The low down on the balls

So here it is, i want to explain my situation with all my balls since i plan on breeding next season, and yes this will be my first breeding season. And since i have been searching this forum for all advice, i will continue to do so for this since everyone has been a big help with everything.

I recently went out and bought a scale from staples to start keeping track of my weights and feeding schedule for my 2 pastels. Last feb i bought a female pastel from a breeder here in NC. She eats like a mammoth, and is at a nice wait for only being a year and 3 months old. She is currently 1,228 grams. I have never over fed her or power fed her. She received 1 mouse when i first got her, then proceeded to a couple mice a week, then i jumped her to 1 small rat per week. So i'm pretty sure by the time next season rolls around she will be good and ready with weight.

Now for the male pastel that i recently received from heather at heathersherps. I weighed him today as well, and he is at 128 gram, just a baby. He hatched out last sept i believe, but i may need to go back and check the date. He started on one fuzzy when i first received him in november. Now he is on 1 hopper per week.

I keep both balls in tanks. Temps are good and humidity is great, especially when sheds come around. They have not had one bad shed.

I am basically asking you all if everything is on track and sounds good to you guys?

Thanks for any advice and/or criticism.

P.s. I figured when next season comes around, i will by an incubator from zilla or zoo med, or something along those lines.

Great enthusiasm looks like your headed down the right path good luck in the future with your pairings.;)

Well looks like youve got all your bases covered and definately on a great track for next season. Best of luck and dont forget, the breeding season is very frustrating at times. But patience is key and persistence is a must.

Sent from my HUAWEI-M860

Good luck and remeber to never give up.

Everything sounded good right up till...

P.s. I figured when next season comes around, i will by an incubator from zilla or zoo med, or something along those lines."

When the time comes around you'll probably know better than to buy either ;)
Nothing beats a home made inc from a cooler, true brand cooler, mini fridge etc...
for a good solid inexpensive incubator

I mean, don't these makers like (zoo med, zilla, etc.) know what goes into a incubator. I mean, i feel making something homemade or out of scratch will be less reliable, wouldn't you say?

I have seen tons of videos and pictures of homemade incubators, from coolers to mini fridges, i just figured ones that are already made and have a controlled thermostate and head element would keep the eggs nice and ripe as oppose to something you made.

zoo-med and zilla have no clue how to build an inc with a "GOOD" thermostat.

You can build a better one for a lot less than buying one.

Hmmm, well fair enough then. I'll start looking at ways to construct a steardy and efficient incubator than. I do have a smalle minifridge sittin in storage right now???:rolleyes:

My first season I used a mini fridge with one shelf as I only had one clutch to worry about and it came out perfect with 4 yellow belly females out of 6 eggs.

You don't need anything but 2 feet of heat tape wired to a plug-in and plugged into a thermostat.
I controlled it with a zoo-med thermostat and luckily got away with it, but I would never recommend using a repti-temp for incubating.
I recommend a proportional thermostat, Herpstat being my favorite and one of the least expensive.

What is the difference between a repti temp and propoetional thermostate?

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Originally Posted by CINCYBall

What is the difference between a repti temp and propoetional thermostate?

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Repti Temp is a zoomed product I belive, Herpstats are higher quality thermostats that are a lot more reliable, look em up.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by CINCYBall

What is the difference between a repti temp and propoetional thermostate?

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Repti-temps are an on/off type thermostat that allows the temperatures to rise and fall more than you want with an incubator so they aren't recommended for that use.

Gotchya, perfect, I'll check them out then when the time comes.

I wish everyone were as on the ball as you are! So many brand new folks to the hobby start breeding, then ask questions rather than giving it some time and putting in the work to research.

Sounds like a great start. Best of luck to you.