Reptile & Amphibian Forums

If you have used a hovabator for your eggs, please help.

I have 2 thermal air hovabators that I am trying to get to the right temp for incubation, how did you accomplish this task? Did you use a thermostat/rheostat, if so what brand/model?

Thanks

Tyler
Multiple Morph Herps

I lost 14 out of 14 eggs last season using hovabators. But I did hear of someone using a helix dbs1000 with them. Instead of the wafer thermostate alone.

If you do use them, keep them away from doors and windows, the temps fluctuate rather easy!!!

Just my experience.

That's all I use and have had 100% hatch rate. I normally setup 1 week before I expect eggs. That provides adequate time to achieve the temps I need - 89 degrees. I have always used the wafer with no issues, but this year I'm going to a proportional thermostat just to be safe.
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Jay A. Martin

Been using mine for years. The cover is used with a oversized styrofoam box (3' x 2' x 2'), and hooked up to a Johnson thermostat. Set temps ahead of time to make sure all is OK. The snap switch / wafer combo should be changed every 2 years, in my HO. Buy the complete kit for about $13 from the mfg. in Boerne, Texas (Randall Burkey.)
I've found the wafer thermostat to be un-reliable alone.

I also have a Ranco (works the same as Johnson) for my BP heat tapes.
I use a 50/50 mix of perlite and vermiculite. Don't make it too damp. If eggs "cave in" a little, cover with a slightly damp paper towel till they "fill up" again. I use oversize boxes for all my eggs to give them plenty of air circulation.

Mike

Here's a pix of my air circulated hovabator cover used with a larger styrofoam. Right now I have Children's eggs in it.
By the time hatch time comes around, I'll use it for my BP's, if I'm lucky again.
And afterwards for my colubrids. It's hooked up to a Johnson thermostat. Eggs are in a smaller styro box that measures about 13" x 8" x 10". Perlite / vermiculite 50/50.
Egg box is covered with normal glass with probe inside.

Mike

My cousin was using one of these to try to hatch Gecko eggs and he never got one to hatch. They always dried out or went bad even though they were on damp vermiculite and the bottom had water in it. I don't know anything about gecko eggs, but it makes me worry about hatching BP eggs. Anybody want to share their exact setup with these for BPs, please do. How much water should go into a vermiculite perilite mix? I've heard 50/50 mix to water by weight. Anybody else use something other than that? Does anybody weigh their eggs to see how much moisture they absorb? How often do you air them and when should you add more water?

Thanks

This is just a quick setup that should get you started. Click the Hovabator link.
Hovabator

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Jay A. Martin