Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Over the course of the last week, I've tweaked the incubator a little to get the humidity higher by T-ing a small inlet hose off the main ultrasonic humidifier supply line to the vivarium.

I started using the Digital Panel Thermometer/Hygro from www.beanfarm.com to monitor the temp and humidity in the incubator (it reads both levels at the probe!). The minimum temp has been 65, the max 72. The humidity has consistently stayed between 88 and 92%.

What do you all think? Too much variation, not enough, too high humidity? So far, the egg looks great to me: no dimpling, swelling, or mold. Just sharing my experiences and looking for opinions.

Thanks,
Jared

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With great power, comes great responsibility.
-Ben Parker

I'm a broke college student, so I can't even begin to swing a setup like you've got. It does a ChemE's heart good to see someone using feedback controllers.

Anyway, back on the topic at hand. I think that your humidity is probably right on, so keep that going, but from my personal experience, the temperature may not have to be that strict. I have hatched four of four lineatus in the last couple months, and the temperature range for those guys was mid/high 60's to the low 80's. They seem to be pretty strong... but who knows.

Here's a pic of my bootleg setup. It's basically just a throw away food container with some gravel in the bottom and water in it. Then I put a sponge on top and punch some holes in the lid. It doesn't regulate anything for crap, which makes me pretty jealous of your humidity controller. The end result is I have to look at it every morning and evening to check the temperature. I hope this helps some.

Tarl

Hey whatever works man! I'm actually a "broke" college student too (double major in English and Biology at Sac State, Ca), but that's what credit cards, grants, loans, and parents are for...LOL! A wife who understands and facilitates my adic...I mean hobby, helps too.

Just to clarify, the digital thermometer/hygrometer does not control anything, it just reports the humidity and temperature which are read at the probe. I control the humidity by having a timer turn the humidifier on for a cycle of 10 minutes every other hour and 15 minutes every hour between that, and then having a valve on the line that feeds to the incubation box. The humidifier also serves to push in fresh cool air, as it is driven by a fan. The temp is not controlled either, so it is simply ambient temp, which swings from about 68-75 under there (It got up to 78 once this week when my wife was baking all day). The ballasts for the compact fluorescents that light the viv are mounted down there, which is what brings the heat up during the day.

Thanks for looking,
Jared
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With great power, comes great responsibility.
-Ben Parker