Stupid incubator question/comment

[don15681]

what is the sand for? perlite/vermiculite was used as it holds moisture really well. if you're soaking it with so much water that you need a light diffuser, then the purpose it was used for isn't there anymore. I also use light grids. the first year I used perlite with the grids. now after some thought, I now zip-tie pvc tubing to the light grid. the pvc is about 1 inch in diameter holding the grid up out of the water. the only thing that the perlite did for me was when I take the eggs out to check on them. the perlite prevented splashing of the water (moving the egg tub). without the perlite, I don't have a problem with the eggs getting wet. and if you do splash, and the eggs do get wet. they will be ok. it's the eggs being constantly wet that causes problems.

thermostats. this is the most important piece of equipment you have for this hobby. why go cheap? if you can't afford about a 130 dollar thermostat, then you should get a hamster instead. haven't you read about all the fires? and those breeders were using good equipment! most likely why spyder robotics (manufactures the herpstat) came out with their new line of thermostats that has more safety features to help prevent this. heat tape, heat cable ect.. was used for many years to help keep water pipes from freezing in the winter time. Trailers with the air space under them has a big problem with this. many trailers burnt to the ground cause of heat tape. if you don't buy a quality thermostat for your reptiles, buy it for the added safety for your family. one thing I've learned in life, you pretty much get what you pay for.

and the 500r, the one I had was junk, I wouldn't even resell it at a reptile show. I threw it away. hope that answers you question.

[Ladybugzcrunch]

what is the sand for? perlite/vermiculite was used as it holds moisture really well. if you're soaking it with so much water that you need a light diffuser, then the purpose it was used for isn't there anymore. I also use light grids. the first year I used perlite with the grids. now after some thought, I now zip-tie pvc tubing to the light grid. the pvc is about 1 inch in diameter holding the grid up out of the water. the only thing that the perlite did for me was when I take the eggs out to check on them. the perlite prevented splashing of the water (moving the egg tub). without the perlite, I don't have a problem with the eggs getting wet. and if you do splash, and the eggs do get wet. they will be ok. it's the eggs being constantly wet that causes problems.

thermostats. this is the most important piece of equipment you have for this hobby. why go cheap? if you can't afford about a 130 dollar thermostat, then you should get a hamster instead. haven't you read about all the fires? and those breeders were using good equipment! most likely why spyder robotics (manufactures the herpstat) came out with their new line of thermostats that has more safety features to help prevent this. heat tape, heat cable ect.. was used for many years to help keep water pipes from freezing in the winter time. Trailers with the air space under them has a big problem with this. many trailers burnt to the ground cause of heat tape. if you don't buy a quality thermostat for your reptiles, buy it for the added safety for your family. one thing I've learned in life, you pretty much get what you pay for.

and the 500r, the one I had was junk, I wouldn't even resell it at a reptile show. I threw it away. hope that answers you question.

You should chill out. Not every project requires perfection on the first go! and who are you to say I should have a hamster instead of a snake? I used the sand to prevent splashing. light diffuser is to keep the eggs off of the wet sand. I have a herpstat on my racks just do not want to buy another one yet for several reasons. BTW herpstats fail as well. One of mine did and burnt several of may snakes. Now I have a back up for the herpstat cause not everything is perfect.

[DooLittle]

Have to say I would never trust my eggs to a hydrofarm.

Herpstat all the way.

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[kitedemon]

I have a though perhaps it would work many use a substrate less system eggs on light diffuser over a water bath. It might be cheaper to use this type with one or two digital aquarium heaters with a water circulator pump. The condensation is easy add a 5º slope to the egg container and if water drops form it will go to the side.

[snakesRkewl]

I would put the hydrofarm on the rack and use the herpstat on the inc.
Hydrofarms average a 5-6 temperature swing with some turning on and off with an 8 degree swing.
I incubated eggs my first season with a repti-temp500r and still have nightmares, lol.

[CD CONSTRICTORS]

The fertilizer is not the way to go. Lowes has fine Vermiculite without miracle grow as POP pointed out. I found coarse Vermiculite and Perlite at a local garden center. One part each with equal water volume added was nearly perfect. 2 cups of each and 6 cups of water was a good level for my bins with light diffusers sitting on top of 1/2" pvc for support.

I used a wine cooler as well. It had a light installed which I kept wired in. I used a Herpstsat for $129 shipped. I also put a nice 12vDC fan in mine at the top wired to a rheostat and ac/dc converter for $15. Two feet of 11" Flexwatt fit perfect. I put a simple 6 outlet cord where the compressor was. That goes to a surge protector and a battery back-up that will run it for a few hours in the event of a power interruption.

I put a simple little remore temp/humidity sensor in there as well. It reads within 1F of the Herpstat placed one shelf lower and gives me the internal cooler humidity. Tubs will obviously be different as you can see from the condensation. This little rig has been running 24/7 since I built it about 2 months ago..... she is ready!!

It's a nice little set-up if I don't say myself

Herpstat 1 with remote sensor. Herpstat sensor under top shelf, remote sensor under second shelf:


Inside with fan/light on. I could fit one more tub under fan if I had to:

Back with power strip, AC/DC convertor and rheostat (on left). Fan is set to about 50% and moves a lot of air even at half speed. The chiller actually already had the rheostat box- I just replaced the rheosat for the proper rated rheostat for my fan.

[Ladybugzcrunch]

I may do that. Thanks.. No one has said where they put the themostat probe though?

I would put the hydrofarm on the rack and use the herpstat on the inc.
Hydrofarms average a 5-6 temperature swing with some turning on and off with an 8 degree swing.
I incubated eggs my first season with a repti-temp500r and still have nightmares, lol.

[CD CONSTRICTORS]

I may do that. Thanks.. No one has said where they put the themostat probe though?

I have it posted right above.

[don15681]

You should chill out. Not every project requires perfection on the first go! and who are you to say I should have a hamster instead of a snake? I used the sand to prevent splashing. light diffuser is to keep the eggs off of the wet sand. I have a herpstat on my racks just do not want to buy another one yet for several reasons. BTW herpstats fail as well. One of mine did and burnt several of may snakes. Now I have a back up for the herpstat cause not everything is perfect.

Not every project requires perfection on the first go!

really! let me tell you about my first clutch

I had perfect temps the whole way threw incubation, tested my incubator for weeks until I had my incubator zero in to where I wanted it. before the eggs came.
used a 6 qt tub with perlite and had it very wet also using a light grid. use a lid on top with no holes.
even with this setup I still had humidity problems. at the end of incubation, the top of the eggs touch the bottom of the eggs. but they all were still alive. bad thing is some had one eye some had no eyes and none of them would eat on their own. I watch each one die but I wouldn't give up on them. what fix my humidity problem? a piece of glad press n seal. if I knew a little bit more this might of been prevented.

temp spikes durning incubation can also cause problems. you don't want to be asking how to put down a hatchling cause it's serverly kinked but it's still breathing. it sucks!
this can happen even under perfect conditions, so why use garbage equipment and up the odds?

I apologize for the hamster remark, it was a bad way of trying to get a point across.

let me try and reword it, I've been doing this for awhile and this isn't meant to be smart." Not every project requires perfection on the first go!" why not try for perfection, if it's a money thing why not just wait until it can be done right?

I would also like to hear your input on the failure of the herpstat. never had a herpstat fail, but I had a helix max out on a back heated rack. the snakes wasn't burn from it.

[PitOnTheProwl]

I may do that. Thanks.. No one has said where they put the themostat probe though?

I know I did but Okay