Hovabators

Sorry I've been so nonexistant lately, Insomnia is fun. I half expect to meet Tyler Durden any day now :firstcup: You'd think I'd post more since I'm not sleeping, but brain no work for coming up with responses.

Just in case Ma-tsu *is* gravid I am looking at incubators sooner than I planned. We don't really have the room for something enormous yet, but for starters I was thinking about the Hovabators or just making my own. Here's what I'm looking at, and I'm wondering if you guys think it's a good deal or not for a clutch of colubrids..

Turbofan Model
Thermal Air Model

I also found one in an e-bay store with free shipping, not sure if it's the same or not though.

Thermal Air Model

My other question is if getting "glitter grade" vermiculite online is gonna kill me with shipping, and if so where are good places to find the good stuff?

Hovabators are good for smaller size eggs and are commonly used; however, most people would recommend that you use an external thermostat to control the temps. I have found that they keep generally consistant temps without an external t-stat if it is kept in a room at fairly constant temps and the wafer t-stat inside is not exposed to humidity.

Vermiculite is easy to find. Go around to a few 'gardening/nursery' type places and you can generally buy it in big or small bags.

I have used hovabators for 2yrs in a row for both ball python and corn snake eggs.Once you get your temps set you never have to adjust anything.As far as humidity for the eggs i place water in the resevoir in the bottom of the hovabator and some in the tubs with the eggs.So far zero problems and i recomend 110%.You can find vermiculite at most Lowes in the plant potting area.Another thing nice about havobators is when you are done with them for the year you can place them just about anywhere on a shelf(small size).

joepythons,


What size tubs do you use to put the eggs in that will fit in the Hovabator? I use glad-ware sandwhich tubs for my leo eggs, but don't imagine that ball python eggs would fit in those unless I do individual eggs in each. LOL

Man, I love living practically next door to a Lowes :D Thanks, that's a relief!

VBB eggs are pretty good sized, how many BP or Corn eggs can you fit in one Hovabator?

Well I feel silly, vermiculate isn't near as heavy as I imagined. Well, saving on shipping is good anyway :rolleyes:

Also, bumping thread in regard to BP & corn egg numbers in a Hovabator?

Bump it. I don't know, but I want to know too!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JBallPython

joepythons,


What size tubs do you use to put the eggs in that will fit in the Hovabator? I use glad-ware sandwhich tubs for my leo eggs, but don't imagine that ball python eggs would fit in those unless I do individual eggs in each. LOL

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I am so sorry i forgot about this thread :oops: .I will get the info on the tubs i use in my hovabators for my ball python and corn snake eggs for you as soon as possible.

OK here is what i used or are using at this time for this year.For the ball python eggs i used a rubbermaid 128 oz 1 gal large rectangle container.Measurments were 13 inches long 9" wide and 3" deep this one held 7 eggs with room for one more.In the same hovabator i had sterelite container also.Measurments were 9" long 6 and a half inches wide and 4" deep,it held 2 eggs with no more room left.For my corn snake eggs i am using the following containers.A deli container with measurments of 9 and a half inches round 3" deep holding 9 eggs with room for more if it was needed.In the same hovabator i also have a 7" round deli container 3" deep with 14 eggs all in one clump.I also have a sterilite container that could also be used in a hovabator its 8" wide 13" long and 4 and a half inches deep.I did not use the later container as my other female ball did not drop a clutch this year.It still fit perfectly in the hovabator if it was needed.The only problem i had was finding the containers with the perfect height and length and for this i used a ruler at walmart to make sure the containers were what size i really needed.I hope this is what everyone was wondering about :) .Please forgive me for making everyone wait for my reply :oops: ,i surf to many sites and forget some posts lol.

BUMP UP so everyone can read that i allready replied lol.