what is the best homemade incubator? I just got another leo, now ive have four and will be breeding in the spring but wanted to get a jump start on an incubator.
Not sure if this is too large for you but I am in the process of doing this. http://www.arbreptiles.com/cages/incubator.shtml There are many other ways that people do home mades as well. Just do a google. I found about ten different methods when I searched a couple of weeks ago.
yeah im in the same situation, i have two breeding pairs of geckos, so ill have at most four to six eggs at any given time, but the only incubaters i can find are like big industrial ones, you think the small $20 chicken egg incubaters would work?
Not the best, but its my second season using it. I have a styrofoam cooler with a big pickle jar full of water with an aquarium heater in it. In the cooler is just a box of moist vermiculite that I check for temp & humidity every day. It's ghetto but successful. : ) Mebbe $25 tops.
Wow you dug up an old post. I never made my own incubator, but bought a hovabator, and I have had great sucess with it. It is always cool to see post from the past 2004 :lol:
And here is my latest homemade incubator. It is not finished in that pic. I have since finished it though. Have added the Flexwatt and the Herpstat thermostat. Without a fan to circulate the air the temps are only varying 0.7 degrees from top to bottom.
Shrap...I am not a breeder, but, question...hope it is not a dumb one...is there any ventilation in the frig? I am assuming incubating eggs need oxygen? And, do they hatch in the frig/incubator?
There is minimal ventilation. A couple of holes in the back bottom where the flexwatt cord and thermostat probe come in. The incubation method I use requires you to use plastic tubs with the lid on them. You have to open the lid on the tubs every couple of days to allow for a fresh air exchange anyway. So the incubator not being well ventilated is not an issue. They will hatch in the tubs that are placed inside the incubator.
Wow.. that's pretty impressive shrap! : D I'll need something about half to near that size next year.. think you could help me design one or come up with working parts? One other thing.. later this year I want to efficiently and adequately heat the seperate enclosures of three male leos without using more than one device to do so. Any ideas on what type of tank or box to use, how to arrange them and what type of heating element I'd need?
Really the only things you need are the fridge (sounds like you might want to use one of the small "dorm" fridges), flexwatt, thermostat and a digital themometer to to double check the temps. Here is a great link that walks you through the basics. I have the one pictured above and a full size upright freezer I have converted into incubators. Both were done based on the step by step guide here: http://www.arbreptiles.com/cages/incubator.shtml Regardless of the type or size of the fridge/freezer you may use the same concepts are going to apply. As far as heating multiple enclosures the only thing I can think of is a rack or multi-unit cage. Racks can be purchased (or built yourself) at a variety of places. Here are a few that I know makes quality ones that are not going to rip you off. http://www.animalplastics.com/ http://www.boaphileplastics.com/ http://www.nsreptiles.com/shacks.html http://www.jasons-jungle.com/ As far as a multi-unti cage there is only one place I know of that makes them at a somewhat reasonable price. http://www.boaphileplastics.com/421condo.html Or you may want to go with several small stackable cages. Something like this. http://www.boaphileplastics.com/120d.html Granted these are all somewhat pricey, but it is the only way I know of to do what I think you are asking.
OMG. Some of that is just what I'm looking for! I won't need new housing til later this year though.. I thought I was going to have enough room for everyone but I unexpectedly picked up some fat tail eggs. That flexwatt is a great idea btw! I never thought to make my own heater. The freezers work alot like my cooler, but the racks are way easier to get to and the temperature is easier to regulate. Thank you SO much! ^_^
