Hova-bator... yes or no?

[ted1025]

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

I know this is a little old but def agree with this post. My incubator fridge looks identical in size to yours and I have 3 feet of flexwatt in mine and the temp set at 89 and the temp holds perfect with the flexwatt barely having to run.

Also I took out the freezer part at the top to make it bigger, hold more clutches

[Hulihzack]

Been using a Hovabator for about a month now with no issues at all. As long as you keep an eye on the temps and adjust as needed, it's perfectly functional. I only had to adjust it after adding a clutch.

[WingedWolfPsion]

Oh, also--The Reptibator, being about the same size as a Hovabator, is not large enough to fit 2 standard 6 quart boxes into. This means it holds just one clutch, if you box them separately. You can't set the clutches directly into the base the way you do with a Hovabator, because it doesn't hold humidity.

It's probably fine for leopard gecko eggs.

[Brandon Osborne]

I have hatched everything from chondros to kingsnakes to blood pythons in Hovabators. They are great. In one year, with several modified Hovabators, I hatched 15 clutches of Burmese, 3 clutches of Bloods, 2 Clutches of Indians, 3 clutches of Sri Lankans, 2 clutches of Macklotts, ummmm there were more but that was several years ago. They work great. No need for a $100 thermostat. You can get by with a $30 Penn thermostat from Granger Supply. I've had well-known chondro breeders flat-out call me a liar when I told them I hatched 3 clutches of chondros in one. Good luck.

[piedplus]

Which Hova-bator's best? With or without a fan? Sounds like a good product to start out with.