homemade incubator

jo x · 29th June 2009, 02:22 AM

When it comes to incubating reptile eggs, a product that has an adjustable temperature is mandatory.
Homemade reptile incubators are fairly simple and relatively inexpensive.

you will need;
10 Gallon Aquarium with top
Bricks, or flat rocks
plastic container
2 digital thermometers
Humidity gauge
Submersible Heater, normaly a 50 Watt heater
Vermiculite

1. Place the aquarium in the location you plan to keep it. Place the bricks in and fill the aquarium with water so it is about level with the bricks. These bricks should be spaced apart so you can put the plastic container on top.

2. Take the aquarium heater and place it alongside the glass way. Make sure it is set around 80-85 degrees. You will want to let the water heat up before adding the eggs into the tank. Place one thermometer in the water, that way you can monitor the actual temperature of it

3. You will need to place a layer, an inch or less, of vermiculite in the plastic container, enough so you can place the eggs in it. You will want a 50/50 mix of water and vermiculite by weight. This will create a suitable environment to incubate the eggs. You will also need a hole in the lid of the container, small enough to just fit the probe of your 2nd thermometer. Place the lid on the container with the probe resting on the vermiculite and put it in the aquarium. Then place the lid on the aquarium.

4. Monitor the temperature inside the plastic container. You may have to adjust the submersible heater to obtain the desired temperature. You can mess with this over the course of a day before adding the eggs if possible. The humidity gauge must go into the aquarium, more towards the top if possible, that way to monitor the level of humidity in the tank. Depending on the reptile being incubated, this level will need to be changed by having more vents in the top, or closing it up.

5. When adding the eggs, make sure you place a small indentation in the vermiculite in which you will set the egg in. Do not rotate the egg, and make sure you know which side is up. It is often helpful to use a felt tip pen to mark the top of th egg, this way if a newly hatched baby moves another egg you can right it hopefully before any problems occur. Make sure you monitor the temperatures 1-2 times a day, especially during the first week or two of the incubator being setup.its normaly best to allow your homemade incubator to run for aday giving you chance to monitor temperature to get it stable.Remember to keep a constant water level (it is a good idea to make a small mark on the outside of the tank as a reference) as the temperature will drop as the water level gets lower.

Rosie · 11th July 2009, 08:03 PM

I have also made an inucbator this year that I had 100% hatch rate for corns and royals :)

This is how I made it:

1. Polystyrene box, no aire holes in.

2. Place small hole in box with a drill or other tool the width of the probe so the stat's probe can just fit in. Make the hole in the side panel half way up the side for the most optimum results

3. place 2 heat mats, either end of the box on the sides and tape them securely to the side.

4. place a small hole in the top of the box and place a thermometer into it and dangle to the middle of the box.

5. Place tub of eggs in the incubator and measure the temps to suit the variant species.

For the eggs:

1. Add a vermiculite mix to some tubs by adding water to the vermiculite, a 50:40 mix works well (V:W) or add until moist, make sure no excess water dribbles out when squeezing the mix and the mix should clump together.

2. Dont make any air holes, this can make the mix dry out and the eggs dehydrate, sealing the tub will ensure the relevant humidity stays put. every 3-5 days air the eggs by removing the lid for 10-15 mins then replace. (when eggs begin to hatch remove lid completely so not to suffocate the hatchlings)

3. with your finger, press gently into the mix in the tub and gently place the eggs in the ridges made, this will support the egg, reduce rolling and ensure moisture to the egg.

4. with an eyeliner marker or safe pen, draw a small line vertically down the egg, this will indicate if the egg rolls and it is safe to gently move the egg back to the original position, if it rolls, the egg can drown.