For those using Hova-bators...

[BHReptiles]

What size egg tub do you use? I'm trying to buy all my incubator materials. I went to buy vermiculite and a light diffuser today, but when I realized that I needed to put the light diffuser, I began to wonder what size egg tub I can fit in a hova-bator. This is a temp incubator while I'm testing my DIY one.

[The Serpent Merchant]

Generally you don't use egg tubs with these types of incubators.

[BHReptiles]

Would it be safe to just the vermiculite and water mixture with the light diffuser in there? I guess I'm worried about the eggs drying out. This will be my only year to use the hova-bator. I have a DIY incubator that I'm nearly finished making but I wanted to test it for at least a few months see how it would hold temperatures before I put a clutch in there. Since I'm getting a possibly gravid female tomorrow, I'm trying to be as prepared as I can be if she does lay eggs for me.

I guess I'm just an overprotective snake mommy and only want what's best for my snakes and their babies.

[The Serpent Merchant]

I believe that there is a tray in the main chamber of the hovabator for incubation substrate.

[joebad976]

I would suggest using the DIY incubator. You have better chances with that one then the hovabator.

[BHReptiles]

I would suggest using the DIY incubator. You have better chances with that one then the hovabator.

Even if I haven't had a chance to do good testing on it? I just worry that it won't hold temp/humidity like I want it to. Testing it out a season before I needed it was going to help me work out the kinks before I put in a live clutch. I've seen what incubator failures can do to babies and I don't want that to happen at all!

[Ridinandreptiles]

Hovabotors are good if you replace the wafer tstat with a god proportional one

[BHReptiles]

Hovabotors are good if you replace the wafer tstat with a god proportional one

I was going to get a Herpstat for it. I've heard nothing but bad things about the wafer thermastat. I've heard the incubator works pretty well as long as you have a good thermostat for it.

I also have two digital thermometers for it and a temp gun to test as well.

[joebad976]

Even if I haven't had a chance to do good testing on it? I just worry that it won't hold temp/humidity like I want it to. Testing it out a season before I needed it was going to help me work out the kinks before I put in a live clutch. I've seen what incubator failures can do to babies and I don't want that to happen at all!

You are making mods to the hovabator anyways so what is the difference. I have only used a hovabator for chicken eggs and it worked great. I have no experience from a reptile perspective.

I am not sure how far along you are from eggs but I would guess you at least have a month or so to test your DIY incubator out. I lost my first clutch so I understand where you are coming from. My loss was due to the vermiculite being too wet so I added Light diffuser and no problems since. Wish you luck either way you decide.

[BHReptiles]

You are making mods to the hovabator anyways so what is the difference. I have only used a hovabator for chicken eggs and it worked great. I have no experience from a reptile perspective.

I am not sure how far along you are from eggs but I would guess you at least have a month or so to test your DIY incubator out. I lost my first clutch so I understand where you are coming from. My loss was due to the vermiculite being too wet so I added Light diffuser and no problems since. Wish you luck either way you decide.

I'm not sure how far I am away from eggs either! I'm picking her up today and will do a quick palpation to see if I can feel any follicles. I know she's been paired since October 1st and she shed about 3 days ago. I know she's off feed too. Aside from that, that's really all I know. I plan on using a hovabator for my corn snake eggs anyway (I am only breeding for one clutch of corns a year...two if the female double clutches), so I figured I would go ahead and purchase it and use it on this round of ball python eggs if I get them while I'm doing further tests on the DIY incubator.

What I'll probably end up doing is testing them both and see which is holding temps better and then decide which to use.