The low down on the balls

[CINCYBall]

So here it is, i want to explain my situation with all my balls since i plan on breeding next season, and yes this will be my first breeding season. And since i have been searching this forum for all advice, i will continue to do so for this since everyone has been a big help with everything.

I recently went out and bought a scale from staples to start keeping track of my weights and feeding schedule for my 2 pastels. Last feb i bought a female pastel from a breeder here in NC. She eats like a mammoth, and is at a nice wait for only being a year and 3 months old. She is currently 1,228 grams. I have never over fed her or power fed her. She received 1 mouse when i first got her, then proceeded to a couple mice a week, then i jumped her to 1 small rat per week. So i'm pretty sure by the time next season rolls around she will be good and ready with weight.

Now for the male pastel that i recently received from heather at heathersherps. I weighed him today as well, and he is at 128 gram, just a baby. He hatched out last sept i believe, but i may need to go back and check the date. He started on one fuzzy when i first received him in november. Now he is on 1 hopper per week.

I keep both balls in tanks. Temps are good and humidity is great, especially when sheds come around. They have not had one bad shed.

I am basically asking you all if everything is on track and sounds good to you guys?

Thanks for any advice and/or criticism.

[CINCYBall]

P.s. I figured when next season comes around, i will by an incubator from zilla or zoo med, or something along those lines.

[Emilio]

Great enthusiasm looks like your headed down the right path good luck in the future with your pairings.

[sookieball]

Well looks like youve got all your bases covered and definately on a great track for next season. Best of luck and dont forget, the breeding season is very frustrating at times. But patience is key and persistence is a must.

Sent from my HUAWEI-M860

[ace_singapore]

Good luck and remeber to never give up.

[snakesRkewl]

Everything sounded good right up till...

P.s. I figured when next season comes around, i will by an incubator from zilla or zoo med, or something along those lines."

When the time comes around you'll probably know better than to buy either
Nothing beats a home made inc from a cooler, true brand cooler, mini fridge etc...
for a good solid inexpensive incubator

[CINCYBall]

I mean, don't these makers like (zoo med, zilla, etc.) know what goes into a incubator. I mean, i feel making something homemade or out of scratch will be less reliable, wouldn't you say?

I have seen tons of videos and pictures of homemade incubators, from coolers to mini fridges, i just figured ones that are already made and have a controlled thermostate and head element would keep the eggs nice and ripe as oppose to something you made.

[snakesRkewl]

zoo-med and zilla have no clue how to build an inc with a "GOOD" thermostat.

You can build a better one for a lot less than buying one.

[CINCYBall]

Hmmm, well fair enough then. I'll start looking at ways to construct a steardy and efficient incubator than. I do have a smalle minifridge sittin in storage right now???

[snakesRkewl]

My first season I used a mini fridge with one shelf as I only had one clutch to worry about and it came out perfect with 4 yellow belly females out of 6 eggs.

You don't need anything but 2 feet of heat tape wired to a plug-in and plugged into a thermostat.
I controlled it with a zoo-med thermostat and luckily got away with it, but I would never recommend using a repti-temp for incubating.
I recommend a proportional thermostat, Herpstat being my favorite and one of the least expensive.