Incubator ?'s

JDouglas · 09-19-03, 05:08 PM

I made this incubtor out of a cooler, flexwatt, bricks, eggcrate, a plastic tub, and plexiglass. Total cost was under $35(not counting dig. therm. and thermostat).

First I taped one piece of 11" flexwatt to the bottom and placed a brick on each side. I used egg crate to make a bridge over the heat.

I put 3 layers of egg crate in a plastic tub and added 3/4 of an inch water. I plan on using the "no substrate" method. I will be replacing the bottom level of egg crate with a full piece so babies can't get into the water. This tub has holes burned in it, but the holes are covered with tape. I plan on poking holes open as a way of adjusting the humidity.

The tub fits nicely in the cooler, and I cut a piece of plexiglass for a lid. This allows me to see the eggs without opening the egg chamber and letting cold air in(thanks Jeff Favelle). The tub is also slightly unlevel so water drops will run to the side and down instead of dripping on eggs.

I plan on using this incubator for Irian Jaya Carpet Python eggs in the spring.
Does anyone see any design flaws or have any ideas for improvement?

Thanks for looking...

Jeff_Favelle · 09-19-03, 06:02 PM

Looks perfect to me. But looking perfect and acting perfect are two completely different things. Know one will know until you hatch your beauties man!!!

Only thing I do differently is that I use a submersible heater instead of flexwatt. This way, I create 100% RH (relative humidity) and the eggs are on no substrate. This is the whole concept of the incubator. 100% humidity and no substrate eliminates all error!

But your design should work. The humidity thing will just be trickier. But you will get it. For sure.

JDouglas · 09-19-03, 06:28 PM

Thanks Jeff!
I am testing it right now so it will be perfect when the time comes. With the thermostat probe in the egg chamber the temp is +/- 0.75 degrees(88-89.5) I am hoping that if I place the probe outside the chamber the temps will not fluctuate as much?

I should be able to keep the humidity at 100% by having water at the bottom of the egg chamber. I saw an website that showed the "no substrate method" and thought I would go that route. The guy was also breeding IJCP and had a 100% hatch rate. He used the same type of set up but didn't have holes in his egg chamber. I am wondering how much air circulation eggs need. Maybe he opened the chamber once in a while to let in fresh air? What do you think?

NiagaraReptiles · 09-19-03, 06:29 PM

Jeff, is that they type of set up you've used for your Ackie eggs too?

Jeff_Favelle · 09-19-03, 07:01 PM

Sort of.

JDouglas · 09-19-03, 07:08 PM

From what I have seen I think Jeff uses a submersable fish aquirium heater instead of flexwatt. This makes the humidity outside the egg chamber 100% so you can put as many air holes as you want in the egg chamber and don't have to worry about their humidity falling. I tried it with this cooler. I placed water in the bottom of the cooler with the submerible heater and it couldn't get warm enough. The thermostat on the end of the aquarium heater could not be set higher than 89F and the air temps were a couple degrees cooler which is not warm enough for IJCP. I will be keeping my eyes open for one that will get hot enough. If anyone knows a good brand/model let me know.

Jeff_Favelle · 09-20-03, 01:00 AM

Visi-Therm or Ebo Jager. I use the 250W model, but for that size incubator, you could use a 75W one.

JDouglas · 09-20-03, 08:24 AM

Thanks, Jeff.

In my area the petstore and Walmart do not carry these so its time to do some online shopping!

JDouglas · 09-20-03, 09:04 AM

O.K. I ordered an Ebo-Jager TS 100W submersible for under $22 with shipping. Here are the details and specs.

Ebo-Jager took their already superior heater and made it better. Ebo-Jager All New TS Series heaters are completely waterproof, submersible heaters perfect for freshwater or saltwater use. Heavy duty 2mm thick shock resistant Pyrex glass construction are twice as thick as most other heaters and far stronger. The tempearture is adjustable from 64°F and 94°F with an easy to adjust thermostat. Precision bistable thermostat with an impressive +/- 0.5° accuracy. Free from radio and TV interference. 6 foot double insulated power cord included.

Now I can uncover the holes in my egg chamber for better airflow and maintain 100% humidity! The temps should also be more stable.

Jeff, what is the temp range of your jungle carpet incubators?

Here is a link to the website I ordered from if anyone is interested.
MarineDepot.Com

Jeff_Favelle · 09-21-03, 01:21 AM

Awesome choice man! What a great deal you got!

And my incubator doesn't have a range (heh heh). 89.4F and that's where it stays. I have 5 digital thermometers in it and they all say the same (well one says 89.3F, but its always been off, LOL!!).

Only time it changes is when I open the lid (not very often, except for the last 2 weeks).

Zoe · 09-21-03, 01:33 AM

Why do they need 100% RH? Isn't that a bit too high (I thought 90-95 was ideal?).

Also, why do you open the lid open in the last 2 weeks?

Zoe

JDouglas · 09-21-03, 01:04 PM

"And my incubator doesn't have a range (heh heh). 89.4F and that's where it stays. "

Man, that is awesome. I hope I can get that level of accuracy after I install my aquarium heater! I will post a few more pics of the finished incubator after I receive the heater in the mail, and after testing it I will post my results on here for everyone to see.

Thanks for all your help,
Jaremy Douglas

jay76 · 09-21-03, 04:15 PM

Good design Jaremy! I'm curious, what are you using to measure the humidity? One of those Exo-Terra style disc shaped stick on jobbies or somethiong more accurate?

Jeff_Favelle · 09-21-03, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Why do they need 100% RH? Isn't that a bit too high (I thought 90-95 was ideal?).

I have no idea what humidity is "ideal". I don't incubate humidity. I incubate eggs. Eggs are all that matters. I use 100% humidity and no substrate. I have no idea what the result would be if I tried 80% humidity. Or 90% humidity. After hatching eggs at a 100% hatch rate (for fertile eggs) since 1995, I am not about to change. Substrates can have higher or lower osmotic pressures than the eggs themselves, so I don't trust them. Not in the least. I use no substrates and 100% humidity and allow the eggs to pull whatever water they need out of the air.

Quote:

Also, why do you open the lid open in the last 2 weeks?

Eggs start to develop, they use more oxygen, and they require more air exchange (SOME people think). Its not necessary. Not at all. Might even be a detriment. But I don't care. I'm in there looking at them anyways.

JDouglas · 09-21-03, 07:42 PM

I use digital humidity gauges in my cages and have learned that if there are water drops on all the sides and top it is definitely at 100%. The incubator will definitely be at 100% with all the water in the bottom of the cooler and in the bottom of the egg chamber, so I am not going to bother using one.

Jeff, do you use a one in your set up?