Which Bator

[Brett B]

Hey,
I have been just browsing around for a cheap, yet useable incubator. The only things I am asking of it are:
Cheap
Consistant Temperature
Durable
User Friendly

I do not need very much space as I am a beginning breeder. I was thinking about a DIY fishtank incubator as I have several extra tanks lying around but would that be consitant enough?
I also looked at Hovabators, the Still Air version. I'd rather not spend alot of cash away but I dont want to lose a clutch due to a bad incubator.
Any ideas?

 

[thegeckoguy23]

I have the Hovabator and so far it has served me well...

 

[Brett B]

I have the Hovabator and so far it has served me well...

Which model? And how long have you had it for?

 

[acpart]

The hobovator works well for many many people and is a very good price. The disadvantages are:
--it's best to get a proportional thermostat to regulate temps which will run you another $100 or so
--if you don't have AC and your ambient temp gets higher than the temp you want to incubate at, your incubator temp will go up no matter what you do
--if you want to use the SIM egg container you will need special modifications (which they sell) to use it in the hobovator

There are many varieties of the heat/cool mini fridge for sale online. They all look the same from the outside though each manufacturer claims theirs is different. So far I have seen essentially the same thing at:lllreptile, reptipro5000, kemp, big apple. Shop around; the prices vary widely but seem to run about $150. I actually think this is the same price as a hobovator + proportional thermostat, so it's worth looking into . THey are a little tricky to callibrate but it solves the ambient temp problem since they cool too.

You could also contact Squamata Concepts (see banner above) as I hear they're going to bring out a new cost effective incubator.

Aliza

 

[Brett B]

Thanks. When will the Squamata Concepts Bator come out? I will look into the fridge style incubators as I would like a SIM egg container and proportional thermostat. What is the "best" incubator in the Sub $150 price range? Or one that will fit well in my needs.

 

[acpart]

You'll have to contact the Sqauamata guys to find out when the incubator will be out and how much it will cost. With the fridge style incubators you probably won't need a proportional thermostat. Either way, it's probably going to cost you around $150. I recommend you check in with the Squamata guys first and then decide if you want to spend your money on the hovobator + thermostat or one of the mini fridges (I really think they're all about the same except for price so shop around and be sure to calculate shipping).

Aliza

 

[Northstar Herp]

The Squamata Concepts incubator is being sold now, and you can get with SIM's included. And they're nice guys, too...

PM GreggM or go to their site for more info.

 

[Brett B]

Thanks. I emailed the guys at Squmata for a price on their incubators. I will look around at the fridge style incubators but my house stays at a constant 70 F so would the fridge style be necessary?

 

[acpart]

You would not have the problem of the ambient temps, but (and you can read about this extensively on the forums here) there are issues with the hobovator providing heat from the top, even though they have worked well for many people.

Aliza

 

[Brett B]

http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog...-incubators/-/lllreptile-pro-mr148-incubator/

Can I use a SIM with that? I really like the SIM because you don't have to worry about buying bedding for the eggs.

 

[Northstar Herp]

http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog...-incubators/-/lllreptile-pro-mr148-incubator/

Can I use a SIM with that? I really like the SIM because you don't have to worry about buying bedding for the eggs.

You can use a SIM, it will fit two of them.

Be aware of this, that I have an MR-148, it worked for two months and then stopped heating. I don't know of anybody else who has had this problem, so hopefully it's an isolated incident.

 

[Brett B]

You can use a SIM, it will fit two of them.

Be aware of this, that I have an MR-148, it worked for two months and then stopped heating. I don't know of anybody else who has had this problem, so hopefully it's an isolated incident.

Great. I will try to find a nice fridge style incubator because upgrading a $40 incubator to $150 is kinda stupid. Hovabators are also used for poultry so I would'nt exactly trust them either. Any other nice fridge style bators out there? I have just started looking.

 

[Brett B]

How bout this? The Repti Bator

http://www.reptmart.com/p-2474-reptibatorreg-for-sale.aspx

 

[Northstar Herp]

looks to me to be an expensive hovabator.

 

[Brett B]

Ok. I just got an email from the guys at Squamata and they said there should be more Incubators in by the end of the week and the SIM is $20 so I may do that depending on the price of their incubator. How good are these things becaise I heard their supposed to be very good.

 

[Northstar Herp]

I've been using a SIM this year with success, haven't had any issues at all, if you're asking about the SIM and not the Squamata incubator.

Their incubator is new, but Gregg has a good name on here, has been raising herps for a while, and you can PM the guy you bought it from any time. If I was buying one, that's probably where I'd get it from.

 

[Brett B]

Yes thats why I am going to use the SIM. I have heard of great results with it. I'm just trying to find a decent incubator and I'm pretty sure I found it. The Squamata is a decent little incubator ( or so I have heard). So I cannot wait until they get them back into stock.

 

[Stl_Greaser]

looks to me to be an expensive hovabator.

Seems to have a lot more features than a Hovabator. For one it already has a proportional thermostat.

 

[Northstar Herp]

Yeah, that's what makes it more expensive. I guess I could have said that a little better...

 

[Dotworks01]

Has anyone even looked at the kemps incubators they are a bit pricey but look nice also where can I find more about the squatama concepts incubAtor