so completely fed up..

I am ready to pull my hair out. 5 of the 6 eggs laid on may first are bad; turning yellow, foul smelling. I swear I started crying when I looked in on them today.
The stupid, god-awful piece of Junk incubator had spiked from 88.7 (it was at that temp for a few days right-on) to 101 degrees on last Saturday morning. I have no idea why; temps in the house were at a stable, unwavering 71 degrees and the incubator was fine for a few days. Then this *&^ spike.. I bet it is what got them. They were all brilliant looking when laid, but I admit I did not candle them because I lost my flashlight.. but the substrate is not too moist nor dry.. Granted, one of the eggs looks better and whiter, but I am just so completely disgusted and ready to just sell everything and quit in a way somewhat.
After the spike, I set the inc. back to where it goes and it has been at a nice 88.7 degrees now like nothing happened. I bought a new inc. by the same name last friday before the spike.. I am so mixed up now and afraid to even use these anymore; they are similar to hovabator but made by Little Giant.
I am just at my wit's end. Ginger is in her prelay shed now, so I have some time to maybe splugre out money that I don't have and buy a better incubator; any fast suggestions? I really would rather use an industrial-type kind but don't know where to start looking, besides ebay where I started looking.. help please.. :( :( :( I am going to contact a local breeder I know of and see if he ahs any up for sale.. man am I disgusted.

O sweetie... I'm so sorry. Maybe they weren't fertile to begin with? Considering the last one is doing ok???? (((HUGGGGGS))) L


Hey, Wolfy mentioned that she really likes the Nature's Spirit .... And I've got a Avey that seems to be completely stable...

Again, sorry. :(

www.nsreptiles.com . Give Casey a call and maybe he can get you something quickly.

Jen


I am so sorry to hear this ... don't get too frustrated. I am sure every breeder that has been doing it for a while has had things like this happen. As far as an incubator, I would call Casey Hulse (Natures Spirit) and see if he could get something to you quickly. I know its a little more $$, but I would sure think its worth it if you can afford it right now.

:hug:

Neil

Man I type slow .....

Sorry to hear about that Jen. Don't get discouraged though. Somtimes poop happens. I wish I could give out some incubator info, but I have only had experience with hommade. It sounds like you got some good direction from Neil and Jamie.
Chin Up,

Man do I wish I had some money now; I have been spending away on wedding things.. deposit for the hall, dress.. argh. I mean, the hovabator is now at the strady temp, but that spike might have done the trick to kill the eggs.. here's the thing; 5 of them are bunched together (were laid that way) and they're the ones that look bad; the one that was seperate, is better looking. It looks like one of them is bad and the yellow is spreading from it to the others.. but I need to add, there is not condensation that is dripping onto them. I checked for that first thing, but there is none.
I did switch containers on the day that the temps spiked in the evening. I just figured that the incubator would keep it at the right temp, and I watched it for a few hours before bedtime.. then I awoke to the temp spike. Now it has been steady since then, and I am not wanting to move them around anymore..
I might have to just sign up for a new credit card or something; I really want a nice incubator.

Jen...the Nature Spirits are really nice...if the cost it tough I am sure some of us can help with plans to build one. I know both Tim and I have built them and I am sure there are others...just let us know how we can help. :)

oh gosh I'm so sorry :( Keep us posted on how things are going...

Jen,
So sorry. I know its hard to keep your head up but it happens in anything. If it was easy no one would feel the joy we do. If you need any help building a home made please dont hesitate to ask. You can do it for about 100 bucks with an old fridge some flex watt and a ranco.

hang in there

Sorry about your eggs...I lost my first clutch to a Hovabator...

You could probably get away with running the incubator through a Helix instead of relying on the factory thermostat...

I use Safety Hatch incubators from Big Apple Herp. They are about 500 dollars. I don't use their thermostat though...I use Helix on mine...I also added a dimmer to the fan, it was a little too much plugged straight in the wall...

http://coldbloodedaddiction.com/site...11.jpg-med.jpg

The reason I recommended a prebuilt incubator is that in my opinion, it is a bit late in the game to mess around with building an incubator. I suppose that is an option too though.

I do not think that Ginger is going to lay for a few more weeks. here is our plan. Mark cleans out old apartments, and he can bring home a small old fridge tomorrow. Then we can go to Markheim's (a really cool local pet store in Buffalo) and get the FW.. might have to get a thermo overnited.. but we can do this. In case she does lay tomorrow or something, I have a fan heater that I can use to heat our spare closet to the right temp; it was always good at keeping our bedroom at the right temp no matter how the house was..
but the hova is good now.. part of me jsut wants to get the second one up to the right temp, move these eggs into that one and keep this one going for Ginger's clutch

Aww I'm sorry you had to go through this. :(


Home made ones will take more time to get ready probably but if you have the spare bits lying around its a good store room backup at least.

Mine is only an old fishtank insulated with 1" polystyrene filled with water 1/3 of the way up and with an aquarium heater in the water and a tray above for the eggs container to sit on. It won't be as stable as the purpose built professional 'bators but mine would have cost me the best part of about $80 tops to buy the stuff new.

If anything it was slightly too cool but the humidity is obviously not a problem.

fingers crossed for the other egg.


dr del

Sounds like a good plan Jen. I built a homemade one out of a full size fridge and it holds temps great. Dee just does not like how big it is so we bought a natures spirit one. The one I built holds temps and humidity just as well, if not better. Its now being used to incubate chicken eggs in the garage ... :oops: .


I hope it works out for you, keep us updated.

Neil

Gen two in a row. Sweet heart I am so sorry may be that last one will pull through and be the hottest pastel the world has ever laid eyes one.. Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.

sucks about the eggs, I really am sorry to hear it... but you live and you learn right? like someone else said, if it was easy everyone would do it.
I'm glad you're gonna try and get something more stable running and I wish you the best of luck

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ginevive

I am ready to pull my hair out. I am just so completely disgusted and ready to just sell everything and quit in a way somewhat.

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Please don't! You are an important part of the community and a very caring keeper. I will help in any way you ask. Just let me know. Chris

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ginevive

Mark cleans out old apartments, and he can bring home a small old fridge tomorrow. Then we can go to Markheim's (a really cool local pet store in Buffalo) and get the FW.. might have to get a thermo overnited.. but we can do this.

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This is a great plan and will make a great incubator for you!! Keep your chin up and don't let this get you down!! You can also do the same thing with an old cooler if the fridge doesn't work out. ;)

You guys are seriously the best people ever. :) I am let down, but I know that it is all because of that temperature spike.. I am still pulling for that remaining egg that still looks OK..
I am going to go substratelesss with this next batch. I have the perfect container that seals and even has a plastic grid that comes with it; I plan on putting a fireplace brick (about an inch high) in, with water, then the grate on top of that. Sound good?
Now Mark just has to get the fridge today; he might have a chest-type old freezer he could get.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ginevive

I plan on putting a fireplace brick (about an inch high) in, with water, then the grate on top of that. Sound good?
.

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I use this same method...I would suggest you put some peralite in the water...it keeps it from sloshing around when you move the boxes to check on the eggs. Also you want the water to come up just below the grate but not touching it (say 1/8 inch below it):)

Good Luck and keep your chin up.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ginevive

Now Mark just has to get the fridge today; he might have a chest-type old freezer he could get.

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If you can get a freezer it is better insulated than a fridge.. but a fridge is just as good. The hard part is finding one. Once you have that it will take you about 2 hours to make.

For cheap fans take apart some old CPU's in the power units. When you wire them up make sure you use the correct volts.. most are 12v DC. You can get that plug at Radio shack and wire it in. It will convert the 120 down to 12V. Or, If you dont have any fans, Radio shack sells 120V and 12 V fans. The best part about the 120V is no special converter.

Just throwing some cost saving ideas at you.. please dont hesitate to ask for help

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sevo

Jen,
If it was easy no one would feel the joy we do.

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That may very well be one of the best quotes I've read in a long time. Very well put Sevo.

And Jen, just my two cents on the chest type freezer. Be aware that if you turn this into an incubator, you stand a good chance of loosing alot of heat whenever you open it, as the cool air will rush to the bottom and force all of the warm air out. My suggestion would be to make sure you fill the bottom of the freezer with some kind of containers filled with water, to aid in holding heat and reheating the incubator once the door is closed again. I'm not saying that this type of freezer won't work, but be cognizant of the extra precautions that may need to be taken.

Sorry to here that GIn, regarding incubators have a look at my website it shows you how to make a homemade one! I'm not trying to plug my sight just trying to help out so please no nasties from anyone.

The web address is www.ukballpythons.com

Hm; I will def. keep that inmind about the chest freezer Tim. I am hoping he can find an older-fashioned smaller fridge.. or maybe even an apartment sized one. That is definately something that I didn't think about. :)
I feel a little better today; last night it was just so depressing. But I know that it is not over, and we will work through this.

I've got a little giant also and have used it to hatch many eggs. I don't use it anymore, but when I did, I threw away the bottom of the incubator and used a styrofoam fish box for the bottom. I was a lot deeper and larger then the old bottom and I could use a larger plastic box in which to hold the eggs. A larger area will help protect against sudden spikes and drops in temperature. It doesn't take much to heat up the smaller area that is present when you use the bottom that the incubator came with.

Mark

Sorry to hear that, sounds like a hovabator to me?

Hang in there! We all have problems sometimes, and it's hard, but we are all pulling for you because we all know you'll do great! I do really like the Nature's Spirit incubators, and the folks over there are top notch.
Wolfy

Thanks again everyone. You all are helping me stay sane through this..

Quote:

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Originally Posted by muddoc

That may very well be one of the best quotes I've read in a long time. Very well put Sevo.

And Jen, just my two cents on the chest type freezer. Be aware that if you turn this into an incubator, you stand a good chance of loosing alot of heat whenever you open it, as the cool air will rush to the bottom and force all of the warm air out. My suggestion would be to make sure you fill the bottom of the freezer with some kind of containers filled with water, to aid in holding heat and reheating the incubator once the door is closed again. I'm not saying that this type of freezer won't work, but be cognizant of the extra precautions that may need to be taken.

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Tim is right...but an idea I saw was to take it and turn it on end...so the door opens like a normal door (since you don't need the compressor there is no issue doing this)...then install one of these plastic or metal wire shelving units inside to hold the eggs.

Keep us posted.

Keep your chin up, my first clutch which was unexpected, was set up poorly on my part and last minute, all of them ended up dying, so this year i was determined to get it to work, i def had some problems, but looking back to what i did last year i was able to fix the problem. Everything happens for a reason, and you have to be willing to learn from your mistakes. I know from your posts you are very passionate about your animals, it sounds to me that you are on the right track, keep pluggin and it will work out.


~mike