exo terra incubator

Need some advice or feedback. Im thinking about buying the exo terra incubator it looks nice and easy to use and the fan is a plus but how in my incubators can i best hold the humidity

Most of the guides you see show some mixture of substrate that includes moisture in the recipe. I use vermiculite and water in equal parts by weight... actually I have been putting just a bit more water in recently. But you can also sprinkle water around the sides of the egg container if necessary.

The fan in the inc is going to kill humidity but I wouldnt get too wet with the original mixture so would probably lean towards the sprinkle method throughout incubation.

You can also keep an open container in the inc that you top off from time to time, or a humidity box, to keep the entire inc humidity up. Take a look at some DIY inc instructions they usually have some good ideas.

I have one of these, it sits on my shelf collecting dust. I would not get another one. They do NOT keep stable temps.

Ive used mine for 4 years without any problems. There is a 1F temp difference between the top and the bottom because the fan only turns on when its actively heating. Number one complaint is it does not hold 6qt tubs, so you have to find smaller ones to hold the clutches. For the size and money its a good little incubator though IMO.

I'm glad you had good luck with yours,. I hooked up a digital thermometer with min/max memory on mine after setting the incubator to 88 Deg F and running it for several days. I found that the temps varied from 85 degrees F as a low to 95 degrees F as a high. I was incubating leopard geckos at the time and I had many eggs that did not hatch.

Personally I think a better cheap incubator is a hovabator plugged into a good quality proportional thermostat.

Ouch, mine definitely doesnt do that! Maybe something is wrong with your until? Maybe I lucked out. Either way, mine has worked perfectly for me. I just wish it held the 6qt tubs.

It's possible I got a lemon, but I've heard other people complain about the same thing so I'd be leery. I think it's important to test out ANY incubator you get before using it. Set it up and let it run for a few days and test it out with a min/max thermometer.

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Originally Posted by MarkS

It's possible I got a lemon, but I've heard other people complain about the same thing so I'd be leery. I think it's important to test out ANY incubator you get before using it. Set it up and let it run for a few days and test it out with a min/max thermometer.

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Since we're on the topic, any incubator recommendations under $300?

Make your own for under $300...

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Originally Posted by speedycat222

Since we're on the topic, any incubator recommendations under $300?

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Just Google it or check the classifieds .

I've seen decent homemade ones using a polystyrene box , heat mats and stat /s , also some people have converted mini fridges and the like etc In the uk we see homemade incubators for as little as £20 / $30 .

Some people don't like them, but I've hatched plenty of eggs in a hovabator.

http://www.lllreptile.com/catalog/22-reptile-incubators

But they do benefit by including a good quality proportional thermostat

http://www.reptilebasics.com/thermostats

But yeah, building your own is probably the best way to go.

Find an old/broken wine cooler or mini fridge on craigslist, buy some heat tape from reptilebasics.com, stick it in the back of the cooler/fridge and there ya go :) incubator. That's what I did. Haven't had any eggs to put in there yet but holds temps perfectly.

i Got an STC 1000 for my thermostat cause its cheap - planning to make a styrofoam incubator. ill let u know if the thermostat is good - ill be assembling it i a couple of days and have it run for a week or 2. hope it works - ill let u knw

I had one and it wasn't working right kept going hotter then it should... I heard they recalled them.. I cut every thing out and hooked up heat tape and a thermostat... it worked alright just very small inside... looking to buy a good one for next season..