Incubator Horror story, Anyone ever?

[Geckoreo]

I just had the worst experience ever with my incubator and its probably all my fault. I have a nature's spirit incubator and its in the linen closet in my apartment and if anyone has one, you know that there is a hole on the side where the helix thermostat's wire goes in.

Well aparently, last night upon checking on the eggs to put in new eggs, I must have accidentally pulled the wire out of the incubator, making the thermostat read the closet temperature rather then the inside of my incubator.

I also have a seperate thermometer inside my incubator and when I went in to check the temperature this morning, I found it at 100 degrees!!!

I had 10 eggs and all were from really high end projects that I was greatly anticipating.

Has anyone ever had similar experiences in which the eggs survived or should I completely stop giving myself false hopes?

 

[DLS Reptile]

If it was only 1 night I wouldn't give up all hope. Leo eggs are pretty tough. Good luck

 

[dprince]

Don't give up hope!!! I had an issue last year where the power went out in June (of all months!!) for 10 hours at night........the temps in the incubator went down to 74 degrees!! Every egg that was in there at that time later hatched - no deformities. Eggs are much more resilient than we give them credit for. :main_yes:

 

[Jeremy Letkey]

Robert, I have never had it happen but I would try the wait and see approach.

A suggestion, try to secure the probe inside the incubator. Either in a container like some do or to a shelf (this is what I do).

Good luck Wahberee.

 

[david13]

just keep them and see what happens, good luck

 

[syntheticreality]

geckos were made to live in the wild. Eggs are laid in the wild. Yours may have been a bit extreme, but temps in the wild cannot be THAT consistent all of the time. I can't say whether yours will be okay or not (zero experience), but I am hoping for you.

 

[Gecko Ranch]

The most common incubator failure I keep hearing about is with the wafer heat controller on the Hovabators. When it runs away, it runs away hot and everything is fried! If you're gonna go economy you gotta pay more attention!

 

[yellermelon]

Good luck with it, let us know how it goes man...

 

[fallen_angel]

The most common incubator failure I keep hearing about is with the wafer heat controller on the Hovabators. When it runs away, it runs away hot and everything is fried! If you're gonna go economy you gotta pay more attention!

We just got a Hovabator and don't understand what you mean by "run away"...how can you tell when this is going to happen?

 

[Gecko Ranch]

We just got a Hovabator and don't understand what you mean by "run away"...how can you tell when this is going to happen?

I mean the common complaint about Hovabator failure is that it goes out of control, or "run away" hot. Just keep a very close eye on it!

 

[fallen_angel]

I mean the common complaint about Hovabator failure is that it goes out of control, or "run away" hot. Just keep a very close eye on it!

Oh okay, thanks, we certainly do and will!

 

[Ccrashca069]

I would use a good thermostat with it like a herpstat or helix. Just try not to pull the probe out of it.

 

[rubym]

Is there any warning signs that the wafer is going bad? Do you happen to know when it is recommended to change the wafer? I would rather pay 7.00 for a replacement wafer and swap it out too soon then risk a incubator full of eggs.
My husband accidently unplugged our thermostat a couple weeks ago and the Hovabator got to 101.0. We only had 2 eggs in it at the time but both hatched Tuesday and we have 2 pretty little mack snow babies. No deformities. It was probably only that temp for a couple of hours. I check it quite often during the day.

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

If you're gonna go economy you gotta pay more attention!

Actually, Robert said it was a Natures Spirit incubator... one of the best on the market. I use them, and have them hooked up to a Helix controller. They have a temperature probe that comes in from the controller through a small hole into the incubator.

Jeremy's suggestion is what I would also recommend. Keep the temperature probe in a dummy deli cup with incubation substrate, and tape the probe wire to the inside wall of the incubator where it comes in.

A temperature of 100 degrees is considered to be a fatal condition for the developing fetus in the eggs, but depending on how long they were at that temperature you may be OK with some, if not all, of the eggs. You'll just have to wait and see...

I'm sorry this happened. I made a similar mistake last year with a temperature controller probe on one of my racks, and the result was devastating for me and some of the geckos. Try not to beat yourself up about it... we all have accidents!!!

 

[Gecko Ranch]

Actually, Robert said it was a Natures Spirit incubator... one of the best on the market. I use them, and have them hooked up to a Helix controller. They have a temperature probe that comes in from the controller through a small hole into the incubator.

Jeremy's suggestion is what I would also recommend. Keep the temperature probe in a dummy deli cup with incubation substrate, and tape the probe wire to the inside wall of the incubator where it comes in.

A temperature of 100 degrees is considered to be a fatal condition for the developing fetus in the eggs, but depending on how long they were at that temperature you may be OK with some, if not all, of the eggs. You'll just have to wait and see...

I'm sorry this happened. I made a similar mistake last year with a temperature controller probe on one of my racks, and the result was devastating for me and some of the geckos. Try not to beat yourself up about it... we all have accidents!!!

That's good info, thank you! Too bad Helix has not started making incubators again. I have some of theirs from the mid 90s and they are very precise. Everyone needs to bug Helix!!!!!

 

[Geckoreo]

Out of 14 eggs,
1 survived,

Im happy about it, Im naming it milagros

 

[eyelids]

It's gorgeous! Sorry to hear about the losses...

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

I'm sorry to hear of the egg losses... but that special little one is AWESOME!

 

[bcreptiles]

sorry to hear about your losses, but good luck with this one, looks great.
i build my own incubator, with 4 heatmatts, and 2 thermosthats, 2 so if 1 goes wrong, like failing, or overheating, the other one will take over, or shut-off. just a simple save-plan, maybe an idea...
good look with the future eggs

 

[lytlesnake]

I'm very sorry that you lost those eggs. Don't feel too bad. I've lost some eggs this year too. Last year I didn't have any problems with the thermometer resting on the bottom grate of my hovabator, but this year I realized that the air above was getting too hot. Now that I've moved the thermometer so it sits on top of an incubation container, no more problems.

I've lost about 5-6 eggs or so. I thought some containers were drying out, but then I over corrected by misting too much. Some eggs swelled from too much humidity.

I've had a few other problems too. A hatchling from my cremesicle x SHTCT has a slight bend or knot in the middle of it's tail. Also one fat tail hatched with the umbilical cord still attached to the egg, but it's fine now. And finally, I hatched a leo two days ago that has a very bent tail deformity. It also had the umbilical cord still attached to it's belly, but not to the egg. This one is pretty small and thin as well, but seems to be doing fine. It absorbed the umbilical cord, and it can walk with no problems, it just looks a little awkward. As long as it can eat on it's own I'll just keep it as a pet.

This has taught me a lesson on the importance of proper incubation techniques for sure. Secure that temp probe with some electrical tape and you'll be fine next time. Hang in there. I know the guilt and disappointment can be difficult to get through.