Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a hovabator i just got for my mbk eggs. I'm trying to get it stabilized and i think i have it but not sure. When it sits there with no heat on its at 81 to 82 but when the heat turns on it goes up to 85-88 for a short time before it kicks off. Is this normal and will that be ok for my eggs. Thanks for any help or info Paul

As long as the resting temp is where you want it, it should be good to go. Be sure the HovaBator is in a darkened area with stable temps and out of drafts. Position the egg container(s) in the center as much as possible(to avoid the direct heat of the element), keep the entire bottom of the HovaBator tray full of water and it should maintain about 70-75% humidity. If you maintain the humidity level like this inside the HovaBator you will want to leave the lids off of the egg containers to prevent the eggs from becoming over-hydrated. Also, be sure the substrate in the egg container is not wet, just damp. Be sure the egg containers have ventillation holes, leave the lids off until the hatchlings slit the egg and you can then secure the lids until they fully emerge.

Did you mean to either keep the lid off or to make ventilation holes in the lid to allow circulation is that what you meant. If so how many holes should i have in the lid? thanks Paul

I actually meant to do both. I use the cheap plastic storage containers for egg containers, and I put about a dozen or more holes around the perimeter of the top edge of the container itself, not the lid. Holes no larger than 1/8". The holes provide ventillation for the hatchlings as they emerge from the egg after putting the lid on. Even with these ventillation holes in the container, if you use it in a humid incubator with the lid on during incubation for 60 or more days, the eggs may get too wet particularly if the substrate(vermiculite, perlite, sphagnum moss or whatever you decide to use) in the egg container is too wet. Once the eggs are slit and you put the lids on the containers, the hatchlings will get plenty of air through the ventillation holes until you move them out.

There are many ways to go about incubating, they basically just need a warm, slightly damp and humid environment to develop. You can do it in a "dry" incubator and control humidity in the ventillated egg container by putting the lid on, but it is more difficult to control moisture levels in the egg. Using a humid incubator, you can leave the lids off for better moisture control and the eggs get plenty of air without having to open the incubator to "fan" the eggs for air circulation.

My way may not be the best approach to incubation, but it is the way I was taught and it seems to work well.

ok , i have water in the resavoir the directions say to put in, i have a 1 to 1 water to pearlite ratio so i need to remove the lid correct. i will do so now thanks Paul

Sounds like you are off to a good start Paul, just watch the eggs closely. If they get too wet they will begin to expand and blow up like a water balloon, developing visible weak spots in the shell that look like cracks that are almost transparent. If you see this, it is probably too late to save them. They should be nice and smooth, but not bulging and "sweaty".

I used perlite last year, did the 1:1 ratio and it seemed to be just a little too wet, but as long as your eggs are sitting on top of the perlite and not partially burried, they should be ok. Perlite lets off moisture very easily, especially when too wet and it can over-hydrate the eggs. You will know if it is too wet by seeing excess water in the bottom of the egg container not absorbed by the perlite.

I also found that I had to put water in every available reservoir that the bottom of the HovaBator would allow to maintain good humidity. I also put a few extra containers of water around the egg containers where I had room. Sounds like a lot, but if you have the HovaBator ventillated properly, all the standing water will maintain on average about 75% humidity. If you don't have one already, go pick up one of those cheap, small round humidity guages from a pet shop and toss it in there where you can see it without having to open the incubator so you can keep an eye on things easily.

I put a hydrometer in there and it shows p humidity. Should i let the pearlite dry out or keep it moist. Thanks Paul

something went crazy when i posted it lol.