Incubation methods

[V.hb]

Anyone have some tips on the best possible home-made method of incubation? Or possibly some diagrams or instructions on how to make a good incubator?

Any help would be great, thanks.

my means of incubation for what i've got going would be far to small... Thanks again.

[Jeff_Favelle]

Nope.

Because we don't know what you're incubating.

And yes, that matters. Lots.

[V.hb]

Actually, It's an assortment. I think iam just going to upgrade in size from what I'am already using.

Just out of curiousity though Jeff, What did you use for your ackie eggs? correct me if iam wrong but it appeared you had a good hatch rate. Thanks.

[Jeff_Favelle]

Big insulated container.
9 inches of water.
3 bricks in the water.
Small Rubbermaid on top of the bricks.
Submersible heater in the water.
Perlite in the Rubbermaid.
Eggs on the perlite.


I use this same method to hatch colubrid eggs as well as python eggs. Of course, I just calibrate the temperatures accordingly for each type of animal.

[dm101081]

Originally posted by Jeff_Favelle
Big insulated container.
9 inches of water.
3 bricks in the water.
Small Rubbermaid on top of the bricks.
Submersible heater in the water.
Perlite in the Rubbermaid.
Eggs on the perlite.


I use this same method to hatch colubrid eggs as well as python eggs. Of course, I just calibrate the temperatures accordingly for each type of animal.

Do you max the aquarium heater, and use a thermostat, or do you just use the dimmer on the heater? If no thermostat, how much fluctuation do you find you get. I use this method for colubrids, and leo's and such, but I find I get too much fluctuation for the more precise temps I'm under the impression you need for pythons.

[Matt]

Small Rubbermaid on top of the bricks.

hey jeff....do you but the lid on the rubbermaid, or do you cover it with seran wrap, or just totally open???

Just got some more corn eggs 2 nights ago and i wanna try your method with 'em
I have been having some relatively bad luck with my fat tail eggs this year, so Im thinking it cant hurt to try your way!

[V.hb]

thanks alot jeff, will keep you updated.

[Jeff_Favelle]

Do you max the aquarium heater, and use a thermostat, or do you just use the dimmer on the heater?

Aquarium heaters DON'T have dimmers (rheostats). They have thermostats already built into their circuitry. So I just calibrate the incubator 2 weeks before I put any eggs into it.

As backup, yes, I have a Helix control. I set the Helix to 91F and the incubator itself is set to 89F. Its like a fool-proof method. You certainly don't need the Helix though. I incubated countless eggs for 8 years without it. Just make sure you have a quality fish heater.

how much fluctuation do you find you get

None. Well, 88.9F - 89.4F. Negligible.

hey jeff....do you but the lid on the rubbermaid, or do you cover it with seran wrap, or just totally open???


Nope. I use a piece of glass that I cut to size. That way I don't have to open a Rubbermaid lid to look at my eggs. I can view 20 clutches and see how they are doing in less than 5 minutes.


Congrats on the eggs man! I'm sure they'll hatch. Corn eggs are pretty tough to kill.

http://members.shaw.ca/Uploaded_pics2/JCF5_eggies_incubating2.jpg

[Zoe]

Can kind of heater would you deem high quality? I tried that method and the heater broke, filled with some gross brown gunk... they SAID it was submersible...

Zoe

[alex_33]

Jeff, what exactly is a "big insulated container" like a big rubbermaid or what? Just curious

[Jeff_Favelle]

Jeff, what exactly is a "big insulated container" like a big rubbermaid or what? Just curious


I built one. A big insulated container is exactly what it says it is; a "big insulated container - a container that is large and is insulated".

But they can just be Rubbermaids that are insulated with styrofoam slabs, or even styrofoam boxes lined with poly (plastic).

Here's the one I use for Python eggs. It can fit 12 Ball clutches, 8 Jungle Carpet clutches.

http://members.shaw.ca/jefffavelle/Incubator.jpg

[Zoe]

What kind of water heater do you use?

[Jeff_Favelle]

Oh yeah, sorry Zoe, forgot to answer that one. I use Ebo-Jager or Marineland (Visi-Therm). Either one will work fine.

Wattage depends entirely on the size of the incubator, and yes, these units NEED to be submerged.

[Jeff_Favelle]

Cost is about $30 for a good 150W one. Should last at least 5 years (or longer). An incubator can be made for less than $40.

Easily.

[rynwilliams]

I am just expecting my first batch of corn eggs, so i am not an expert in this feild but i have found these links for info on making an incubator. I hope they are of use.

http://www.**************/obsoleta/incub1.htm

http://www.lizardboy.com/incubator/incubator.html

[Jeff_Favelle]

Same design. But good pictures and description.


Also, people, all this incubator stuff was worked out 20 years ago. No one is going to come up with something revolutionary now. Just follow the directions, and concentrate on getting the eggs (hard part). Copying an incubator design and hatching bullet-proof eggs is the easy part.