Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi,

Years ago I was given a Lyon Reptilife incubator. I put it away and meant to use it for years but the Hovabators worked just fine. So this year I really really want to hatch out some Benti Uros (she lays every year but I have been unsuccessful in the incubation department.)

So I plugged in this really nice incubator and it seems to be working but the whole thing vibrates. Its a fine vibration likely caused by the fan but it is very noticable and I wonder if it would affect the eggs.

Any input on this?

Thanks,
Carole
-----
----------------------
www.reptilecare.com

Hi Carole,
I've had a Lyons for decades and really like it. The fan in mine slowly developed a bad vibration during incubation last year. I ended up replacing the fan but there didn't appear to be any negative effects on the eggs. A little hum is probbaly no big deal but I would avoid genuine shaking, and a fan that is acting up could go bad at any moment.
I'd suggest first checking the blades for dust accumulation that could cause an imbalance problem, or maybe a loose mounting bolt.
Lyons (http://www.lyonusa.com/) can provide spare parts and I assume good advice by phone. I ended up getting one at Allied Electronics to avoid the time or air freight from California (but my situation was urgent). The replacement takes a little bit of skill but is not tremendous. It was much easier to have a second person (okay, I admit it, I was the helper not the fixer)
So, I hope to see you show off some hatchling benti in Daytona this summer.
-----
Lindsay Pike
Urotopia Uromastyx

Thanks Lindsay!

I think this is a very fine vibration. It may be perfectly normal. I let it run for awhile last weekend and it seemed to get better over time.

I got one of those S.I.M. boxes to try this year too. So many people have reported success especially with uro and chuckwalla eggs. Have you seen them? The eggs sit in the chamber off the substrate so less chance of rotting. I am hopeful that this will work this year ASSUMING I am around when the eggs are laid. Last year they were pretty dessicated after only a few hours laid in the plain old sand. She ignored all my laying areas last year. I have a new bigger lay box in there this year. She has been hiding a lot the last week so not sure what is going on with that. She is very fat and healthy tho so I am hopeful still!

I will turn the incubator back on for a longer period of time and see if the vibration fades even more.

My other thought was to put some weatherstripping around the edge of the top between the base and cover. It would certainly cut the vibration down a lot I think. Trick is getting it to be fairly air tight.

Thanks!
Carole
-----
----------------------
www.reptilecare.com