Hova-bator... yes or no?

[Lolo76]

I've ordered a ZooMed Reptibator, and I'll let everyone know how it performs this season.

I will be anxious to hear about that one, since I considered buying it... soooo much easier to get something pre-made, but finances just didn't allow it this season. Hopefully next winter I'll have more money! If the ZooMed turns out to be iffy, I really want one of these: http://www.reptipro.com/supplies/inc...incubator.html

[CA cowgirl]

That one seems pretty polished for $249. Nice find.

[Lolo76]

That one seems pretty polished for $249. Nice find.

Yeah, and you can get it for only $200 on eBay...

[ChadOwens]

or $129... http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog/...148-incubator/

P.S. - I have had eggs in a hova-bator for a few weeks now. Put the prob in the egg tub on a herp stat and get about 1 degree temp fluctuation in the egg tub.

[Jason Bowden]

I think they work fine. Something with a digital thermostat would be more acurate, but keeping track of your incubator temps keeps you involved until they hatch. A small clutch probablely won't require adjusting the hovabator thermostat at all. Multiple clutches in one hovabator will require some adjusting along the way when the eggs develop and create heat.

[PurplePython]

no go to costco buy a 165 qt marine cooler 74 bucks a god aquarium heat 30 buck much better , also thermotat and your set for many clutches

What do you mean by a aquarium heat 30 buck? lol

Sorry, I am confused. Do you mean just a regular heating pad or what?

[CA cowgirl]

Thank you Jason for your pictures... makes me look forward to when I'll get the chance to breed my albino/het pair.

or $129... http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog/...148-incubator/

P.S. - I have had eggs in a hova-bator for a few weeks now. Put the prob in the egg tub on a herp stat and get about 1 degree temp fluctuation in the egg tub.

Has anyone used the ReptiPro 5000/MR-148 (same incubator, but off LLLReptile.com site)?

I ask because the
Interior Dimensions: 9.5" x 10.5" x 14.5"

What size and how many tubs/trays can you fit into this machine?

And did you know, the incubator is:
• For home or car – includes 2 adapters

So when your eggs are due to hatch, you can take them to work and watch them pip! LOL, that's actually kinda cool, but still funny.

[Gavin Cooper]

I ended up getting a free mini-fridge on Craigslist, and have converted it into a decent incubator... still need to add an A/C fan and I guess a few water bottles, but it seems to be working okay! Only problem is that I had the thermostat (Repti-temp 500R) cranked up all the way, and inside temps aren't getting higher than 84-ish. I think I'll switch thermostats, using my Herpstat on the incubator - since the Repti-temp should be fine on one of the racks. Here are some photos of the project:

I think the problem you are having is not enough flexwatt. If you are using 11" flexwatt you will need to use 1ft of flexwatt/ 1cu ft of fridge space.
So looking at your fridge it looks to be about 3 cu ft bar size fridge. Therefore you will need at least 3ft of flexwatt. Not to mention that the more heat tape you use the less your t-stat needs to work in order to keep temps up and your flexwatt will run cooler and not at full power. The idea is to run your flexwatt at the temp you want the incubator to be at. You don't want it running at 100+ degrees to maintain temps for you.

My Herpstat runs at about 10% power on my incubator..


Gavin

[CA cowgirl]

Any updates?

[WingedWolfPsion]

Repti-Bator = Not worth it.
It simply doesn't hold humidity well. I tried siliconing the holes, and it still won't go above 80% humidity.

For $20 more you could just get a Hovabator with a Herpstat.

That's what I'm going to stick with from now on. I've thought over the options...if I use one giant incubator, then a single equipment failure could cause me to lose everything. If I stack a bunch of Hovabators controlled by separate thermostats, I don't have that issue.

Using substrateless incubation, I've had fantastic hatch rates this year, and I can fit up to 5 ball python clutches in a single Hovabator.