Reptile & Amphibian Forums

One of my females laid a clutch (7 eggs) yesterday. My problem is that she formed a pile so high that they do not easily fit in my hovabator. Previously I have always incubated my eggs in a tupperware type container with a lid that is partially left open. I do not have this option with this clutch due to the fact that the pile is so high I cannot fit a cover on it and still allow it to fit in the hovabator.

I am using vermiculite as my medium.

Should I be concerned about humidity? Does anyone think I will have a problem if the clutch is left uncovered within the incubator so long as I keep the hovabator with water in it?

thanks

Is it the turbo model? If so, you will need to disconnect the fan. Also, you will need to plug any venting holes (at the top).

Do you have a deep bottom or is this the standard bottom. I would be concerned about the top eggs being too close to the heating element. One thing you can do is put in your vermiculite and then form a deep indentation for the eggs to fit into. This will bring them down. Then I would only partially cover the bottom eggs.

I have successfully hatched eggs in a Hovabator without an inner chamber.

Have you considered maternal incubation?
Maternal Incubation

-----
Jay A. Martin
Jay Martin Reptiles

I agree with Jay. You can also use a styro lined reptile shipping box (many are almost the exact size of the standard hovabator model) and then just place the top of the hovabator over the box as it will give you more height. Having kept/bred bp's for over 35 years, I have used both artificial methods as well as just letting the mothers brood their own eggs. For the past 12 years I have just allowed the mothers to brood their own eggs and the success rate is just as high (over 98%) as other methods. There are a few things you need to do to ensure a high success rate but the mother really does know what she's doing. And, even though she will not feed during her 50-60 day brooding, I have found that their appetites are far better after this period than when I used to pull the eggs right away. They put on weight very quickly and since I only breed my BP's every 2-3 years, they have plenty of time to get back into optimal condition. Just something to consider.

Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discover Center
Lake Forest, IL

>>Is it the turbo model? If so, you will need to disconnect the fan. Also, you will need to plug any venting holes (at the top).
>>
>>Do you have a deep bottom or is this the standard bottom. I would be concerned about the top eggs being too close to the heating element. One thing you can do is put in your vermiculite and then form a deep indentation for the eggs to fit into. This will bring them down. Then I would only partially cover the bottom eggs.
>>
>>I have successfully hatched eggs in a Hovabator without an inner chamber.
>>
>>Have you considered maternal incubation?
>>Maternal Incubation
>>
>>-----
>>Jay A. Martin
>>Jay Martin Reptiles
-----
Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm
Lake Forest, IL

unfortunately it is a standard model and I did just that (sunk the eggs as low as I could and only partially covered them up). My concern is also that it is too close to the heating element.

Don't really know what to do. I have not considered maternal incubation at this point.

I have heard that they make some sort of styrofoam cooler that can be used to replace the bottom portion of the hovabator, but haven't a clue where to find that at.

>>unfortunately it is a standard model and I did just that (sunk the eggs as low as I could and only partially covered them up). My concern is also that it is too close to the heating element.

The heating element normally is out out the sides so if the eggs are in the center, you should be ok. It's just that the air is different at that level.

>>
>>Don't really know what to do. I have not considered maternal incubation at this point.

You might want to. Then be ready next season.

>>
>>I have heard that they make some sort of styrofoam cooler that can be used to replace the bottom portion of the hovabator, but haven't a clue where to find that at.

Go to your local pet store and ask for a fish shipping container. The ones I've gotten in the past did not fit perfectly but still worked quite well.
-----
Jay A. Martin
Jay Martin Reptiles

is yours the older model with the square edges or it is the newers on with the rounded corners? if it is the older one you can get extenstion rings that will give you more room (I have 3 on mine which is more than enough room, 2 might be just fine). The rings do not work with the newer models and they have yet to come out some that I know of.

http://lllreptile.com/ use to carry the rings, not sure if they still do due to the change in design of the new hovabator.
-----
Misty Sprouse Ball Pythons

Misty -

It is the older model with square corners. It is my understanding that each ring is only 1-1/2" tall, is that correct?

Tom - I will probably use your spaghnum moss idea, I have heard others who have used paper towel I believe.

Today I went out and found a fish shipping container from the local Petco. I haven't tried to see if it fits yet, but it certainly is a bit deeper than the normal hovabator bottom.
-----
0.2 Normal Adult ball pythons
0.2 Normal Adult ball pythons (on breeding loan)
0.1 Sub-adult
1.0 Normal ball python
1.1 Bell Line Pastel Ball pythons
1.0 Adult Het Albino Ball Python
1.0 Het Pied Ball Python
1.0 Het Carmel Ball Python
1.0 66% Het pied Ball python
0.2 50% Het albino Ball Pythons

yes the older one has the square edges. I can't remember how tall they were but adding the 3 rings gave me enough room to put a larger rubbermaid container in there and still have room to keep it from being right under the heating element.
-----
Misty Sprouse Ball Pythons

You should check out the newer Hovabators because they are a bit bigger. I also had a problem with an egg being on top of the pile and starting to dimple very early. I would wet (not dripping) sphagnum moss and place it over the egg. I would do that at night and in the morning until I saw the egg fill back up and then just once a day.
Good Luck,
Tom

I use a hovabator cover with a large styrofoam 3 x 3 x 2' that I found. Have 2 of them now. One for pythons, and for colubrids