Confusion on incubators.

My ball pythons have bred and I am confused on incubators. I have read the reviews and looked at prices. I don't want to pay a ton of money on a huge incubator since I won't have more than 1 clutch (if any). I want to be prepared if my female does lay a clutch though. I am looking at the Hova bator 1602N and the reptibator. I like that the reptibator is digital, but the reviews aren't very good for it. The reviews for the hova bator are better but I don't like the thermostat it has. I need help. I also like the price of the hova bator better than the reptibator. It's just all very confusing right now. I would like to have the incubator set up by New Year's day and completely adjusted to the right settings if I do get eggs so I can just do a plug and play on it. I also plan to put a digital thermometer and hygrometer in it to make sure everything goes great. I need help.

Find a broken mini fridge online and convert it to an incubator. There are multiple threads on DYI. Then, your Herpstat is the most expensive piece. Do not skimp on the thermostat quality!

I'm not good with builds. I get frustrated and throw them off a bridge or run them over. Plus even a mini fridge is too big right now. I don't need something that large for 1 clutch. I just have the 2 BPs. I would prefer something that is easy to use.

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Originally Posted by Phantomtip

I'm not good with builds. I get frustrated and throw them off a bridge or run them over. Plus even a mini fridge is too big right now. I don't need something that large for 1 clutch. I just have the 2 BPs. I would prefer something that is easy to use.

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You aren't "building" anything per se. You're taping flexwatt (that you can buy prewired) to the back of a fridge (or Igloo cooler, whatever), filling some soda bottles with water, and plugging the flexwatt into a thermostat. Or, spend a few hundred dollars to have someone else attach a heating element to an insulated box and have an unreliable thermostat that you should replace with a Herpstat anyway. :gj:

I was wondering what people thought of the 2 incubators I posted about. I plan to get a thermostat for what ever incubator I get. I also as I stated don't have the patience to put things like a build your own together. I would get really irritated and toss the whole darn thing. Plus I have a 2 yr old that loves to get into everything and would like something small that I can place out of his reach. If I were to breed multiple clutches then I would definitely consider a build your own with an old mini fridge. But with just 1 possible clutch (that wasn't intentionally bred) then I would like to just get a small nicely built one I can add to. Like adding a good thermostat, and thermometer hygrometer.

Get the hovabator, it has hatched tons of reptiles. Set the hovabator at a good 91 degrees, and also buy a Herpstat. When you have the hovabator "dialed in", plug it into the herpstat, put the herstat probe about 1" above the screen, and set it at 88.5. good luck.

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Originally Posted by Phantomtip

I was wondering what people thought of the 2 incubators I posted about. I plan to get a thermostat for what ever incubator I get. I also as I stated don't have the patience to put things like a build your own together. I would get really irritated and toss the whole darn thing. Plus I have a 2 yr old that loves to get into everything and would like something small that I can place out of his reach. If I were to breed multiple clutches then I would definitely consider a build your own with an old mini fridge. But with just 1 possible clutch (that wasn't intentionally bred) then I would like to just get a small nicely built one I can add to. Like adding a good thermostat, and thermometer hygrometer.

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Making your own incubator is incredibly easy:

1. buy a styrofoam cooler, a foot or so of heat tape from reptile basics (they will wire it for you), some aluminum foil tape, and a thermostat (preferably something like the herpstat intro +)
2. Using the foil tape, tape the heat tape into the cooler
3. Pass the heat tape cord out of the cooler and plug it into the thermostat
4. Place the thermostat's probe inside the cooler and set the thermostat to the desired incubation temperature.
5. Add eggs

If I had to chose between the 2 you listed I would go with the hovabator, but personally I wouldn't trust either of them.

I know you want a small incubator because you only have one clutch, but keep in mind that in a smaller incubator the temperatures can fluctuate much faster then in a larger one because of the smaller airspace. It's sort of like aquariums- a big aquarium is much easier to maintain than a smaller one because a smaller water volume can get way out of whack before you realize there is a problem.

Personally I wouldn't incubate even a single clutch in anything smaller than a mini fridge because it is my belief that temperatures fluctuations are a big factor in causing kinking and other deformities. If you absolutely must use a smaller incubator, be prepared to spend at least $100 for a proportional thermostat. If you try to use an on/off thermostat, you are setting yourself up for issues because the small incubators will change temperatures faster than the on/off thermostat will correct them.

I've never used a reptibater so I don 't know anything about them, I've used the hovabator successfully many times, follow Casey's advice and you should do fine. Stay away from the Exo Terra thermoelectric incubator, it's a total piece of garbage

I have used a hovabator many times, but only for lizard eggs. It worked very well for bearded dragon eggs, which have similar requirements to bp's. And the hovabator isn't all that much. They only downside is the thermostat is not the best, but will get you by in a pinch.

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Yeah that thermobator looks really cool but I wasn't going to touch it. Plus I have no room for a big incubator except outside and its too cold. Thats another reason I want a small one. I am going to get a good thermostat for the incubator just like I did for my BPs enclosures. If there are fertile eggs I want to try and get them hatched. Ive hatched chicken eggs in an incubator but have never done reptile eggs.

Do not get the hovabator. You might as well buy a sytrofoam cooler if you are going to use that. I highly recommend making your own. If you are going to use a Hovabator but use a different thermostat you're already half way to making your own incubator. If you want something small/temporary you can use a regular cooler, or an old/broken fridge. If you use something small enough you don't have to worry about a computer fan. There are a TON of DIYs on making your own incubators, it's super easy.

Where do you live? I'm sure there's a local enthusiast that can help you rig up a styrofoam cooler.

The incubators listed are junk. I wouldn't risk my eggs by incubating in them.

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Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant

Making your own incubator is incredibly easy:

1. buy a styrofoam cooler, a foot or so of heat tape from reptile basics (they will wire it for you), some aluminum foil tape, and a thermostat (preferably something like the herpstat intro +)
2. Using the foil tape, tape the heat tape into the cooler
3. Pass the heat tape cord out of the cooler and plug it into the thermostat
4. Place the thermostat's probe inside the cooler and set the thermostat to the desired incubation temperature.
5. Add eggs

If I had to chose between the 2 you listed I would go with the hovabator, but personally I wouldn't trust either of them.

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This ^^^ A cooler type of incubator is the way to go for a few clutches per year...

Incubating bp eggs is a very simple process...don't make it any harder than it should be. All you need are heat (and a way to control it) and humidity. Heat tape and a thermostat takes care of one, substrate the other. A cooler is ideal for this...

Temp controls

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a386/sho220/inc3.jpg

Heat tape...

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a386/sho220/inc4.jpg
Routing the wires...

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...220/inc2-1.jpg

And eventually you get this...

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...0/IMG_1357.jpg

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Originally Posted by Casey Hulse

Get the hovabator, it has hatched tons of reptiles. Set the hovabator at a good 91 degrees, and also buy a Herpstat. When you have the hovabator "dialed in", plug it into the herpstat, put the herstat probe about 1" above the screen, and set it at 88.5. good luck.

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Casey hit the nail on the head!!! With more clutches,his incubator is awesome!

I suck at wiring things. Also is it just me or what but are the hovabator and reptibator the same thing? I mean except for he whole plastic lid, and a digital thermo its the same right? I would prefer a nice incubator so if I get eggs I will have a nice set up. I wasn't planning for eggs this year but my hubby is a goober and put my male with my female because his parameters were off a bit. Now I need to be ready if I get some. I know there is a local breeder but I don't know who it is in my area. He sold my yb to a lps and I bought him the next day. I would love to meet this person though because my yb is a very nice boy and healthy too. He might be able to give me pointers on my 2.

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Originally Posted by Phantomtip

I suck at wiring things. Also is it just me or what but are the hovabator and reptibator the same thing? I mean except for he whole plastic lid, and a digital thermo its the same right? I would prefer a nice incubator so if I get eggs I will have a nice set up. I wasn't planning for eggs this year but my hubby is a goober and put my male with my female because his parameters were off a bit. Now I need to be ready if I get some. I know there is a local breeder but I don't know who it is in my area. He sold my yb to a lps and I bought him the next day. I would love to meet this person though because my yb is a very nice boy and healthy too. He might be able to give me pointers on my 2.

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You don't need to know how to wire anything to make an incubator. If you can operate a pair of pliers, you can take care of wiring. :D I think it was already mentioned but some online stores offer pre-wired flexwatt.

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Originally Posted by grcforce327

Casey hit the nail on the head!!! With more clutches,his incubator is awesome!

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If you're going to use a Herpstat on a hovabator, why even bother? It seems like it would be better to either use a hovabator and hope for the best, or just make an incubator...

Buy the Hovabator, scrap the expensive reptile thermostats, and go to Grainge.com and buy yourself a Penn industrial thermostat. You DO NOT need a proportional thermostat to hatch ball pythons. A simple on/off stat will do the job and has for me for over 20 years. I still have the same Penn thermostat I got from Grainger in 1995 and it is still working as well as it did the day I got it.....for around $40. I've hatched everything from Burms to Balls to Chondros with it. If you convert your Hovabator, you can fit about 50-60 ball python eggs in it. Think simple and don't over-think it.lol.

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Originally Posted by Brandon Osborne

Buy the Hovabator, scrap the expensive reptile thermostats, and go to Grainge.com and buy yourself a Penn industrial thermostat. You DO NOT need a proportional thermostat to hatch ball pythons. A simple on/off stat will do the job and has for me for over 20 years. I still have the same Penn thermostat I got from Grainger in 1995 and it is still working as well as it did the day I got it.....for around $40. I've hatched everything from Burms to Balls to Chondros with it. If you convert your Hovabator, you can fit about 50-60 ball python eggs in it. Think simple and don't over-think it.lol.

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Is Penn and Johnson the same thing? I can't find anything when searching for Penn thermostats...just comes up with Johnson stuff. Any pics of your hovabator setup?

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Originally Posted by sho220

Is Penn and Johnson the same thing? I can't find anything when searching for Penn thermostats...just comes up with Johnson stuff. Any pics of your hovabator setup?

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I guess they are http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trks...at=0&_from=R40

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If you're going to use a Herpstat on a hovabator, why even bother? It seems like it would be better to either use a hovabator and hope for the best, or just make an incubator...

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The reason would be the temperature would be controlled by the proportional Herpstat, not the on/off thermostat that is built in to the Hovabator..

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Originally Posted by sho220

If you're going to use a Herpstat on a hovabator, why even bother? It seems like it would be better to either use a hovabator and hope for the best, or just make an incubator...

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You've got to be kidding!:rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by Casey Hulse

The reason would be the temperature would be controlled by the proportional Herpstat, not the on/off thermostat that is built in to the Hovabator..

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Casey are you still making those Natures Spirit incubators? I've got one and have probably hatched close to 1000 ball pythons with it by now.

I've priced the natures spirit ones and they are out of my price range for the foreseeable future. Thats why I was wondering about the hova bator and the reptibator ones. I've seen really good reviews on the hova bator and not so good on the reptibator.

Yes we are, www.nsreptiles.com

Merry Christmas!

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Originally Posted by Casey Hulse

Yes we are, www.nsreptiles.com

Merry Christmas!

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I didn't realize you were the person who made them! Thank you, I got mine last year, used it with a herpstat and it performed perfectly.

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Originally Posted by grcforce327

You've got to be kidding!:rolleyes:

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About what?


Now that I have read thin entire thread............. You do have a third option other than the two you requested information on. Let your female do the job, a natural incubation wont cost you anything and you wont have to build anything either.

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Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

About what?


Now that I have read thin entire thread............. You do have a third option other than the two you requested information on. Let your female do the job, a natural incubation wont cost you anything and you wont have to build anything either.

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This was my thought. If you don't desire to build or even buy an incubator due to only having one accidental clutch, you could always allow for maternal incubation. It is my thought that mother knows best and is probably more accurate than either the havobater or the reptibator.


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Although proportional thermostats are nice, they are overkill in my opinion. Temps in the wild are not perfect and neither are the temps of brooding females.

This is the exact thermostat I have had in use since 1996. Still works without a hitch.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/JOHNSON-CONT...item1c2f7949e0