problems building an incubator

smeagel · 01-27-05, 08:25 AM

Well, I have gone back and looked at all the old threads about building my own incubator. And to be quit honest I'm not very good at the building part. So what i was wondering is if there is anyone out there who would be able to build one for me, because i don't want to make any mistakes if I were to build it. I'm only looking for one that could handle bout 3 or 4 clutches of ball python eggs. Anyway if anyone could help me out that would be great or if you know of some one that could be of help that would be great also.

jay_scir · 01-27-05, 11:09 AM

Did you want to build one from wood? I just use a big old styrofome cooler with an aquarium heater and a thermostat and it works great. The temperature differential is only 1 degree f. I used this for beardie eggs so i'm not sure if it's good for bp eggs but i would imagine so.

smeagel · 01-27-05, 11:28 AM

It might be but i don't know. I need some input on this from more of the experienced and knowledgeable members on the site.

Jeff_Favelle · 01-27-05, 01:34 PM

No-substrate incubator. There's THREE how-to's on this site somewhere. JDouglas posted a good one, and so did Trev.

smeagel · 01-28-05, 12:04 AM

ok, i read the threads, and i do have a small room that i can use as a walk in incubator. I have a oil filled heater that has a digital thermometer and digital thermostate that would control the temps. Would this be ok?

JDouglas · 01-28-05, 01:02 AM

Well creating a walk in incubator for 3-4 clutches of eggs would be major overkill. I would build something smaller that will be more cost effective.

Jeff's method of building a large insulated box and heating water with an aquarium heater would be very inexpensive and easy. Just build a box big enough to hold three or four plastic tubs that will be your egg chamber and insulate it with the thick pink foam board insulation. Then line it with plastic and fill it part way with water. Add a few bricks in the bottom to set the egg chambers on and heat the water with an submersible aquarium heater.

It may not be a piece of display furniture but it will work just as good if not better than any other incubator out there. Jeff has proven this!

Jeff_Favelle · 01-28-05, 01:10 AM

Get the biggest Rubbermaid possible. Line the inside with 3/4" styrofoam, and then line it with plastic over top of that. Same with the lid. Add water, add fish heater, add bricks, add Rubbermaids, add perlite, add egg-crate, add eggs.

Done. Easily will handle 5-7 clutches at ONE time, and can do 20 PLUS if staggered over the summer.

JDouglas · 01-28-05, 01:14 AM

Ha Ha Jeff we were posting at the same time! I think I did ok explaining your method especially since I have never actually done it. Someday I will though. I just know it.

Jeff_Favelle · 01-28-05, 01:17 AM

LOL, good job brother. Good job!

smeagel · 01-28-05, 07:30 AM

The perlite that you put inside the Rubbermaids, you wet it right. Then you set the egss ontop the perlite. Do you put any holes in the egg chamber lid or anything?

JDouglas · 01-28-05, 12:02 PM

Great questions. You can use perlite or vermiculite. You can add equal weights of vermiculite and water or use the squeeze method. Basically you squeeze the wet vermiculite and if it stays in a ball its perfect. You can put the eggs directly in the substrate or put egg crate on top of the substrate and then the eggs on top of that.
Putting holes in the egg chamber is not neccesary but many choose to do so. Last year I used a sealed chamber for Fox snake eggs and Carpet Ptython eggs and opened it for a few seconds each week to let a woft of fresh air in. One thing to avoid is excessive condesation. If you have too much condensation it can drip on the eggs causing problems. Also your substrate will begin to dry out from the condensation and evaporation especially if you have holes in the egg chamber. As the substrate dries from condensation water runs down the sides of the egg chamber causing the substrate around the outside of the chamber to become water logged and the middle becomes dry. A no substrate method would eliminate this but you would still have the dripping. To eliminate condensation you have to have even temps throughout your incubator. This can be tricky depending on your particular set up. Putting holes in the chamber does help eliminate condensation but it also allows the substrate to dry out depending on your incubator design. An incubator like Favelle's could have as many holes as you want because the air outside the chamber is 100% humidity but an incubator like mine would dry out the eggs if there were too many holes. Sorry about the rambling, there is just so much to say. LOL

Jeff_Favelle · 01-28-05, 12:50 PM

Yep, exactly what JD said. Because the air is 100% humid, it doesn't matter whether you wet the perlite or not with the no-substrate method. Why would it? It'll become wet anyways. Funny thing is, I wet it. Not for humidity or water issues. But because water-logged perlite holds more heat (bigger heta sink) than dry perlite.

I don't put the eggs on the perlite in the no-substrate method.

smeagel · 01-28-05, 01:06 PM

Ok thanks guys, I'm gonna go out and get the materials and try to make one as good as Jeff's ( highly doubtful

) and give this baby a test run!

ATBlover · 02-12-05, 04:43 PM

jeff...do you have any pics of your incubators or any pics that resemble yours.....im learning alot from the info your giving to others but i have one question...would this work?..if i built a wood box(this is for 1 cluth of ball eggs) with the dimensions..1.5'wide...1.5'deep..and 1.5 high....if i just took a rubbermaid and stuck it in there and placed it on bricks in water and used a heat pad or another source of heat and i want to know what you put the eggs in..which way do you do it?...also would it be okai if i put warm/hot water at the botttom of the box to make it warm and humid?..that wont effect the way the eggs form?..with hot water?..and also i wanted to know ..when she lays her eggs, how do you know when shes done and if i try to take the eggs will she leave them at all after their layed or will she defend them?..should i take them 1 by 1?...thats it for now..sry for going on about this but i just want to clear things up....Thanks, Connor