Incubator. Good enough or not?

[MontyP2016]

Ok I was looking at some Herpstats abd I have a question. The Herp4 or 6, is that to control the temps in4 different tanks (or 6) or is it designed to handle more equiptment for 1 tank? Like, if I got the 6 could I control the heat in 5 tanks plus the temp in an incubator all at once?

[jmcrook]

Ok I was looking at some Herpstats abd I have a question. The Herp4 or 6, is that to control the temps in4 different tanks (or 6) or is it designed to handle more equiptment for 1 tank? Like, if I got the 6 could I control the heat in 5 tanks plus the temp in an incubator all at once?

Yep. Herpstat 4 controls 4 heating/humidity/cooling/lighting devices Herpstat 6 controls 6 devices.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[MontyP2016]

I know I must sound like an idiot but I want to be 100% sure before I go buy a $400 herpstat. The herpstat 6 for example, is that made so that I could control the heat in six different snake tanks or is it designed to control 6 different mechanisms in one tank( llight, a heat tape, mister. Etc? Or is it designed so that I could use it either way?

[jmcrook]

Either/or


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Ax01]

i would not trust an uninsulated incubator (let alone a glass one) to hatch eggs that takes alotta hardwork to produce. when i begin breeding, imma use tried and true methods and build an incubator out of an old frig, heat tape and quality thermostat.

if u are looking to start small and want something commercial - i know a few peeps who own and swear by the Zoomed Reptibator. it's small, holds a max of 2 BP clutches but has a built-in proportional thermostat, displays for temps and humidity.

[MontyP2016]

Oh wow, I just looked at the reptibator, I like what I see and it definitely has a good price, thank you!

[Oxylepy]

About the easiest and cheapest thing to do is just get a cooler (6-20 bucks depending on the size), thermostat (30+), and some heat tape (clips, wire, aluminum tape and heat tape should be like 15-30 bucks) for the incubator. Toss a couple bottles of water in to hold heat, then a plastic tub, substrate, and press-and-seal. It's pretty common as a setup and works well.

If your female's husbandry is up to par and you don't mind her not eating for an extra 2 months, you can always maternally incubate. It essentially costs a negative amount as you most likely will save on 1+ rats, and a lot of people who do it have good results. Mind that your husbandry needs to be solid to pull it off, but she can control temperature and humidity (increases to both, she can't really decrease it).

The only problem I had with maternal incubation was cleaning related (it can be a pain to clean around her or move her and the eggs to clean)

[MontyP2016]

Because I plan to breed more than just one year, I like the idea of purchasing an incubator, even if it only holds a couple clutches because I can always buy another one next year or later down the road as needed. I liked the cooler idea but since I plan to use it over and over, I think it might just be better to buy one. I've also thought of maternal incubation but I recently saw a post on here where they left 2 eggs under the mother and incubated the other 4, the maternal ones did not make it. (Might have been the other way around with 4 under mom and 2 n the cooker, I'm not sure)

[enginee837]

On a recent post a few days ago we were discussing incubators, how to make one, which ones to buy, not to buy, etc. Going based off of the DIY styrofoam cooler incubator, I threw this demo together. I put a good tube heater in the bottom (we discussed them bot being too good if theyre cheap etc) I put a plastic sub-bottom in, lifted over the water that the 6qt egg tub sits on. If I put the eggs on minerals (cant remember the name right now of the mineral rocks), put a lid on the 6qt tub and a lid on the tank with thermometer inside.

All that being said, would this make a decent incubator? If it will work, please give me some tips. If it wont work please let me know. Thank you!

If you spent 5 dollars on a Styrofoam cooler and simply set that inside it you would be ok. Again, it is not the best option but will work.

[Oxylepy]

Because I plan to breed more than just one year, I like the idea of purchasing an incubator, even if it only holds a couple clutches because I can always buy another one next year or later down the road as needed. I liked the cooler idea but since I plan to use it over and over, I think it might just be better to buy one. I've also thought of maternal incubation but I recently saw a post on here where they left 2 eggs under the mother and incubated the other 4, the maternal ones did not make it. (Might have been the other way around with 4 under mom and 2 n the cooker, I'm not sure)

The cooler setup can be used repeatedly. It will probably gather dust, but otherwise it will be similar to the store purchased ones. Additionally if you bought a relatively large cooler you could have quite a few clutches in it (depends on the size but 4-8 should be possible).

What kind of setup do you have for the mother, what kind of setup did they have for their's? A rack system under proper controling devices should be able to offer the kind of environment necessary for maternal incubation.

All that said, I'm not trying to suggest a MUST situation. Only offering suggestions. The decision is your own to make and easily comes down to six in one hand, half a dozen in the other. Whatever works for your situation and you, works. Because at the moment cooler with controllers and a prebuilt system really just comes down to cost and aesthetics