Incubators?

[Bettacreek]

Well, I know that people make their own incubators, or you can buy storebought for BP eggs. What I'm curious about is, can you use a regular chicken incubator? I can't see why they would be any different, except for maybe forced air vs. still air (I'm thinking maybe still air is better for snake eggs? Correct me if I'm wrong). Anything else that would be different? I'm just curious, my balls are only coming up on a year old.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

I would rather make one myself (which I did) or buy one than use something like an hovabator simply because I know a few people that have lost clutches to those and, I would not take a chance on that.

Making one is not very hard and very cost effective.

[Bettacreek]

I had crummy luck with my homemade bator. I ended up with a heat spike. :/ I guess if you were making something larger, a homemade would be better, but for me, I think storebought is better. Someone who's better at DIY would probably be better off than me though, lol.

[Drew87]

I made my own this year, should work out great

[Oxylepy]

You NEED to be able to control the heat inside of the incubator, that is all that really matters since usually the humidity in your tub will be self contained (none can be lost or gained) however many like to make sure the humidity is right in the incubator as well as a backup. If you can afford it pick up a Helix or Herpstat as well as flexwatt and a fan (to better regulate the temperature inside of the incubator, the more circulation the better). The more failsafes you put in, the better off you are.

[Bettacreek]

You can control heat in an incubator, they have thermostats as well. I guess I'm just confused as to why bird eggs are so much different from reptile eggs. Bird eggs need to be kept at stable temperatures and humidity levels as well. Or are people just more cautious with reptile eggs because they don't produce nearly as many eggs?
You can get forced air fans for "chicken incubators", I for some reason just assumed that they would be better off with still air. The one incubator says that it's a still air, so it would probably be better for reptile eggs, but that's just the manufacturer's words, and sometimes they just don't know what they're talking about.

http://www.cutlersupply.com/cart/ind...i6jglgmt6nfug1

That's the model that I'm purchasing for myself. You obviously wouldn't use the autoturners or anything for reptile eggs, but I'm wondering if, in the future, when/if I breed my balls, if it would actually be ok to pull the autoturner out, reset the temperature, and try to set snake eggs.


Here, this one, it says that it's better for reptiles because it's still air. http://www.cutlersupply.com/cart/ind...i6jglgmt6nfug1

[Gloryhound]

Call these people up.

http://www.gqfmfg.com

They used to make an R version of their cabinet models that was made for Reptiles. The 1550R has digital control. The 1250R uses a wafer type element. I got the 1250R and retrofitted it with 3 Raw Ranco T-stats. One set to kick the extra heating element on at 86 degrees. Primary heating element hooked to 2nd Ranco and set for 88 degrees. Third Ranco set to shut both heating elements completely off at 90 Degrees. It has a moisture tub and evaporating elements and keeps the humidity inside around 95% or higher as long as you keep it full of water. Has a built in fan and primary heating element. I had to add the secondary heating element. I am looking into the possibility of adding a secondary fan and think I have it figured out, but the wife is saying I'm going a little overboard on the back ups as it is. Then I use shoe box type tubs and set them up with hatch right and just a small 1/8" vent hole on the side to keep air moving. I got this incubator due to it being recommended by Michael Cole of Ball Room Pythons South. He uses the wafers and says they do just fine. (Yea he is the guy with the panda pied.)

[joepythons]

I used the hovabator incubators(aka chicken egg incubators) and never had 1 single problem.Once you have the heat set you are ready to hatch eggs.I also hatched out corn snake eggs in them

[XGetSome]

I built mine from a Upright freezer, Flexwatt and a Helix DBS-1000.
If I didnt have a bunch of Eggs, I might have considered a Hovabator.....they can work if set up properly, but they are small, and work better in a room with stable temperatures. My freezer Incubator Probably cost 200$ because of the Helix to make and takes up more space.....so basically it depends on YOUR needs...on what you buy.

Either way Betta I wish you luck

[bailey23]

i use a hova-bater. but you could use chicken egg incubators i guesse.