Best incubator teperature?
I have been seeing many suggestions that range from 86 to 89 degrees.. what is the optimum temperature for incubating BP eggs? I want to know before she lays!
Re: Best incubator teperature?
You should incubate them at 89 degrees. If they go up or down two degrees don't worry to much.
Brock Wagner:salute:
Re: Best incubator teperature?
Now is 89 degrees the ambient air temp or is that with the probe buried down into the eggs? Where do you keep their t-stat/thermometer probe?
Re: Best incubator teperature?
I've heard 89, and I've also heard to place the probe on one of the eggs.
Re: Best incubator teperature?
Quote:
Originally Posted by nathanledet
Now is 89 degrees the ambient air temp or is that with the probe buried down into the eggs? Where do you keep their t-stat/thermometer probe?
If the ambient temps inside the incubator is 89, the temp inside the box should be 89 as well as long as the air is circulating properly
Re: Best incubator teperature?
A wise man once told me the 2 important things are:
1. Never over 90 degrees
2. Stable temps!
Keep it stable and your eggs will hatch at 86, 87, 88 or 89.
Re: Best incubator teperature?
I use and have always heard 89.
Re: Best incubator teperature?
It depends on the incubator and how much temps change outside incubator. Most incubators heat but don't cool. So if you are at the higher end of temps and room heats up, the incubator heats up too and may get too hot. I like to keep mine at 88 so I have room if the room should heat up.
Re: Best incubator teperature?
If the incubator is properly insulated, a small change in the room temp shouldn't cause a spike inside the incubator. I am incubating at about 87.5 this year. Also keep in mind, that a good proportional tstat is key. The Helix DBS1000 is internally calibrated to .25 of a degree but the display reads in full degrees. The Herpstat ND has an internal resolution of .11 degrees and is accurate to .9. It displays in tenths of a degree. Another thing to realize is that most thermometers including the Accurite and the PEs have a tolerance of +-3 degrees. That is a big number and all the more reason to choose a quality tstat and trust it to get the job done.
Re: Best incubator teperature?
Quote:
Originally Posted by jglass38
If the incubator is properly insulated, a small change in the room temp shouldn't cause a spike inside the incubator. I am incubating at about 87.5 this year. Also keep in mind, that a good proportional tstat is key. The Helix DBS1000 is internally calibrated to .25 of a degree but the display reads in full degrees. The Herpstat ND has an internal resolution of .11 degrees and is accurate to .9. It displays in tenths of a degree. Another thing to realize is that most thermometers including the Accurite and the PEs have a tolerance of +-3 degrees. That is a big number and all the more reason to choose a quality tstat and trust it to get the job done.
You are right I am also using the herpstat pro. Depending on where you live and how your room is set up, temps can change alot. Here in cali we have 50 at night and up to 90 during the day, anyway your temps are also on the lower end which gives you a little cushion for heating up. I'm not talking about a spike but gradual heat up. If your at 90 and it goes up 3-4 degress for a prolonged time you could have problems.
Re: Best incubator teperature?
With some t stats you will have a 1-2 degree temp swing and thats OK, I think its very important to incubate on the cooler side. like 87-88* that way if your temps creep up on a warm day. you wont kill the eggs with excessive temperatures. something else I see alot of people doing is playing with the eggs......constantly opening the incubator up to check on them, candleing them every week. just leave them alone and let them develope and hatch. :)
Re: Best incubator teperature?
Quote:
Originally Posted by ECLARK
With some t stats you will have a 1-2 degree temp swing and thats OK, I think its very important to incubate on the cooler side. like 87-88* that way if your temps creep up on a warm day. you wont kill the eggs with excessive temperatures. something else I see alot of people doing is playing with the eggs......constantly opening the incubator up to check on them, candleing them every week. just leave them alone and let them develope and hatch. :)
That's my wife. Wants to candle them all the time. LOL Just let them hatch in peace!
Re: Best incubator teperature?
Quote:
Originally Posted by westcoastjungle
That's my wife. Wants to candle them all the time. LOL Just let them hatch in peace!
No candling here. I have a bit of superstition and I don't really need to know. Ball Python breeding is very much about patience and I find that leaving them alone exercises my patience and in the long run will make me less of a lunatic (or not).
Re: Best incubator teperature?
Quote:
Originally Posted by ECLARK
With some t stats you will have a 1-2 degree temp swing and thats OK, I think its very important to incubate on the cooler side. like 87-88* that way if your temps creep up on a warm day. you wont kill the eggs with excessive temperatures. something else I see alot of people doing is playing with the eggs......constantly opening the incubator up to check on them, candleing them every week. just leave them alone and let them develope and hatch. :)
Excellent post ED!!!! :sweeet:
-adam
Re: Best incubator teperature?
OK.... while we're on the subject, my humidity in the tubs dropped to 50%? So I added enough water to THE SIDES of the Verm. This got it back up to 80-85%.... humidity. Should I continue to add water till it gets back up to 100%?
Re: Best incubator teperature?
Gentle spanking for Laooda...... the humidity does not have to be at 100% all the time, if you mix the vermiculite and water properly at the start...there is no need to add water. thats why I like a generous 50/50 mixture. and I also would like to recommend not peeking and opening the incubator all the time. another good idea would be to add a couple bowls of water to inside the incubator, they will do wonders to keep the humidity up. just relax and let those eggs cook. I want to see your baby ball pythons.........True.:P
Quote:
Originally Posted by Laooda
OK.... while we're on the subject, my humidity in the tubs dropped to 50%? So I added enough water to THE SIDES of the Verm. This got it back up to 80-85%.... humidity. Should I continue to add water till it gets back up to 100%?
Re: Best incubator teperature?
Re: Best incubator teperature?
Quote:
Originally Posted by westcoastjungle
It depends on the incubator and how much temps change outside incubator. Most incubators heat but don't cool. So if you are at the higher end of temps and room heats up, the incubator heats up too and may get too hot. I like to keep mine at 88 so I have room if the room should heat up.
I ran into this problem with my converted frige. When the room would heat up to 80 during some days the incubator temps would read over 95! I fixed the problem by venting the incubator out with some 3/8 holes drilled in the back and sides it's been spot on ever since even with room temps changing 70-81 degrees
Re: Best incubator teperature?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Larry Suttles
I ran into this problem with my converted frige. When the room would heat up to 80 during some days the incubator temps would read over 95! I fixed the problem by venting the incubator out with some 3/8 holes drilled in the back and sides it's been spot on ever since even with room temps changing 70-81 degrees
Very good to know. This is also why they suggest testing your incubator out for weeks even a month or so before your expecting eggs. It'll be easier and less stressful to make changes with our eggs in it.
Re: Best incubator teperature?
Thanks everyone.. I appreciate it :)
Re: Best incubator teperature?
I am glad that you got the problem fixed Larry. It sounds like it is going to hold the heat now.
Brock Wagner:sabduel:
Re: Best incubator teperature?
man it's dialed in big time! Today I had an 11 degree swing (70-81) in the room that houses the incubator and the incubator only varied .5 degrees. I drilled three 3/8'' holes in the back and sides and it's holding temps just about perfect.