Incubation Nightmare

[CSMGecko]

I lost power a while back and so I have already lost 3 eggs and I am now sure that I just lost the other 3 that were in there. i have them separtated from the rest in fear of them going bad and spreading the death among the other eggs. But I have now noticed that on an egg that was borderline, there were little white flies in the container on the egg. I am confused since the container is sealed and there is no mold. But I am sure that is a tell tale sign of death. Has this happened to anyone else.
Also I am using a hova bator which is turning out to be a headache because living in California it is not a steady weather and so it is proving difficult to keep the temps correct. I know I need a proportional thermostat such as a helix but does anyone else have problems with the hova bator keeping the temps + or - 1?

 

[BalloonzForU]

I had a thermostat on the hovabator go out on me on my first full season and I lost a bunch of eggs. I just gave up on them and got my first Nature Spirit, but I needed something bigger so it was more of a space issue for me. However getting a Helix or Herpstat will help a lot with the Hovabator.

 

[CSMGecko]

That's what I was thinking. I am def going to get a nature's spirit but I need some funds first. I was hoping this first season was going to be much less hassle so I could move some babies and upgrade my incubator. I build most of my own other items for pretty cheap so I can customize everything but I need to be able to keep the temps regular to hatch. Such a pain.

 

[BalloonzForU]

The Herpstat's price was lower than the Helix and just as good the last time I looked. Since you'll need one to run the Nature Spirit anyways it's a good idea to go ahead and get one.

 

[Retribution Reptiles]

I have NS bator with an herpstat connected to it. i have had no issues. my AP racks carry herpstats as well. i'm unable to comment about Helix due to never working with them.

I think when all is said and done for a NS bator and Herpstat it came to like 495 shipped when i got mine

 

[acpart]

I do have a proportional thermostat for my hobovator and also keep bags of water in there. I still get about a 2 degree temp fluctuation, but so far have hatched 13 out of 14 healthy geckos. The 14th is healthy and active but seems to be missing 1 eye.

Aliza

 

[CSMGecko]

What does the bags of water do. I have heard of dishes for humidity but haven't heard of bags of water.

 

[ajveachster]

Water gains and loses heat more slowly than air. Putting bags of water in your incubator can help with keeping temps constant especially when it comes to having to open it for air exchanges, adding eggs and the like.

 

[Redleg]

The bags of water or bottles of water, which ever you prefer, acts like a heat sink. So if your power does go out, you at least have some additional time in which your incubator will maintain that set temp vs. dropping immediately once the power is out. Gives you more time to get "Plan B" in effect.

 

[CSMGecko]

That makes sense. I am definitely going to try that. Thanks for all the info everyone. I will eventually get everything dialed in and eventually in the near future get a Nature's Spirit.

 

[thestack510]

I've never had "little white flies" appear on my eggs. Are you using a clean substrate in the egg containers?

 

[CSMGecko]

Yes very clean. I use all natural perlite. I looked into it and it is from the egg rotting. I have only seem it with that one egg and there was only a couple. Thankfully I recognized that the egg was looking iffy and I quarantined it. I haven't seen the flies in my container with the good eggs.