Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am have set this up to see if it will be ok to incubate my collard eggs I expect soon. I have set it up like you would a regular incubator with a aquarium heater but I am just using the heat from the lights in my vivarium by placing the "incubator" on top instead of the aquarium heater. I don't have anything in it yet, I am just seing if the temp will be ok. It is at around 80-81. I know that may a little to cool so. I am not sure what it will be at night but it shoud not go under 78 or so. Are these temps to cool or shoud I try and get them up a few degrees like 83-85 day and 80 night?

Set-up doesn't look bad, might take duct tape and cover some or most of the air vent which will hold in humidity and also raise the temps a degree or two, you need to experimint Before you actually put the eggs in. In nature there has to be a drop in temp at night, so a slight drop I don't believe to be a nbegative, but I would think that a slightly higher temp 84 if you can might be better.....Cheers!
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Phrynosoma.com

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signature file edited. [phw 11/14/04]

I have raised the temps up a bit. My female started digging today so I wet that corner of sand. And yes of course I have duct tape, I would fall apart without it This will be my first atempt at hatching anything. I don't know if I should keep the lid on the delli cup or should I close the top of the tank up? Any help on this would be great. I don't want anything dripping on the eggs so I may just close the top of the tank off and keep the lid off the deli container.

there was nothing wrong with the first temps but most people say to keep them around 83 so there is a better chance of boys and girls. (girls are lower temps and boys are higher temps) nothing higher than 90 or lower than 70 (eve i think your info is starting to sink in). i have a hovabator and it obviously has a lid on the whole contraption but i have found in my limited experience that they do better with a lid on the deli cup also with a quarter sized hole cut in the center. my lids are cut up plastic baggies
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vonnie
***There is no pleasure in having nothing to do; the fun is in having lots to do and not doing it. Mary Wilson Little ***

Thanks for the info. I have made a few modifications to rais the temps up a bit and it's working. I may just stop waisting my time and just get an undertank heater for it but if this works then why not. It did drop down to about 76 or so last night but it should stay up more now that I have changed things.