Incubator humidity?

[Sidviciouser]

What should the humidity be in an incubator?

 

[Redleg]

I too am interested to find out what the humidity is inside most containers. By that I mean (assuming the formula of 1 part media to .8 water), most are incubating their eggs in a completely sealed container only opening it once in a while for gas exchange, so what is the humidity range inside the container? Has anyone attempted to measure this?

 

[Tommy13b]

Im wondering the same thing myself.

 

[Khrysty]

I've read that it's supposed to be 80%, but I don't measure the humidity. When I put my hand into the incubator the air is so humid my hand is immediately wet. My guess is that I've got it around 85/90%

 

[Redleg]

If you were incubating your eggs (each clutch in its own sealed container) I am guessing that it does not matter what the humidity in the incubator is as the humidity is in the container which the egg is. All that the incubator does is provide the heat. So why would there be a need for additional humidity in the incubator?

I have been looking around in other forums, what I have been able to find is that relative humidity should be 80% to 90% for the eggs. Any ideas????

 

[Khrysty]

If you were incubating your eggs (each clutch in its own sealed container) I am guessing that it does not matter what the humidity in the incubator is as the humidity is in the container which the egg is. All that the incubator does is provide the heat. So why would there be a need for additional humidity in the incubator?

I have been looking around in other forums, what I have been able to find is that relative humidity should be 80% to 90% for the eggs. Any ideas????

I incubate in a container without a lid because the incubator humidity is high enough, but those that incubate in individual containers should make sure the humidity is in that range, too. It's easiest to just look for condensation, because the alternative is to get a hygrometer for each individual container and adjust the water content accordingly.

 

[Redleg]

For Khrysty.......

Do you mind taking a photo of your set up so that we can take a look at it?

 

[Khrysty]

For Khrysty.......

Do you mind taking a photo of your set up so that we can take a look at it?

I would, but my incubator is at home--and I'm at school for the next month.

It's a very simple setup, though. I've got a cooler with about 3 inches of water at the bottom and a submersible heater attached to the floor. A sweater box is raised on a platform so it sits above the water. The sweater box is filled halfway with moist perlite, and there's no cap on the container.

 

[Sidviciouser]

If you were incubating your eggs (each clutch in its own sealed container) I am guessing that it does not matter what the humidity in the incubator is as the humidity is in the container which the egg is.

Two reasons I'm asking.

1. Even in the container I get condensation and I'm wondering how much safely take out without drying eggs.

2. I setup a 18x18 incubator with perlite on the bottom instead of using containers. This way I can look in the window and see what's going on instead of opening a cooler, opening the container, etc. To see if a gecko has hatched. I'm using this for my 90* hatching incubator.

3. If I keep adding water until I get condensation drips with Albeys method, then I'm adding waaay more water then he recommends.