My homemade incubator. :D

[little98dime]

Hey everyone. Been monitoring the incubator I built all week long and decided i would share it with you all. its a 10 gallon aquarium filled with 3 gallons of water. Bricks were layed on their sides and thick plexiglass was layed on that for the container shelf. Between the bricks is a submersible heater that is adjustable and accurate to 1 degree. I set up 3 containers as if I had eggs in them and put a probe in the top of each except one. I still need to get another probe for that one. I also have 2 temp and humidity gauges, one at the front, one in the back to monitior the tank's air temps and humidity. All week the tank has been stable at 84-85. it goes no higher than 85 and no lower than 84. The containers are even more stable. On the sides of the tank are 2 pieces of foam insulation and covering the top is a hand towel. i noticed that it allows humidity to disipate to a degree and the temps stay stable. Hope this gives some people who are new to breeding (like myself) and idea on how to save money.

 

[ZooKeeperKarin]

Pretty cool! What is the water temp at?

 

[little98dime]

I had to set the heater to about 94 to get the air temps up where they needed to be. but I can adjust up or down depending on if I want males or females. It has been sitting all week and stable from 84 to 85. we had a really hot day here the other day and that was the only time it went higher than 85, but that was only by half a degree. it got to 110 here after heat index... yuck. window AC units just dont cut it in that kind of weather. haha

 

[thegeckoguy23]

Looks okay it might work. For the amount of everything that you paid for this you could have got a hova bator.


Jake

 

[little98dime]

only thing I had to buy was the heater and a thermometer... total $27.

 

[thegeckoguy23]

only thing I had to buy was the heater and a thermometer... total $27.

Oh well its pretty close to a hova bator lol.


Jake

 

[little98dime]

hovabators are in the $50 range. this is mainly for someone that has the stuff laying around like I did. really you wouldnt even need the thermometers. I did that simply because im a little COD about temps and stability. haha

 

[Southern_Slang]

I really like this, its a very good look and like u say its for people who already have the majority of the items jus lying around.

 

[bebetee]

wow can you take more pictures of this? like the front what heater did you get for it?

 

[thegeckoguy23]

hovabators are in the $50 range. this is mainly for someone that has the stuff laying around like I did. really you wouldnt even need the thermometers. I did that simply because im a little COD about temps and stability. haha

Oh i got mine for $39.00 but what ever floats your boat




Jake

 

[little98dime]

Sure thing. I'll do it after work today. Its not pretty, but it does the job well. The heater is a 100 watt submersable. I can't remember the brand off hand. I'll find out though.

wow can you take more pictures of this? like the front what heater did you get for it?

 

[Elisa]

I've done the same thing but for me total cost was $0 haha I had everything lying around already so I just rigged it together. I used mine for picta though, this will be my first time using this set-up for leopard geckos. :main_thumbsup:

 

[thegeckoguy23]

I really like this, its a very good look and like u say its for people who already have the majority of the items jus lying around.

I know this is off topic but i love your avatar!




Jake

 

[LeoGirl575]

I was thinking of doing something like this, because I have tons of submersible heaters lying around the house... and extra aquariums.

However, is it possible that instead of keeping the egg containers out of the water, I could keep the water at 80F (for females) and just let the containers of eggs sit in there?? Would I still have to measure the media beforehand and wet it appropriately?? Or, by leaving the containers partially in the water with holes poked in the top, and a towel covering the top of the aquarium, that would do the job of humidity? Thanks!

 

[little98dime]

personally, i wouldnt want to risk the container becoming submerged somehow. having them just above the water is they way I have seen pretty much every incubator like this. Also, I would say yes to the media question. I like going with tried and true methods when it comes to the lives of my animals... or soon to be in this case.

 

[joeyjoe9876]

Hows the humidity levels?

 

[little98dime]

They hover around 80-90.

 

[Glass_]

Have you had any hatches from this method yet? If not, can you update on it when you do, because some people say that this method won't work because of fluctuating temp. levels and high humidity levels, but everything looks like it's working for you. Nice job.

 

[little98dime]

No hatches yet. I have a pair that will hopefully hatch in the next week or so. Temps are holding pretty well so far.

 

[5HiddenLizards]

Great job & use of creativity! i like the set up.Glad that its maintaining temperatures. Good luck with everything!