Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Can anyone tell me where I can find directions to making an incubator out of a large igloo cooler? Do you drill holes in the cooler? What is the best heating element? Can I use heat tape? What kind of thermostat? How do you set up shelves?
Any info will be appreciated.
I just lost most of an entire clutch due to a hovabator malfunction. Only 8 out of 18 hatched alive and my last clutch had 100% survival rate. I figured out my hovabator was not working right. I would like to include a min / max digital thermometer in my new incubator. Any ideas on the best way to mount it so I can see the temps from outside the incubator?

>>Do you drill holes in the cooler?

You can, or you could just take a small "chink" out of the top so that the cords can get in while still allowing the cooler to close.

>>What is the best heating element? Can I use heat tape?

I used flexwatt heat tape to heat my incubator.

>>What kind of thermostat?

I used a herpstat digital proportional thermostat by spyder robotics. The actual brand is not so important as long as it is a digital proportional thermostat.

>>How do you set up shelves?

I use wire grate type shelves set on top of the water tub so that the humidity can travel throughout the incubator.

I hope that helps, good luck with your incubator!
-Drew
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Owned by:
1.2 bearded dragons - Legolas, Rosy, Miss Scarlet
0.1 Indonesian blue tongue skink - Sarah
1.0 reverse oketee corn snake - Bernard
1.0 ball python - Patrick
2.0 guinea pigs (I know, they're not herps!) - Punky, Jeepers

Do you put the heat tape on the sides or bottom? I notice my hovabator has holes on the lid and a few on the bottom.
Do I need these for air circulation?
Do you need a water tub on the bottom? I usually mix water into the vermiculite I use for incubation and seal the container they are in. I open it about once a week to let the air circulate.
Also Can I get several layers of grating so I can put in layers of eggs.
Am I better off with a used fridge?

>>Do you put the heat tape on the sides or bottom?

I put it on both the bottom and the sides.

>>Do I need these for air circulation?

Put small holes in the egg boxes, you don't need them in the cooler.

>>Do you need a water tub on the bottom? I usually mix water into the vermiculite I use for incubation and seal the container they are in. I open it about once a week to let the air circulate.

I put it in the vermiculite AND a tub on the bottom.

>>Also Can I get several layers of grating so I can put in layers of eggs.

I just stack the egg boxes.

>>Am I better off with a used fridge?

How many eggs will you have to incubate at once? A fridge works better if you need massive ammounts of eggs, otherwise a cooler works fine.
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Owned by:
1.2 bearded dragons - Legolas, Rosy, Miss Scarlet
0.1 Indonesian blue tongue skink - Sarah
1.0 reverse oketee corn snake - Bernard
1.0 ball python - Patrick
2.0 guinea pigs (I know, they're not herps!) - Punky, Jeepers

I will only be incubating about 50 - 100 eggs at a time. I think I will go with the cooler.

www.nsreptiles.com/
Hey Anson try this link.
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www.AlphaDragonZ.com

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Here's a very helpful link. I've got Gecko eggs in mine so far.

http://www.familyzoo.us/how_to_build_an_incubator.htm