Incubation help

I want to start breeding my spider and norm in the fall. I looked at some incubators online and boy they look really expensive for a beginner breeder with only one pair. I mean, I can see myself later on when I have a couple of morphs and albinos on my hands but right now? Do I really need to spend like $600.00 on a multi shelf incubator? :O What are some recommendations on a good brand and modules? Help is much needed. Thanks in advance! :snake::please:

If you are just going to have one or two clutches then you don't need to spend that much money - your major purchase is going to be your thermostat - a Helix will work great and is $125ish.

From there all you need is something that is insulated and will maintain a steady temperature - a hovabator, cooler, broken minifridge, styrofoam shipping box - all really cheap (free if you know were to look) and will work great.

For heat you'll just need a little flexwatt, or heat rope (if you decided to go with a hovabator it comes with heating element).

And then you are good to go.

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Originally Posted by Tosha_Mc

If you are just going to have one or two clutches then you don't need to spend that much money - your major purchase is going to be your thermostat - a Helix will work great and is $125ish.

From there all you need is something that is insulated and will maintain a steady temperature - a hovabator, cooler, broken minifridge, styrofoam shipping box - all really cheap (free if you know were to look) and will work great.

For heat you'll just need a little flexwatt, or heat rope (if you decided to go with a hovabator it comes with heating element).

And then you are good to go.

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LOL. Knowing me I would probably mess that up. I'm wondering if theres something I could possible buy thats not a $600.00 dent in my pocket. If not, I'm planning to adventually get the "big mama jamma" incubator so I will just get that. I'm just hope theres something smaller on the market thats not going to be such a huge ouch at the moment. :weirdface

Nature Spirit Makes a really nice incubator that is pretty much plug and play - I think it runs somewhere in the $400 territory with Thermostat.

Their web site server appears to be down right now but check it out in a few hours http://www.nsreptiles.com/incubator.html

Here is one slightly cheaper that should work.
https://www.gqfmfg.com/store/comersu...p?idProduct=74

This is the more modern version of the one used by Ballroom pythons South. He uses the 1250R which you can still get if you call and specifically ask for it. I think with shipping the 1250R costs around $450.00 if memory serves me right. After that though you will need to get a wired Ranco as the 1250R has two wafer type thermostats only. You use the wired ranco as a fail safe to the wafer elements by setting it at 91 degrees and then the wafer elements to 89 degree on primary and 88 on secondary. I replaced all the wafer type thermostats in mine with 2 Rancos and then added a third as additional back up. The Rancos can get pretty expensive doing it that way and you kinda have to know what you are doing to wire all three up to work like they should.

I heard www.jwexotics.com has some nice affordable incubators. :D

http://www.arbreptiles.com/cages/incubator.shtml
This Is what I did I got an upright freezer for free. Lots of the stores that sell fridges and stuff. When they sell a new one they take away the old one. They have to pay to get rid of them. So if they can give one away it saves them money. Thats how I got mine. Then I had to buy the Helix thats what I use. The heat tape and wires and clip sets. Then also the tubs and vermiculite. Then had to buy a good thermometer. Altogether I would say I spend 200 to 250. The Incubator I have now can hold 8 12qt tubs. Here are a few pics.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...7/100_8325.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...7/100_8319.jpg
Ok you might not need something even this big. But In the years to come you can grow into it. Instead of having to buy or build a new one. When you decide to breed more snakes.

Looks good:gj: did you hook up a computer fan? You want it to blow along the heat tape.

I like to get broken down fridges for free or cheap.:)

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Originally Posted by Evilme5229

I want to start breeding my spider and norm in the fall. I looked at some incubators online and boy they look really expensive for a beginner breeder with only one pair. I mean, I can see myself later on when I have a couple of morphs and albinos on my hands but right now? Do I really need to spend like $600.00 on a multi shelf incubator? :O What are some recommendations on a good brand and modules? Help is much needed. Thanks in advance! :snake::please:

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You dont even need a fridge, get a cooler and drill holes for wiring and probes.