Is This A Good Starter Kit?

[LIZARDLOVER]

I've never bred reptiles before, and I just built my first hatchling rack. I am thinking about purchasing this incubator kit from LLL Reptile:

http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog...s/-/specialincubator-hatchrite-and-deli-cups/

My questions are:

1) Is this a reliable incubator?

2) Is the incubation medium a good buy?

3) How many eggs could I incubate at once, clutches from two diff. females?

4) Is it a good price?

5) Does it require a thermostat?

6) Is there another incubator you would recomend (Under 60$)?

Thank you very much for your input!

 

[LIZARDLOVER]

bump

 

[Neill]

I honestly think i bought that my first year breeding. Its fine over time the you will find other things you like. That will work fine for now.

 

[LIZARDLOVER]

Does it need a thermostat?

 

[Tony C]

Does it need a thermostat?

Depends on your room temperature. If it is steady the built in thermostat should be good enough, but if it fluctuates a lot you may need a better thermostat.

 

[LIZARDLOVER]

Okay, thanks a bunch! Is there another brand you would reccomend, or is this one a good buy?

 

[sammer021486]

Okay, thanks a bunch! Is there another brand you would reccomend, or is this one a good buy?

If you have a room that stays at a fairly constant temp, then it is a good buy. There is nothing else in the price range you are asking for that I know of that will work. I ended up placing mine in my basement because that was the only place that stayed cool enough during the summer.

As for the hatchrite it has mixed reviews. I personally have only used super hatch and I like it alot. Very easy to set up, requires no measuring, just soak it, drain it and place your eggs in the medium.

 

[LIZARDLOVER]

Is this particular incubator a good one? (Have you ever used it?) And can it be used with the suspension method from squamata concepts?

 

[sammer021486]

Is this particular incubator a good one? (Have you ever used it?) And can it be used with the suspension method from squamata concepts?

It will, but you will have to specify that you are using a Hovabator when you order the SIM, so that you get the modified SIM container for the Hova.

I am currently using the Hova with sandwich containers filled with super hatch. I have no problems getting my humidity to the proper level in this set up.

I have simulated a SIM using both water gel and super hatch and all of my eggs in the simulation have dented. Placed the eggs just in the super hatch and the dents popped out. I am not sure why that occured but it did, because all I did was remove the elevated platform, never changed the medium or incubator. Maybe if I tried the modification in my containers I may be able to fix the denting.

 

[Gregg M]

Hey Samuel,
The no substrate incubation method or SIM will not work in top heated incubators no matter what type or size container you use to simulate the method in... It has to do with the element heating up the air more so than the substrate below... The air stays dry and hot so the vapor does not have a chance to rise from the substrate...

The reason why it is ok when the eggs are in the substrate is because the eggs are taking the humidity from the substrate... These are two very different incubation methods and one can not be compared to the other...

If you do use the modification like I posted, the SIM or any no substrate container will work and your eggs will not dent...

 

[sammer021486]

Hey Samuel,
The no substrate incubation method or SIM will not work in top heated incubators no matter what type or size container you use to simulate the method in... It has to do with the element heating up the air more so than the substrate below... The air stays dry and hot so the vapor does not have a chance to rise from the substrate...

The reason why it is ok when the eggs are in the substrate is because the eggs are taking the humidity from the substrate... These are two very different incubation methods and one can not be compared to the other...

If you do use the modification like I posted, the SIM or any no substrate container will work and your eggs will not dent...

Interesting to know. I never would have thought that the eggs are pulling it from being in contact with the substrate.