What Incubator do you use?

[satyr666]

I'm looking to purchase an incubator I will be buying a Herpstat to control temperature. I know a lot of people recommend building your own but at the moment I'm looking at buying one. What incubator's do you recommend or not recommend. I was looking at the mini fridge style that I seen on a lot of websites but they seem to have disappeared. Also is there an advantage to either the Hova Bator or Little Giant incubators they seem similar.

Thanks

(You can choose multiple options)

 

[TranceZ]

Currently using Little Giant. No problems so far.

 

[Enigmatic_Reptiles]

Currently we are using a Mr-148, Some Nature Spirits, and a custom stand up freezer conversion.

 

[RampantReptiles]

I use hovabators with a foot long piece of 11" heat tape and a herpstat. So the Hovabator essentially works the same as a cooler. I just like having the windows so I can peak inside without opening the incubator.
I found that this method, in conjunction with GEOs, I have almost 100% hatch rates.

 

[Taquiq]

I use the MR-148 mini fridge, as well as a Hova-Bator.

 

[OnlineGeckos]

Using two MR-148 Pro mini fridges, they've been working great. But LLL discontinued them.

 

[kkigs]

Using two MR-148 Pro mini fridges, they've been working great. But LLL discontinued them.

Here is another incarnation of that one. More expensive than what LLL had. http://www.surehatch.com/incubators...superhatch-digital-reptile-egg-incubator.html

 

[satyr666]

I use hovabators with a foot long piece of 11" heat tape and a herpstat. So the Hovabator essentially works the same as a cooler.

Is the included heater not very good in the Hovabators or does it not work well with the Herpstat?

 

[RampantReptiles]

I go with the theory that over head heating for reptile eggs is not the best method. It makes sense for bird eggs since it is similar to what would occur in a bird nest. Also bird eggs get turned allowing consistent incubation, reptile eggs dont.

Reptile eggs also dont incubate in the same type of environment. They normally would be buried in the ground and warmed by the earth from all around. I like having heat from underneath. It allows the heat to surround the eggs and move upward, which is natural, along the heat gradient (heat rises :main_thumbsup.

I also think it is more economical. Less energy would be required to heat from underneath and move upward than would be to heat from above and forced downward.

Honestly if you are just incubating for fun or what not and want to save money then using the heat element in a hovabator is fine.

Happy Incubating!

 

[MarkXS]

Here is another incarnation of that one. More expensive than what LLL had. http://www.surehatch.com/incubators...superhatch-digital-reptile-egg-incubator.html

Here is the same thing on amazon.com for $25.00 cheaper.
http://www.amazon.com/ReptiPro-5000-Incubator/dp/B0050I4H92/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&qid=1325300643&sr=8-14

Also the Exoterra ones are there as well.
http://www.amazon.com/Hagen-PT2499-Terra-Incubator-Unit/dp/B004AJLREA/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1325301033&sr=8-4

 

[tiedxupxinxknots]

Has anyone used any of these 2?

Here is the same thing on amazon.com for $25.00 cheaper.
http://www.amazon.com/ReptiPro-5000-Incubator/dp/B0050I4H92/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&qid=1325300643&sr=8-14

Also the Exoterra ones are there as well.
http://www.amazon.com/Hagen-PT2499-Terra-Incubator-Unit/dp/B004AJLREA/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1325301033&sr=8-4

 

[HerpAlicious]

Last year was our first year breeding and we had a 100% hatch rate with our Hovabator. We had one egg that did not hatch, but we were going to be gone for a few days, and it's clutchmate had hatched, so we moved the container to the hatchling rack, assuming it was going to hatch soon. When we came home, the egg smelled bad. We think the move messed everything up and we won't be doing that again! So, I don't really count that egg in our rate since it didn't stay in the Hovabator.

We purchased another one this year so we can have one incubator temped for males, and the other for females, as well as make sure we''ll have plenty of space.