Building a Closet sized incubator.

I have some ideas, but figured I'd ask if anyone knows of examples/writeups so that I don't completely wing this.

I have a fairly large closet in the center of the house connected to my main snake room, I was planning on sealing it up/building an area inside of it lined with foam insulation, and then installing heat tape, fans, thermostat. Not sure the best way of making a door into it yet, or if this is even an efficient design.

Don't insulate it too much ... my first shot at a walk-in was ultra insulated and there was no where for the heat to go if it go too hot (thermostats will over shoot to correct temp drops from opening the door)

I've found that if it's an interior room, a Helix 1500 watt system and an oil filled heater are all that you should need ... maybe some light insulation, but that's about it.

-adam

What about pocket doors, so they just slide, very simple.


~mike

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Originally Posted by wildlifewarrior

What about pocket doors, so they just slide, very simple.

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There's really no need. Ball python eggs are very hardy and can withstand slight changes in temps due to door opening and closing.

If you really wanted to do it "right", you'd construct some type of air lock ... but again, it's really not necessary.

-adam

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Originally Posted by Adam_Wysocki

There's really no need. Ball python eggs are very hardy and can withstand slight changes in temps due to door opening and closing.
If you really wanted to do it "right", you'd construct some type of air lock ... but again, it's really not necessary.
-adam

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oooo airlock now thats getting fancy!;) :D but i get ya. i only said pocket door because depending on the size of the closet/snake room, he may not be able to swing a door and some type of a sliding door may make things easier. But then again will there be a need for a door? i mean if it opens up to the herp room the abient air will be about 80 maybe a bit warmer, you could use a sheet or something over the door to keep the heat up a little in the closet/incubator, without the space problem possibly caused by a swinging door.

~mike

but with a sheet how would he keep the humidity in with out effecting the other snakes in the room? or keep the humidity up at all for that matter?

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Originally Posted by jessie_k_pythons

but with a sheet how would he keep the humidity in with out effecting the other snakes in the room? or keep the humidity up at all for that matter?

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If you know what you're doing, humidity isn't a concern inside the incubator itself. ;)

-adam

adam, do you use individual styrofoam containers with glass, or plexiglass tops?? or do you have like an open air room?? (i am assuming you have a room;) )


~mike

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Originally Posted by wildlifewarrior

adam, do you use individual styrofoam containers with glass, or plexiglass tops?? or do you have like an open air room?? (i am assuming you have a room;) )

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I use sealed egg boxes inside of an open air room.

-adam

Vaughn built a nice closet incubator last year.....maybe he'll post some pics...

basically i turned a reg. closet into a bator.


it was 6 x 2 closet with bifold doors, i put in wire shelving and ran 11 in. flex on the back wall, behind each shelf.
the whole closet is insulated in reflectix (lowes,depot).
a 120volt 4in cpu fan at the top, moves air and everything is controlled by a helix. here's the eggboxes i use,

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...9/DSCN0670.JPG

there's good karma with these boxes!


vaughn

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Originally Posted by kavmon

there's good karma with these boxes!

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It's lucky glass. ;)

-adam

yes it is, oh and you're not getting them back:D


i'd rather give you cash!

i believe in good karma!


vaughn

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Originally Posted by kavmon

yes it is, oh and you're not getting them back:D

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I never expected them back ... you're money is no good here ... just keep hatchin out the hotties!

That's how I roll. :cool:

-adam

Its a lovefest in here! Any concern about the safety of those oil filled heaters in a small enclosed area? I don't know much about them but im about to pick up a couple for the snake room and the quarantine area.

jamie, i haven't had any problems at all. mine is on a ranco. so it has it 's own thermostat and then the ranco checking it. i've seen some pics where some people have the double ranco on them.


the heater i have is adjustable, low,med,high. translates to 600,900,1500 watts. i run mine on low for the herp room (10x10) does just fine.


vaughn

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Originally Posted by kavmon

jamie, i haven't had any problems at all. mine is on a ranco. so it has it 's own thermostat and then the ranco checking it. i've seen some pics where some people have the double ranco on them.


the heater i have is adjustable, low,med,high. translates to 600,900,1500 watts. i run mine on low for the herp room (10x10) does just fine.


vaughn

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nice! I am heading out to pick one up. Its starting to get cooler at night and the snake room sometimes drops to 79..i dont like anything under 80

What do you think of this one. Has a thermostat.

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...uct_id=4383649

not sure about the digital stat? if you hook this up to a ranco, when the ranco turns the power off, the temp setting on the heater stat may be affected!


i have one that has an analog dial stat, i set the dial to max. and tape the dial so it can't move, and let the ranco control it!

i have this jamie, http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...uct_id=2403497

honeywell is a good brand, been around a long time and makes alot of controls/parts.



vaughn

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Originally Posted by kavmon

not sure about the digital stat? if you hook this up to a ranco, when the ranco turns the power off, the temp setting on the heater stat may be affected!


i have one that has an analog dial stat, i set the dial to max. and tape the dial so it can't move, and let the ranco control it!


vaughn

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Now I need a couple Rancos.

look up, i posted a link to the one i use.


let me know if you need a ranco, i can get one for you!


vaughn

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Originally Posted by jglass38

Now I need a couple Rancos.

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I've got at least one for you when you come down (I think) ... maybe more ... you'll just have to dig through the tubs of thermostats and unused electronic gadgets.

;)

-adam

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Originally Posted by Adam_Wysocki

I've got at least one for you when you come down (I think) ... maybe more ... you'll just have to dig through the tubs of thermostats and unused electronic gadgets.

;)

-adam

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I wanna dig through your tubs! How cool would that be??? :P :D

I just got one of the Holmes heaters from walmart.....34.99 I think....not to bad!

The only thing I have issue with is the analog tstat its built with doesn't maintain a stable temp, so I'll be doing what vaughn mentioned, which is setting it to max and using a ranco to control it.

Hey vaughn, where's my stat? ;)

jk...hope you feel better...

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Originally Posted by Adam_Wysocki

I've got at least one for you when you come down (I think) ... maybe more ... you'll just have to dig through the tubs of thermostats and unused electronic gadgets.

;)

-adam

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Superstar!! :rockon:

Adam,

How do you keep the hatchlings from escaping? Do you have any pictures? You need some pictures of your facility.


Can I come over and dig through your rack?:8:

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Originally Posted by stangs13

How do you keep the hatchlings from escaping?

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The same way everyone else does.

-adam

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Originally Posted by stangs13

Adam,

How do you keep the hatchlings from escaping? :8:

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He keeps them in his boxer shorts...

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Originally Posted by Adam_Wysocki

The same way everyone else does.

-adam

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I meant escaping from the egg crate.....:D

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Originally Posted by jglass38

He keeps them in his boxer shorts...

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:rofl:

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Originally Posted by stangs13

I meant escaping from the egg crate.....:D

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What egg crate?

Egg box = box that eggs are incubated in ... smiliar to the one Vaughn posted.

WOW flip flop, tired from that math test today or was it recess on the playground that wore you out? :carrot:

-adam

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Originally Posted by Adam_Wysocki

What egg crate?

Egg box = box that eggs are incubated in ... smiliar to the one Vaughn posted.

WOW flip flop, tired from that math test today or was it recess on the playground that wore you out? :carrot:

-adam

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math test.....and Vicoden.....:rolleye2:

I thought you said egg box= things that eggs come in.....My bad!:8:

Where do you get thoughs egg boxes from?

I get all my big styrofoam boxes like that from fish wholesalers. I pay 1.00 per box. I have about 25 of them stacked in the basement. Everytime I make a fish order I pick up 4 or 5 extra. Thats about all that will fit in the back of the durango without blocking the back window.



David

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Originally Posted by tropheusfreak

I get all my big styrofoam boxes like that from fish wholesalers. I pay 1.00 per box. I have about 25 of them stacked in the basement. Everytime I make a fish order I pick up 4 or 5 extra. Thats about all that will fit in the back of the durango without blocking the back window.



David

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Sweet! Thanks.Any online stores?

justin, those boxes are from www.polar-tech.com the model # 227.



vaughn

Isn't that just like me? I got busy with a few other things and forgot about this thread.

My closet will probably only be 7' tall, maybe 2-3' deep and width, maybe 2'to5' depending on where i put up the edge.

I have reflectix, but usually the just keeps radiant heat in, not external cold out, right?

I was planning on using reflectix. Now from what I read earlier, the whole room wont be humid, just the egg boxes inside? Do those styrofoam eggs let air in, or is that even an issue?

Thanks :) Im only picking up on things bit by bit, hopefully will be beyond the noob point.

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Originally Posted by SnakeySnakeSnake

Isn't that just like me? I got busy with a few other things and forgot about this thread.

My closet will probably only be 7' tall, maybe 2-3' deep and width, maybe 2'to5' depending on where i put up the edge.

I have reflectix, but usually the just keeps radiant heat in, not external cold out, right?

I was planning on using reflectix. Now from what I read earlier, the whole room wont be humid, just the egg boxes inside? Do those styrofoam eggs let air in, or is that even an issue?

Thanks :) Im only picking up on things bit by bit, hopefully will be beyond the noob point.

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I hope everything works itself out!! Your closet looks like it can hold alot of eggs. What are you going to do avbout humidity and rotting the wood around your eggs?

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Originally Posted by stangs13

I hope everything works itself out!! Your closet looks like it can hold alot of eggs. What are you going to do avbout humidity and rotting the wood around your eggs?

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You are awfully manic lately little guy! The humidity is contained inside the egg boxes (where there is no wood).

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Originally Posted by jglass38

You are awfully manic lately little guy! The humidity is contained inside the egg boxes (where there is no wood).

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Sorry I am alittle ticked off about the whole I highjacked a thread thing.. Its not like you or anyone else hasnt high jacked a thread. ( I didnt even high jack that thread!) i guess its because im young and they wouldnt go very far if they say it to me instead of an adult. Oh well. But I thought it would be easyer to just keep the whole room humid? Is it not?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by stangs13

Sorry I am alittle ticked off about the whole I highjacked a thread thing.. Its not like you or anyone else hasnt high jacked a thread. ( I didnt even high jack that thread!) i guess its because im young and they had to say it to me instead of an adult. Oh well. But I thought it would be easyer to just keep the whole room humid? Is it not?

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What thread are you talking about?

As far as the humidity, you want to have the egg box near 100% humidity. How you do it is up to you. I have used a cooler with water and an aquarium heater with an egg box inside it. That design would give you 100% humidity both in the egg box as well as in the surrounding area. Most use incubator boxes, closets or rooms with heat tape or space heaters providing the 88-90 degree temps and the egg boxes with the moistened vermiculite providing the humidity needed. Hope this helps!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jglass38

What thread are you talking about?

As far as the humidity, you want to have the egg box near 100% humidity. How you do it is up to you. I have used a cooler with water and an aquarium heater with an egg box inside it. That design would give you 100% humidity both in the egg box as well as in the surrounding area. Most use incubator boxes, closets or rooms with heat tape or space heaters providing the 88-90 degree temps and the egg boxes with the moistened vermiculite providing the humidity needed. Hope this helps!

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OK. I was thinking about using the cooler with the aquarium heater. A foam cooler. With a slot with glass cut in to the top so I could lookiin. But im hoping to find a mini fridge so i can use that instead. My mom is a teacher and they all have mini fridges and a few are retiring within a few years so hopefully i can get one from them...or one stops working. Ill PM you the thread so i dont hijack thisone.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by stangs13

OK. I was thinking about using the cooler with the aquarium heater. A foam cooler. With a slot with glass cut in to the top so I could lookiin. But im hoping to find a mini fridge so i can use that instead. My mom is a teacher and they all have mini fridges and a few are retiring within a few years so hopefully i can get one from them...or one stops working. Ill PM you the thread so i dont hijack thisone.

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I would spend the extra few bucks and get a plastic insulated cooler. Your temps are going to be far more stable than with a foam cooler. This is what I used:

http://www.glassreptiles.com/articles/incubator.asp

Sounds good. I figured the foam one would hold humidity better ..but oh well. I have 2 sets of coolers several foam and plastic so the switch isnt a problem. And Adam said it is ok if you have to open the lid to look in everyonce and awhile,because I cant look in through glass. Im really hoping for a fridge though!! How do yuou keep the humidity up in a fridge?

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Originally Posted by stangs13

How do yuou keep the humidity up in a fridge?

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The incubation medium in the egg box.

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Originally Posted by jglass38

The incubation medium in the egg box.

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Ok . Thanks Jamie.:carrot:

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Originally Posted by SnakeySnakeSnake

My closet will probably only be 7' tall, maybe 2-3' deep and width, maybe 2'to5' depending on where i put up the edge.

I have reflectix, but usually the just keeps radiant heat in, not external cold out, right?

I was planning on using board foam. Now from what I read earlier, the whole room wont be humid, just the egg boxes inside? Do those styrofoam eggs let air in, or is that even an issue?

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Another question, I have no door, what would be the best way to seal off the closet but allow access :)

Exactly how air proof does the closet need to be? Im guessing as long as it is attached to the snake room and the heat is working in the closet it shouldnt be much of an issue.

thanks

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SnakeySnakeSnake

Another question, I have no door, what would be the best way to seal off the closet but allow access :)

Exactly how air proof does the closet need to be? Im guessing as long as it is attached to the snake room and the heat is working in the closet it shouldnt be much of an issue.

thanks

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Mybe a sheet of plastic? And have it pinned down ..maybe? or you may have to jsut build one.

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Originally Posted by stangs13

Mybe a sheet of plastic? And have it pinned down ..maybe? or you may have to jsut build one.

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Thats cool man, I thought about that, but Im wondering what others who have actually done this use... a door of reflectix pinned over it could work as well.

i would use some form of a door. you want the heater to work efficiently. i've seen some vinyl/plastic type doors. they fold up like an accordian and have a magnet catch. they could probably be cut to fit(top to bottom)



vaughn