Best Reptile Incubators

[Serafim]

Hello all I have been searching all over the web for reptile incubators. Problem is there are so many to choose from. I would like some feedback on which ones are most popular or just the best overall incubator. I have been thinking about building one myself. I have all the tools and knowledge to build one but I am not sure if building one is really that cost effective. I have a small budget so I want the best for the best price. Thanks

 

[hhmoore]

John,
Part of the decision is what you are using it for, and how much space you need. For about $40, you can buy a 100-120 qt cooler, add about $15 worth of heat tape and you're good to go...just plug it in to the thermostat of your choice. It isn't the most convenient orientation (too wide), but it is cheap, easy, and effective. I've been using one of those for years, and am inclined to just build another when/if I need more space. (something about the idea of not having all the eggs in one big incubator...just in case)

 

[Serafim]

I will be using the incubator for ball python eggs. I have an older incubator but wanted something better. Your idea sounds very cost effective and a few additions and im in business. Thanks

 

[hhmoore]

I removed the drain plug & ran the cord through there. It holds consistent temps (using a Herpstat), and I have not felt the need to add a fan for circulation. Certainly, one could build a nicer looking unit...but they couldn't just pull the cords out, replace the plug, and have a cooler for the beach, lol

Check one out, see if it is big enough to meet your needs. The commercially made options are pretty expensive.

 

[Serafim]

LOL I spend a good amount of time at the beach so thats definitely a plus

 

[Mooing Tricycle]

Nature Spirits are supposed to be awesome incubators Check em out too

 

[Serafim]

Actually I just emailed Casey about his incubators. For the price they look well made and have 2 options for proportional stats instead of offering only one..

 

[shrap]

Converting an old fridge/freezer or soda cooler works great too. Here is a pic of my little bator.

I also have a full sized fridge already converted and just got a chest freezer for $20 out of the local paper that I will be converting sometime in the next few months.

Clay Davenport has a nice tutorial on his site for converting a fridge/freezer.

http://www.arbreptiles.com/cages/incubator.shtml

 

[deborahbroadus]

Before I invested in the Ivey incubator, I was using an aquarium (we always have a lot of those) I used a 20 gallon aquarium with two large UTHs on the bottom hooked to a thermosat and two bags of hatchrite to keep the eggs stable.

Simple, effective and it kept perfect temps and high humidity with the plexiglass top. I covered the whole thing with a towel to keep it in darkness

Sorry for the crappy pic. .but if you strain your eyes a bit, you will see that the temps are 90 and the humdity is 83. Inside the humidity killed the thermometer.

p.s. by the way..both of these fugly eggs hatched later. One hatched twins that didn't survive, the other is still alive and doing very well.

 

[Lene]

Why don't you try using a cooler with a few inches of water and a aquarium heater with a wire rack above the water level to set the trays on ? you will have a constant temperature and good humidity levels. a 100 or 150 watt heater would be required. the best part it is inexpensive to set up and to operate.---------Len

 

[Clay Davenport]

I really don't want to take away from any of the commercial incubator manufacturers' business, but the fact is I cannot in any way justify the price tag on any I've seen available.
Coolers make fine incubators as do the converted fridge type like my design that Sammy so kindly linked to.

For a fraction of the cost you can make an incubator several times the size of anything available. I have a 21 cubic foot upright freezer converted that I have a total of maybe $90 in, and that includes $75 for a Ranco thermostat.

I'm sure several of the commercial incubators are fine products and do an excellent job of incubating eggs, but the fact is the incubation process is the easiest part of breeding reptiles. Eggs need two things to hatch, heat and moisture. It makes no difference at all how they are provided, as long as they are provided in the proper amounts.

I honestly don't forsee any commercial incubator ever being available that will be worth the price considering how cheaply one can be made yourself.

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

Nature's Spirit!!!

 

[Clay Davenport]

In hindsight, I wanted to make a clarification. The page Sammy linked to is not "my design" as I stated, it is merely a page documenting my conversion of a freezer into an incubator. The original idea was not mine, but one that I read about years ago in an issue of Vivarium magazine.
I don't remember the original author's name, but didn't want it to sound as if I was taking credit for something that I did not actually come up with myself. I merely improved on another's work, and have since improved on that further.

 

[SPJ]

That is just awesome.
Makes my little hovabator look like a toy.
Clay has come great stuff on his site.

 

[Serafim]

i think building one from an old refrigerator or freezer is the way I am going to go for now. I thank everyone so far for all the good ideas..

 

[critical bill]

10 years ago I got into a jam with a lot of turtle eggs and needed to build some incubators in a hurry...so I bought some large Styrofoam coolers and used 40 watt blue light bulbs with porcelain fixtures on the styro lids and had them wired to ranco therms and they worked just fine. I hatched about 200-300 eggs this way. Even kept a few around in case of emergency. Wish I had a pic to show you guys, they were safely designed, cheap as hell to build, and they worked like a friggin charm.

Good luck John, I'm sure you'll build something nice and effective.

 

[mister]

Just wanted to thank you for your post on converting a fridge , will let ya know on results God Bless!!!