Which temps are better for incubation?

[highqualityballz]

In my hotbox incubator when I set the temp to 89 on my VE thermostat, my 2 thermometers read 88.5-88.8f but when I set at 90f I get dead on 90f-90.3f on my thermometers. Probe is in middle of incubator, I have thermometer next to tstat probe and another thermometer in dummy egg box. No eggs yet but am expecting them in a few weeks, just trying to test everything out and get everything ready. Should I keep tstat at 89 and get those 88.5-88.8 or 90 and get the 90-90.3? Thanks

[John1982]

I always like to err on the cooler side. A few degrees cooler, they just take a little longer to hatch. A few degrees too hot, you've got a mess of potential issues that could arise. I set my python eggs at 87F but my incubator has a 1-2 degree fluctuation over the course of a couple months so I'm simply trying to keep from going over 90F.

[highqualityballz]

I always like to err on the cooler side. A few degrees cooler, they just take a little longer to hatch. A few degrees too hot, you've got a mess of potential issues that could arise. I set my python eggs at 87F but my incubator has a 1-2 degree fluctuation over the course of a couple months so I'm simply trying to keep from going over 90F.

So you think I should set it at 89 for the 88.5-88.8 instead of the 90?

[rlditmars]

I agree with John1982. I used to incubate at 89 to 90 and found that while my babies hatched around day 54, many of them had poor feeding responses. I had to assist feed as many as half of the clutch before they eventually ate on their own. I dropped my temps down to 87 and while the hatch date was protracted at between day 62 and 64, I haven't had to assist feed a single animal since. Now I realize I have a small sample size but my experience is such that I will not go back to higher temps. Best of luck whatever you decide.

[bcr229]

I agree with John1982. I used to incubate at 89 to 90 and found that while my babies hatched around day 54, many of them had poor feeding responses. I had to assist feed as many as half of the clutch before they eventually ate on their own. I dropped my temps down to 87 and while the hatch date was protracted at between day 62 and 64, I haven't had to assist feed a single animal since. Now I realize I have a small sample size but my experience is such that I will not go back to higher temps. Best of luck whatever you decide.

This is how I do mine. I haven't incubated at higher temps so I can't speak to the assist-feeding issue, except that I've never had to assist feed a ball python hatchling.