Mini fridge incubator, opinions needed...

[axeman569]

I used a wine fridge, the kind with a glass door. I have 2' of 11" flexwatt and mine gets plenty warm. Can't answer about the fan though. Mine holds temps well and doesn't take too long to back up to temp after the door is opened. Hope that helps.

[PythonWallace]

Looks good. I think you'll appreciate having the light in there. I wouldn't leave it on, but even during the day it is pretty hard to see inside the egg boxes without a light inside the incubator.

[Boanerges]

Nice looking! I made an incubator out of a reddi wip industrial fridge, and used 4 ft of 11". Complete overkill, but it is hooked up to a herpstat. I have test ran it MANY times, without any problems...actually use it to thaw rats haha.. My fan is hooked to the herpstat right now, but won't be when I use it for incubation. I would keep the 3ft. What do you have it hooked to?

As for the fan, I guess you could put a switch for it, though I really don't think you will be opening the 'bator up all that often, and with 3" of heat tape, it wont take long to get back to your target temp.

I do not have a thermostat yet as I will not be breeding this year but DEFINATELY next year. I plan on getting a herpstat or helix though.

looks good. what thickness is the acrylic and did you seal around it? thinner acrylic will lose heat faster and if not sealed around it, heat loss will be greater. i prefer 2 fans even in smaller applications. one pointing up and one point down to circulate the air inside of the bator better. i did this in my super small cooler bator and it worked great.

i like the light idea! you can see the egg boxes without opening the bator.

I have no idea what thickness the the plexiglass is. But I did seal it really well on the outside with silicone before I put the screws on and on the inside around the edges where the hole meets the plexiglass. I was thinking about adding a second pc. of plexiglass on the inside of the door but I wasn't sure if I really needed it or not.

[JMartin]

I have no idea what thickness the the plexiglass is. But I did seal it really well on the outside with silicone before I put the screws on and on the inside around the edges where the hole meets the plexiglass. I was thinking about adding a second pc. of plexiglass on the inside of the door but I wasn't sure if I really needed it or not.

I would put another piece on the inside.... This will create an air pocket betweent the two pieces which works the same way as a storm window, and will keep the temps up and more stable inside your incubator.

Good job with the incubator though... I'm hunting a mini fridge to make one similar to this one myself.

[MAballs]

How did you wire the fan?

[Falconsmith]

How did you wire the fan?

Second that.

[iCandiBallPythons]

Nice lookin bator Boany, the next pic you post should be filled up with eggs right my man!

[spk329]

Looks like a great job ....... Hope you fill it up this year

[RichsBallPythons]

Yea lights are not needed, as itll just cause over gawking and restless wiating for hatching.

On a side note i how ever would move the fan to the top, to blow the hot air back down to the bottom to circulate the rising heat.


As long as your using a good thermostat, 3 ft of flexwatt wont harm anything, but rather cause it to heat up/ stabilize faster.

[jsmorphs2]

I have the same mini fridge set up (3' x 11" flex watt & computer fan), minus the plexi front and the fan is at the top. It worked great! Only a .5 degree fluctuation. Used the regular Herpstat to run it.

I also think you should add a second piece of plexi on the inside and seal it well. That way you will have an air pocket to insulate it better and keep the temps as stable as possible. Nice to be able to see inside with out opening the door for those "I have to look, I have to look, I have to look!" kind of days .

A light is a great idea! I found my self removing the tub all the way to get a good look inside. It was dark.

All-in-all, looks great!!