Maybe a slightly weird question... (about incubators)

[sorraia]

I am at least a year away from being able to breed any snakes, more realistically probably a couple years. But I'm reading up and keeping my eyes open for deals. So I understand you can build your own incubator, but you can also buy them pre-made. I found a Hovabator on Craigslist for $25, which looks like a decent price (ad says new, but even if it's used the cheapest I could find online in a quick search was $50). Some reading I've done reveals these may not be great for ball pythons, but general reviews I've been reading say they are great for chickens and other poultry (some issues reported, but looks like it isn't anything a good thermostat can't fix).

So my questions...

What is YOUR experience or opinion on the Hovabator?
What pre-made incubator would YOU recommend?
If you know anything about poultry, is there an incubator (either pre-made or self-made) you would recommend for both poultry and ball pythons?

I do have chickens, and I do sometimes hatch chickens, and might some day try quail too. Considering that, if there's an incubator I could use for both (well sanitized in between of course! or would thorough sanitation not be possible?) poultry and ball pythons, that'd be great. Even if I couldn't use this Hovabator for ball pythons, I might get it just for poultry, but I want to see what my other options might be before I commit.

Thanks in advance!

[Freakie_frog]

I have seen more people than I care to remember have major issues with hovabators. My suggestion is to use this next year to get the stuff together to make yourself a good cooler bator.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

The last thing I would trust my eggs to is an hovabator, even if you were you would still need a RELIABLE thermostat as the one from the hovabator cannot be trusted.

In an incubator the single most important part is a RELIABLE thermostat, that maintain temps and prevent them from fluctuating.

There are many people making their own incubator using styrofoam cooler, regular coolers or fridge.

The thermostat I would recommend is Herpstat as for the incubator I would say either build your own (it's easy) or buy one, and if you do get the one you can grow into, buying an incubator that is too small because you will only have 1 or 2 clutches the first year is something you will regret and have to upgrade very fast.

As far as manufactured incubators I would recommend http://nsreptiles.com/incubators

There are other on the market as well

http://boamaster.com/products/incubator1-140-0.html

http://www.hotboxincubators.com/

And if the price scares you making your own is still the best option you can easily build an incubator holding 30 clutches for less then $175 (your t-stat being your biggest investment)

[willieshotg3]

i made my own out of a broken stand up deep freeze someone at my work gave me...oulled out the coils sealed it up and put flexwatt in it with a herpastat and a fan to keep air circulating

[Badgemash]

The thermostat I would recommend is Herpstat...
As far as manufactured incubators I would recommend http://nsreptiles.com/incubators

I agree completely on these two items. I have the NS incubator (this year was my first clutch) and I'm very happy with it. To be fair I had several cases of water in there with my one box of eggs, but it held temps beautifully, and the hole for the probe placement makes it a lot harder to get yourself into an overheating situation caused by the probe falling out.

As far as poultry incubators go, I don't see any reason one wouldn't work as long as you can disable the thing that turns the eggs.

[Tribal]

the momma comes with a built in incubator

[SlitherinSisters]

Never use a hovabator for reptiles.


I can't tell you how many people I have told not to use a hovabator, but they do it anyhow, and they kill all of their eggs. They just aren't made for reptile eggs, they get way too hot, and they aren't even close to stable enough for reptile eggs. I'm not trying to be rude, I'm just saying it to hopefully deter a few more people. I also incubate poultry eggs, chickens, ducks, turkens, turkies, geese, and pheasants. Poultry is fine in a hovabator because they can handle temp fluctuations.

As for what you should use. Build/make your own. You can make one out of an old fridge/freezer or a cooler if you really want to. All you need is some heat tape/flexwatt/whatever, a computer fan, and a thermostat. It will maybe cost you $150-$175 depending on how nice of a thermostat you buy. You will want a proportional thermostat, not a rheostat. Rheostats turn off and on to keep the temp, proportional thermostats run at the necessary temp nonstop. Keeping the temps stable is your main concern.

[sorraia]

Thank you for all the input, I appreciate it! I did email the seller, to hatch poultry eggs if nothing else, but haven't heard back so guess it isn't meant to be.

I'll look a little more into building my own incubator. I don't really have the room for another refrigerator/freezer, so as long as a cooler is suitable, I can do that. I'll look at manufactured incubators a little bit more too, and figure out later what will work best. I have all the time in the world to figure it all out, but good thing I'm starting now so i can ask these questions and be prepared. I'm all for finding a good deal, but I am also not going to be cheap at the expense of my animals.

[sorraia]

So I've been casually browsing craigslist and other ads to see if I can find a super cheap used mini fridge, and another thought struck me...

How big does it need to be?



I know I should get bigger than I plan to need, but I also don't have room for a full size refrigerator. I've never seen a clutch of ball python eggs, so I don't even know how much space they take up.

[S.I.R.]

If you are going to make your own incubator and do not have space for a full size freezer/refrigerator, I would suggest looking for a used wine cooler. You will want the taller model not the counter top one. Very easy to work with and takes up minimal space. We have a Nature's Spirit, plus two we built ourselves(wine cooler size and used glass door vending machine). Good luck and hope this helps!