Hotbox incubators

Just wanted to know if anyone has used Hotbox incubators or has any info on them? I like what I have seen so far on their site but would love to here from someone who has had one or is familiar with them. Thanks.

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Originally Posted by Doby71

Just wanted to know if anyone has used Hotbox incubators or has any info on them? I like what I have seen so far on their site but would love to here from someone who has had one or is familiar with them. Thanks.

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I have never used one or had even heard of Hotbox until this post, but I will be honest with you... You could build that 60" incubator that is listed for $1450 for ~$200 using melamine, heat tape or cable, and some computer fans. Throw another $100 for a good thermo.

Even the 24" unit is pricey at $550
That being said, they look decent if you like throwing cash at things rather than doing them yourself.

I don't know them personally nor do I own one, but I have seen them at shows and even got to see one up and running. It works perfectly. I agree they are a bit pricey, but their incubators are beautiful. If I had that kind of money, I'd pick one up instead of making one myself just because of how professional they look.

Melamine incubator you say? How do you insulate that? Got a build you've done successfully?


Search function time.

I'd rather make my own. And I personally don't see the point of a LED fan in an incubator. Personal preference I guess.

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Originally Posted by MrLang

Melamine incubator you say? How do you insulate that? Got a build you've done successfully?


Search function time.

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I did build my own. It took some time because I had to come up with all the dimensions. You can buy the paneling at Home Depot that is like Dry Erase Board, I used that as my first layer, then an inch or rigid insulation, then a 1/4 of plywood, then a 1 inch wooden frame with 1 inch rigid insulation inside the frame, and finished with a 1/4 inch of plywood (you can see the different layers on the picture of the inside of the incubator). It is pretty easy, I could take some measurements if you want, but I went big, capable of holding about 30 clutches. I used 11 inch Heat Tape, computer fans and a Vivarium VE-300 to control it all. I hatched out over 50 eggs and the only one that I lost was due to a twisted umbilical chord. Here are a few pictures. I definitely recommend building your own because it is not difficult and you can size it exactly to your needs.

The Outside
http://ball-pythons.net/gallery/file...ncubator_6.jpg

The Inside
http://ball-pythons.net/gallery/file...ncubator_2.jpg

Are those can full of water? Nice build my next one will be like that. Or I will just use a stand up freezer.

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Originally Posted by toyota89

Are those can full of water? Nice build my next one will be like that. Or I will just use a stand up freezer.

Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk 2

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The cans are full of sand and then a little silicone to seal them. I like sand better than water for 2 reasons, first sand is easier to clean up if it spills and second, per gram, sand can hold more heat than water (play sand is cheap and easy to buy at Home Depot or Lowes). Stand up freezers work and they can be cheaper since you can often use a broken one, however, the nice thing about building from scratch is that you can make the incubator exactly the size you want. So it was little more expensive to do it the way I did, but I know that it fit my needs perfectly. Also, it was sealed real tight with lots of insulation, so it could hold a temperature for quite some time if the power went out. Just some thoughts.

I can't afford them. But I have met the guy that makes them and I bought a BP from him. He's a really good guy and really works with you.


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Originally Posted by Slowcountry Balls

I like sand better than water for 2 reasons, first sand is easier to clean up if it spills and second, per gram, sand can hold more heat than water (play sand is cheap and easy to buy at Home Depot or Lowes).

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Nice build. I can sympathize with the easier to clean up part, but I had do a little research on the second part and figured I'd share with any future thread readers. Sand can't hold more heat per gram than water. In fact, it can hold less than one fifth as much heat per gram: http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/sp...ity-d_391.html . It can be between 1.5 and 2 times as dense as water, so at best those cans hold 40% of the heat energy they would hold if they were full of water, which could be a reasonable tradeoff for the easy clean up. Water can generally hold more heat per gram than all "normal" materials.

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Originally Posted by DanHook

Nice build. I can sympathize with the easier to clean up part, but I had do a little research on the second part and figured I'd share with any future thread readers. Sand can't hold more heat per gram than water. In fact, it can hold less than one fifth as much heat per gram: http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/sp...ity-d_391.html . It can be between 1.5 and 2 times as dense as water, so at best those cans hold 40% of the heat energy they would hold if they were full of water, which could be a reasonable tradeoff for the easy clean up. Water can generally hold more heat per gram than all "normal" materials.

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I think he's referring to heat retention, not heat capacity, as in the sand will stay warm longer than water.

I actually have a Hotbox Incubator and I love it. I did not mind spending the extra money because I knew that I was getting a good product. The LED fan light is the only issue I have with it because you can not turn that light off so the light stays on constantly and I have my incubator in my bedroom so I just have to cover the top of the incubator with a towel to block the light so I can sleep at night. But other than that I will say that my incubator was worth every penny. I never have any issues with heat or keeping humidity up in my tubs.

Just ordered the 48" ... Everyone that I have talked to loves them. Our old incubator is on it's last leg... time for something new this year!

60" here! All Chris's products are top notch,and there is "NO" long wait time like most others!:sweeet:

I'm happy someone made this thread, as I plan to buy one next January or February (whenever I get my next income tax check :) ) I think they look sleek and professional. Can't wait to order mine.

And then I see the thread is from 2012....

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Originally Posted by Montypython696

And then I see the thread is from 2012....

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And still rockin! :gj:

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/12/ry3e6ahy.jpghttp://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/12/pata8ete.jpghttp://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/12/6eby5ezy.jpg

Laminated MDF incubator. Rear chamber with two 48" heat mats. Four fans two top and two bottom. I never could understand why people ask about insulating something that is heating to 32c in a heated home or temp controlled rep room.

The top fans push air into the rear chamber and the bottoms fans push it out. Works perfect and tub temps simply don't move. And I mean don't move.

That is a sick looking incubator Mike.

I wish I was handy enough to actually build one. I got rack building down to a science, not so much incubators. I don't mind spending the extra money on one that I know is professionally built. Less chance for something to go wrong.

Id love to see a diy on that mike!

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It helps being a shop fitter I guess lol.

I have a 48 inch Hotbox Incubator that I bought at an NARBC auction. Haven't used it yet, but it looks great and is very well made. Also have a Animal Plastics incubator that I have used for several years and works perfectly.

Dave