Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a Hovabator Incubator(with fan) that I used for chameleon eggs about a decade ago. I am now preparing for breeding JCPs. Are any of you using Hovabators? It seems they have fallen into disfavor. Should I just sell this and buy or make a better one?

I use a hovabator that I modified so that it is about 14" deep and it has worked well for me for both ball python eggs, and coastal carpet eggs. I plan to have jungle carpet and IJ carpet eggs in it as well this year as long as things go well! BUT, from what I have heard, you will want to disconnect the fan. Hopefully someone else will chime in that has more experience than me though. Good luck with getting some baby jungles!
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Ben

Thanks Ben...what does the fan do (wrong)?

I would guess that it dries the eggs out too much, or something like that. I just know that everyone says to not get one with a fan, and if you do then disable it. Like I said, hopefully someone else will jump in that can tell you more.
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Ben

The type (wet/dry)of incubation makes a difference in both types.

Regardless the most important thing with a Hovabator is a
VERY stable room temp.
Second change the bottom for a deeper/larger fish box. I like to cut the lip off the Hova. bottom and attach it to the top of fish box for a better fit.
2 glass Lasagna pans fit perfect in the bottom and a layer
of plastic egg crate to replace the metal one that came with the Hova. Now just add egg box from one of the below method types.

If useing the fan type(my pref method)
Set up eggs up for "DRY" type incubation. 100% hatches
You can use Wet as well, but less "Dead in Egg" with dry incubation, IMO

If going no fan only use Wet incubation as I
have not been able to get high enough humidity in the
egg chamber when using the dry method.
Also you can't use as deep of a fish box and keep
stable temps.

Hope this helps,

Mardy McManus
www.mardy.ca

Thanks Ben and Mardy, I appreciate the info. Mardy, what do you mean by fish box? Do you put water in the lasagna pans and have the plastic egg crate sitting above the water? I have been running my Hovabator over the past 48 hours and the temp has been very steady (86 F) where I set it.

No worries,

The fishbox is a foam aquarium fishbox. available at most large petstores. Yes on the water in the pans and plastic grating.

I like to set up a test egg box inside to set temp/humidity

This year I have moved to a large GQF incubator that hold 6-8 clutches as my main.

Mardy

Very useful information...thanks bunches!