Why use incubators?

[garner63080]

The title explains it all. I have been reading here and some recompense them some don't care either way. What are the benefits of it?

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[TranceZ]

incubators insure accurate and consistent temps which in the long run will give you much better success in hatch rates.

 

[garner63080]

How do you get the eggs out of the hide into the incubator in Hova Bator style?

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[RampantReptiles]

You need an incubation chamber, something like tupperware with moistened vermiculate or perlite in it. This is a pretty good method: http://albeysreptiles.com/incubate-eggs.htm
Also keep in mind the eggs must oriented in the way they were laid. So up must stay up, if turned upside down the egg could go bad. That is the reason why there are "l"s written on all the eggs, to mark which side is up.

 

[acpart]

Some people on the forum have done well incubating "in situ" (just letting the eggs stay buried in the cage) or in a place in their house that has fairly steady temperatures. It can be done, but as mentioned above, insuring stable temps is the reason why most people use incubators.

Aliza

 

[MarkXS]

I've done it both ways, I prefer the control I get from an incubator, but in reality not using one usually works fine too as long as you can find a good spot for the egg box. If all you want to do is produce a few babies for yourself or some friends there really isn't any need to go to the expense of buying or building an incubator. Get one of these...
http://www.harborfreight.com/non-contact-pocket-thermometer-93983.html or something like it and go around your house checking the temperatures in various spots. You'll probably be surprised at how many warm spots you find. Good places to check are above the refridgerator, next to your computer, in your media center in a drawer above your xbox, in a high shelf in a closet... Heat rises to don't forget to check up high. When you get eggs, put them in your egg box (sealed plastic box that will hold in moisture and humidity, such as tupperware, rubbermaid, glad disposable sandwich boxes, empty potato salad tub after you've eaten the potato salad etc...) Fill your box with some moisture holding medium that is slightly damp (vermiculite, perlite, coconut coir, dirt, etc....) make sure to put a lot in there so you don't have to worry about it drying out. Put your eggs on top of or slightly buried in the medium. What you're going for is a box that maintains a high level of humidity without it getting really wet. Put the box in whatever warm spot you've decide to use and forget about it for a month. After that check on it every few days or so. If the eggs have made it this long they should go all the way.

 

[acpart]

Remember, though, to think about how hot these spots can get in the summer, or cold in the winter, especially if you don't have AC. I live in the northeast without AC and my living room ambient temp throughout the year ranges from 65-95. Even a spot that's warm in the winter is going to be really hot in my house in the summer.

Aliza

 

[MarkXS]

Good point, also remember that the more mass you have in your egg box in the form of incubation medium the more resistent it'll be to sudden temperature changes (think Ice Cream bucket instead of Deli cup)

 

[TranceZ]

I heard of people here in MN who put leopard gecko eggs in a egg container with vermiculite and stuck them in the garage during the summer months where it gets nice and humid and had success hatching leos in that type of condition, but still I would sleep better at night knowing my eggs are in a controlled environment such as an incubator. Especially, if they are high end morphs I'm trying to produce.