Incubators...

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Originally Posted by sho220

From what I understand, the Hovabators use a cheap little "wafer" thermostat to regulate heat...that's why it's all over the place...the temp controller is the last place I'd skimp when building an incubator...

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Cheap is quite the understatement. :gj:

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Originally Posted by Matt K

You'll want to be careful running the stock fridge fan, as they tend to generate a great deal of heat when constantly on. I think it would be best to go with computer fans.

I agree with everyone though--go for the build! I built mine in just a couple hours, including removing the compressor and freon, and it has been rock-solid for nearly 2 months now. It's a really simple, inexpensive, and fool-proof process, and you end up with a superior product. Good luck with whatever you decide!

Cheers,
-Matt

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Good tip! I wasn't sure. I'm glad this got answered right away and was planning to ask :D Was an idea my dad had :)

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Originally Posted by AK907

Hey Jess! I've got an old mini fridge (still works, though) and we live right down the road from a place which has a dozen shot ones outside at any given time, not to mention the plethora of yard sales around here. I've got probably 30+ feet of mixed heat tape laying around and a few spare herpstats. I might give it a shot on my next day off. See how stable I can get. I am just paranoid. I KNOW there has to be a better way.

I like plug and play. It isn't so much laziness, but we work a lot of hours, so its nice to have the comfort of knowing its going to be the same temp when we get home from work. Today I ran to Wal-Mart and to pick up my wife from work. Gone maybe an hour. Temps were 83.1 in our Hova-Bator when I left. When we returned it was 80.6 degrees. Unacceptable!

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It is definitely laziness for me :D

If you can get it to stabilize, you are on the right track :) I hear water bottles in the bottom to keep temp nice and steady...

Yikes, I would make one right away. And send me a mini fridge ;)

I use a wine fridge I bought off Craigslist for $50.
Herpstat thermostat.
11" heat tape.
2 computer fans to circulate air.

All-in-all...less than $200. Holds 6 clutches in standard 6 qt. tubs. More if I got shorter boxes.

Mine is at the end of the video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnEo1X40SPc

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Originally Posted by AK907

I thought about building my own. I have access to plenty of shot mini fridges. I dunno, maybe I don't give myself enough credit, but I worry about building my own and all going to hell and being left without a reliable backup. I have plenty of supplies laying around to build my own, but I was hoping to get a factory built one where I don't have to tweak anymore. Just set the temp and walk away, if you get my drift. I might end up building a backup incubator out of a mini fridge and giving it a few test runs first to have just in case my main incubator fails me.

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I would highly recommend building your own incubator. It's really not hard.
I converted mine from an old Red Bull bar fridge and couldn't be happier with it.
You can see how I converted it here: http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...ull-Incubator!

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Originally Posted by Adam Chandler

I would highly recommend building your own incubator. It's really not hard.
I converted mine from an old Red Bull bar fridge and couldn't be happier with it.
You can see how I converted it here: http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...ull-Incubator!

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And you sir I am jealous of :) Hoping I can find one of these here ... :)

Build your own.

Here's mine:

$15 fridge, it actually works
$10 computer fan
$25 in flexwatt
$18 in tubs
$135 helix

So about $200

If I moved the bottom shelf I could fit 12 tubs in there.
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t...ding/002-2.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sho220

From what I understand, the Hovabators use a cheap little "wafer" thermostat to regulate heat...that's why it's all over the place...the temp controller is the last place I'd skimp when building an incubator...

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'i have a nature spirit incubator with herpstat by spyder robotics ....It has been perfect in 3 years of breeding ball pythons...google nature spirit reptile and check out their site

I used a small fridge in the past. This year I built one. I just hatched 8 eggs with it.

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p...to04301348.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p...04301348_1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p...to04301349.jpg

True coolers make great incubators.
Ours will hold 18 7qt tubs with water on the bottom shelf and top shelf.
It takes two 30" strips of 11x12 flexwatt to heat it.
We use a bathroom ceiling fan plugged into a rheostat to control the airflow and help control the temperature shelf to shelf.
14 or so 1 gallon water bottles.
The cooler was $200 on craigslist, there is less than $425 into it helix thermostat and all.

http://i968.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/PICT8818.jpg