you get eggs.

I put the tape on the bottom of the incubator... no smell! Hahaha... I like the silicon idea too, Carl.

Matt

http://www.hatchchondro.com/rept100.htm