Can this incubator be trusted?

http://www.bigappleherp.com/Hovabator-Incubators

It is only 22 dollars and im wondering if anyone owns it, please tell me about it! It is much cheaper than building one myself:snake:

Just so you know the incubator is $55. The replacement parts are $22.

Yes, I have used it with no problems. Really only good for one clutch maybe two at a time.


Gavin

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Originally Posted by Tyrannosaurus Rex

http://www.bigappleherp.com/Hovabator-Incubators

It is only 22 dollars and im wondering if anyone owns it, please tell me about it! It is much cheaper than building one myself:snake:

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Go to your local farm supply store and buy one from them.They are sold for chicken eggs but make sure you do not get the one with the fan or egg turner.They are like $42 here :gj:

It's a piece of crap, but if you put a good thermostat on it you should be fine. If I were you I would just buy a cooler, throw a couple feet of flexwatt in it and get a good thermostat. That will be cheaper and probably better than the hovabator.

Don't forget that you'll still need to buy a good proportional thermostat - that will run you over $100 - don't depend on the wafer thermostat in that incubator.

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Originally Posted by pfan151

It's a piece of crap, but if you put a good thermostat on it you should be fine. If I were you I would just buy a cooler, throw a couple feet of flexwatt in it and get a good thermostat. That will be cheaper and probably better than the hovabator.

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Agreed - I personally would never use a Hovabator - but that's just me.

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Originally Posted by Gavin Cooper

Yes, I have used it with no problems. Really only good for one clutch maybe two at a time.

did you need to buy a thermostat or is the one in there sufficient?:snake:
Gavin

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did you need to buy a thermostat or is the one in there sufficient?

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Originally Posted by Tyrannosaurus Rex

did you need to buy a thermostat or is the one in there sufficient?

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No - the one in there is NOT sufficient - many people have killed their clutches depending on the wafer thermostat - don't scrimp on a thermostat - it's your MOST important investment.

Like Robin and pfan said, get a reliable t-stat. also i built an incubator from a cooler and have no problems with it, there's a DIY in the DIY section.

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Originally Posted by Tyrannosaurus Rex

did you need to buy a thermostat or is the one in there sufficient?

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First year breeding I didn't use a t-stat and temps were all over the place. You need to do alot of adjusting to keep it stable. Second year I used the Hovabator with a t-stat and it was much better.

I now use a small fridge converted to an incubator with my Herpstat and I love it.

The choice is yours in the end but remember that you get what you pay for.
I only used the Hovabator because I already had it. I also know many people that use them problem free but as sited on this thread it's obvious some have had problems.

Gavin

I use a Herpstat since they are what has worked for me (,and i like the power curve adjustment that they have).

..and you can't beat a good used standup freezer for an incubator.They have the best insulation,plenty of room,and it's not likely to move should someone stub their toe on it.:D

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Originally Posted by coldthumb

I use a Herpstat since they are what has worked for me (,and i like the power curve adjustment that they have).

..and you can't beat a good used standup freezer for an incubator.They have the best insulation,plenty of room,and it's not likely to move should someone stub their toe on it.:D

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What Charles said!!!!!!! Herpstat and freezer/beverage dispenser. :D:D

A Hovabator with the wafer thermostat removed, the top vent hole blocked, and connected to a Herpstat thermostat, is what I'm using this year.

I have it set up with substrateless incubation, and I fit FIVE clutches in there. Not small ones, either. I put the water directly in the included plastic base, and put the light grid over top of that--no separate containers.
3 clutches have hatched out in that setup so far, and not a single loss of any egg in there.

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Originally Posted by WingedWolfPsion

A Hovabator with the wafer thermostat removed, the top vent hole blocked, and connected to a Herpstat thermostat, is what I'm using this year.

I have it set up with substrateless incubation, and I fit FIVE clutches in there. Not small ones, either. I put the water directly in the included plastic base, and put the light grid over top of that--no separate containers.
3 clutches have hatched out in that setup so far, and not a single loss of any egg in there.

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Nice. The herpstat is the key. As long as you get that wafer out of there it should be pretty reliable. Then it's pretty much just a styrofoam cooler and a heat source.