Incubator Question

[King-Godzilla]

Currently, I'm saving money until next year when I will then buy some bp's and supplies for keeping and breeding them, and I was wondering about the best incubators to get that aren't too expensive. I'm on a bit of a budget and I suck at trying diy stuff, so I want to buy some and want to know which reptile incubators are good and reasonably priced (not over $200 preferably).

I'm not going to get a bunch right away because the bp's I'd be getting would be babies/juvies and as of right now my 5 are ready to breed, so I think I can get the incubators slowly over time.

I was curious about the ones made by Zoo Med and Exo Terra. Are they any good?

[mues155]

honestly a diy incubator is the way to go. Im not very crafty with things like this either but its not so bad.
If your planning on breeding 5 clutches a year theres no way you could buy an incubator for $200 to suit those needs, unless you diy.
Just look into the dyi section on the forums and see if its something you'd like to do because really thats your best option for that many clutches.

[snake lab]

The only answer for you is a diy incubator. Go to the dump and pick up a stand up freezer. Then get 2 strips of 11 inch flexwatt, a small electronics d/c fan at radio shack, wire shelving from homedepot that you can cut to fit and a thermostat. Done
Freezer from dump-free
Flexwatt wired and cliped- 50.00
Shelving and clips - 30.00
Fan - 25.00
Thermostat (helix, spyder) 100.00

[mr.spooky]

The only answer for you is a diy incubator. Go to the dump and pick up a stand up freezer. Then get 2 strips of 11 inch flexwatt, a small electronics d/c fan at radio shack, wire shelving from homedepot that you can cut to fit and a thermostat. Done
Freezer from dump-free
Flexwatt wired and cliped- 50.00
Shelving and clips - 30.00
Fan - 25.00
Thermostat (helix, spyder) 100.00

true that!! and if your lucky, maby you can find a old "coke" cooler. the shelves are there, the fan is there,,, they even come wth a light fixture in them so there is no need to open the door,,, just put a toggle swich in line.. there kinda fun to build, and youll have more than enough space!
spooky

[loonunit]

for one or two clutches you can do DIY with just a cooler, and them move everything to a stand up fridge when you have more eggs in a year or two. The big expenditure here is the thermostat--I've got a Vivarium Electronics model, it was about $150, and it held my incubator at a rock solid 89F. Then it's just heat tape and water bottles and Hatchrite and egg tubs, and that's all cheap.

But whether you use a cooler or a fridge, make sure you do put lots of full water bottles in the the bottom with your heat tape... they add heat capacity. Water takes a long time to heat up, and a long time to cool down. Water bottles plus a good thermostat is what keeps you from every having to worry about temperature spikes.