Making an Incubator ?

This next breeding season I am going to attempt to breed 3 of my females. So I need an incubator. I have a small freezer that I am wanting to convert into one. I LOVE making things....

I found this link that pretty much explains everything....

http://www.arbreptiles.com/cages/incubator.shtml

I know that I need some type of thermostat for it. In the reading it talks about using a ZooMed Repti-Temp 500R. However I have heard both good / bad things about them. So I am a bit nervous.

What my main question is....what would be an awesome thermostat for this incubator. I was looking into the Ranco ETC-111000

If you need a pic of the freezer that will be converted please let me know

Thank you

I would recommend Herpstat or Helix. Both are high end thermostats and are proportional. A proportional thermostat will maintain a much more steady temp. I'm personally using Herpstat. Obviously, for an incubator, you don't need the night drop feature!!!

Steve

I currently use a Helix for my rack system but wasn't sure about the incubator. I love the Helix so I think I will go that direction for the eggs. Deffinantly don't want anything to happen to the little beauties.

Thank you so much... :sunny:

I think when I breed I'm gonna let nature do what it does best, and let mama incubate the eggs, just my opinion but you can do what ever you'd like..
EDIT
sorry lol i didn't even read the question, I would use a herpstat, I love mine :D
END EDIT

Sorry to highjack the thread but do any breeders let mama take care of the eggs?

Yeah, having steady temperatures with no spikes is SO important for eggs, go with a reliable proportional thermostat.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Brimstone111888

Sorry to highjack the thread but do any breeders let mama take care of the eggs?

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Not generally... the survival rate is much higher with artificial incubation vs. maternal incubation, and since lots of babies is the goal... well, I'll let you put the pieces together. :-D

Can't beat a Herpstat pro!!! It's a bargain considering it's really 4 stats in one. Run 3 racks and a bator on it if you want.

That link was awsomely helpful :rockon: I had been looking for something to explain how to make an incubator out of a fridge cause I have a 3ft mini fridge that has no general use and I was wanting to make it into an incubator by time the next season came around.If I do breed I probably wouldnt have more than 3 clutches so that'd be perfect if I can get that thing going by then, Now I needto find some heat tape and a thermo.

If you need a good source for heat tape and a ranco go to reptilebasics.com. Rich took good care of me, I ordered flexwatt and connections and he pre-wired everything for free, and the ranco could be pre-wired also. I almost have my incubator finished, all that is left is wiring the computer fan and fabricating a bracket I can hang it from the top near the ceiling. I have a herpstat pro but i bought the ranco to use as a backup. I put everything into a Pepsi cooler with a glass door. If anyone would like pics then PM me and I can send some out. It is going to be fairly inexpensive in comparison to others made out there.

I forgot to mention I ordered on Tuesday at 3:00 PM and everything was on my door the next day by noon.

kyote19 - Glad to help. I also have a mini fridge that I am wanting to convert, but then I am not sure if I should just go ahead and do a full size fridge.

Good luck on your Mini Fridge!! :gj:

l791020 - Thank you for your recommendation, I will definitely look into it.

Thank you!

I found that site a while back. I made one just like that only not the same type of fridge. Mine has worked great. The only thing i would say if you can try to find some kind of upright freezer alot more room. I want to breed a few more females this year maybe. The incubator i have now will be to small. I use the Helix DBS 1000 and it has worked great. I have a 4 foot piece of 11 inch wide heat tape. It runs down the back of the fridge Here are a few pics of how mine is setup. Not the best pics. Im going to be getting a huge upright freezer to use next year. Anyways heres some crappy pics.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...7/100_6993.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...7/100_6989.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...7/100_6988.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...7/100_6985.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...7/100_6982.jpg

Like i said not the best looking incubator but it works great. I need something taller. So i can fit more egg boxes in it. Ive used it for corn eggs ball eggs and leopard gecko eggs thats whats in the pics. I wouldnt go out an buy a new fridge or anything like that. You can check with the stores that sell them. Most of the time when they sell a new one and drop it off at your house they will take away the old one. Most of the stores have to pay to get rid of them. Check around make some calls. See if any of them have any used one that dont work. If you pick it up most of the places should just give it to you. Thats how i got two of them. Ended up using just the one. One more thing think about the mini fridge thing. Next year or the year after you might want to breed more. You will need something bigger. Good to start out with something bigger than you need then you can grow into it. Yah you might not need a 7 foot tall upright freezer this year or next. But someday maybe. just something to think about.

Helix T-stats are awesome. Mine never failed me. I built my successful incubator out of a large (roughly 2.5 foot by 1.5 foot rectanglar) styro cooler. I used 2 feet of flexwatt atop a flourescent-light grid thingie below the egg tubs. I placed small soda bottles filled with water under the grid atop the FW to provide ballast to store heat when the top was opened. Then the boxes atop the grid.. bottles alongside them.. and it worked awesome. I did melt a few airholes into the egg boxes (r-maid) because there was alot of condensation and I did nto want it to drip onto the eggs, and it did not.
You can buy prewired FW from reptilebasics.. this is what I did.