My Incubator Idea #1

[Will]

Ok, here is my first stab at try to figure out how I'm gonna do this. Instead of describing everything, I decided to draw it out using sofistimicated engineering software. It is 100% to scale and I do in fact plan on building it out of cardboard and crayons. Glitter and sparkle are extras, although I'll do that onlyif I have the time:




Here is an 'real' photo of what I plan on using for the egg boxes and the 'incubator' box.



The 'Incubator' box will have no holes in it and will have the lid snapped on, no holes in that one. The egg boxes will have a few holes in them to allow the moisture into the eggs. I decided to put them in a second, sealed box(the incubator box) to keep moisture from gunking up the heat tape and thermostat. I will open taht lid every couple days to allow gas exchange.

I plan on putting this into one of those stro camping coolers -- basically ripping the idea off of Ryan from Scales . I saw how his was able to be expanded somewhat, which may come in handy in later years as more and more clutches start coming out.

Any suggestions/hints/leads etc before I start gathering the parts...? The only thing I really need to figure out, I think, is the type of thermostat. Anything would be greatly appreciated, since this is my first stab at it...

[Stockwell]

don't use open water anywhere! Put the heat tape on the bottom , and use some fluorescent egg crate type difuser to hold your egg containers above the heat tape...
Buy a wafter thermostat to switch the tape on and off..
Use moist vermiculite in the egg boxes...thats the only place you need moisture.

[crazyboy]

stockwell: do you know where i can get a wafer thermostat in the U.S. and approx. how much it will be?

[Will]

crazyboy: Look at the thread that says "Buying a Thermostat I started earlier. Scales Zoo had a link to a supplier that will ship to the 'States.

Stockwell: What is your take on the "Substrate-less style" Incubators that some people use...? I've read(don't know myself as this is my first) that trying to maintain a good moist subtrate that doesn't dry out is an un-nessesary hassle, when you can use water. Just curious, either way, I have a big bag of vermiculite laying around I can use. If I do that, should I still keep the 'Incubating' box(the sealed one)...? I have a concern that water that evaporates in the egg boxes that gets out into the rest of the incubator could cause a hazard as far as shorts.

[JDouglas]

Stockwell said

don't use open water anywhere! ... Use moist vermiculite in the egg boxes...thats the only place you need moisture.

I disagree because the "no substrate" method has proven to be effective and easier than dealing with damp substrate. Also your "incubator box" is sealed making it completely dry inside the incubator where the heat tape is.

[Stockwell]

Crazyboy... Hovabators are made in the USA.. You can buy wafer T stats directly from the maker
GQF manufacturing.. They have a website

Will and Jeremy: The substrate-less hatching technique is quite new. I personally have not yet tried it, but I will this year.
The traditional way of hatching parchment shell eggs is to use a moist substrate, either vermiculite, perlite or in the old days.. Long strand sphagnum moss. I've used it all and it works.
The substrate -LESS technique sounds good, but my point about open water really referred to many new herpers tendancy to think they need to make the entire incubator box into a water reservoir, and that simply causes the entire inside of the box to sweat, and that in turn makes a big mess every time you open it. It also rusts any and all electrical components and creates a shock hazard.

If you chose to try the No substrate technique, the egg container stays dry with only a few holes.
That container is placed into a sealed container with a small amount of water on the bottom. The water evaporates but cannot escape. This creates a near 100% RH and the eggs in a separate box are surrounded by that environment...
Give it a try, but it's new and not a traditional technique.
Also be very careful when pulling the main containers out so you don't spill the water into the electrics.
Another point... make darn sure the egg container has a good lid. I know a guy that tried this technique, and it hatched his eggs alright, but they popped the lid on the deli,and all ended up drowing in the water reservoir