Reptile & Amphibian Forums

any one have any suggestions on a inexpensive incubator?
thanks Cam

Well, the question is how many clutches.

Let's say 1 or 2? Well, I have been thinking (reading) about this and I think probably the most inexpensive way is to do it the no substrate way.

A rather large cooler (the type you would use for picnic or beach), About 4 or 5 inches of water, a GOOD aquarium heater, a couple of bricks to suport a couple of rubbermaid bins large enough to hold 1 clutch each, holes in sides of Rubbermaids and lighting grate in bottom of Rubbermaid to support eggs, cover egg boxes with eggs inside, place on bricks close contraption and humidity and heat is supplied by heater in water.

Only addition would be a Helix thermostat, but that would bring price up.

We have been using plastic trash cans with 5 lbs. of perlite and 2 cups of hot water and covered by 1/4 pane of glass when eggs are placed. Trash can placed in box made of insulation material (bought at Home Depot, silver on one side white on other 3/4" thick) 4 40 watt bulbs controled by Helix thermostat (this system has worked like a charm last 3 years).

I'm sure you could make less expensive but you want Baby balls not dead eggs.

Read the old forums ... a wealth of information in here!!!

People have also modified Hovabators with deeper bottoms. I think they use styrofoam shipping boxes as bottoms. I havent tried this myself but I'm sure someone has posted the details somewhere in this forum.

If you check my post for April 9th, 04, you can see the large incubator found in the street. Just cut a hole on top to fit the hovabator cover (air-circulated) and set up in advance to make sure temps are OK. Found a 2nd one a week ago. Someone in my neighborhood is addicted to gourmet meat. Will use both next year; one for colubrids, one for ball pythons.

Mike
nyc,ny