Incubation.....

[Jeff_Favelle]

With all the talk of dying eggs, computer fans, what Carpets do in nature, humidity, etc etc etc, I decided to show my setup. Its so basic that it would make Boidkeeper (Trev) roll over in his grave!!

All you need is an insulated, water-tight box, a submersible fish heater (wattage dependent on the size of the aformentioned box), a small container for the eggs, some bricks, and some digital thermometers. And for the people who are always flush, a Helix control for backup.

Steps:

1) Put the bricks in the box.
2) Fill the box with water (up to 1 inch from the top of the bricks).
3) Put the small container for the eggs on top of the bricks.
4) Put the submersible fish heater in the water.
5) Put the digital thermometer probes in the small container.
6) Calibrate the incubator to 88-90F for Pythons, and 83-85F for colubrids.
7) Breed your snakes and get eggs and put them in.

Everything except step 7 is as easy as mud. You can build this setup for $40 Canadian (25 cents US). Why anyone would use anything else (save for an incubation room for the big breeders. But if you're a big breeder, you are NOT reading this thread) is beyond me.

100% hatch rates. Everytime. The trick is, dry or no substrate, and 100% humidity.


http://members.shaw.ca/gallerya/heh%20heh.jpg

http://members.shaw.ca/JeffFavelle_new/incubator1.jpg

http://members.shaw.ca/JeffFavelle_new/incubator2.jpg

http://members.shaw.ca/JeffFavelle_new/Incubator.jpg

[vanderkm]

Thank you, thank you, thank you!! Wonderful info and great photos with simple clear plan. Will be trying it out once the hondurans lay.

mary v.

[reverendsterlin]

well looks better than the 2 sided tupperwares I toss eggs into before shoving them under the bathroom sink (n/j/k but for real) not sure it works better lol g/luck Jeff

[Jeff_Favelle]

Ha ha Rev! The tops of fridges work great too! But I don't trust that for Python eggs. Actually, being the freak that I am, I don't trust that for colubrids either, ha ha. But a TON of people do it that way!

Cheers! :D

Van: Get that incubator set up at least 2-3 weeks before you expect eggs. Careful calibration can take up to 72 hours!!

[Dom]

100% humidity .. interesting.. I also notice none of you containers have holes.. I imagine its to keep humidity higher..

How damp is your vermiculite under the plastic grailling .. its sqeezed I imagine?

Tx Jeff

[Matt]

Great info Jeff, think i will try that method this season!

[Jeff_Favelle]

Dom it doesn't matter how damp the vermiculite is. The eggs don't touch it. It can be bone dry, or it can be standing in an inch of water. Its doesn't matter. The eggs have NO substrate and 100% air humidity. Easy as pie.

There's holes. Just not many.

Matty, you gotta try it! :D

[Dom]

Defenetly easyer to take care of...

Obviously it prooves to be vrey succesfull.. Ill give it a shot next year..

[Jeff_Favelle]

Good stuff man. You won't be disappointed.

[Dom]

It was my first year of breeding.. and have learned SO MUCH from it .. I shoudl be ready for next year and hopefully will have morethen my 1/3 females ovulate and better tehn 50% hatch rate..

I guess you gotta start somewhere though ..

I just wish I had nto done so many stupid mistakes... grrr

[Bearded AL]

Hey Jeff will this kind of incubator work for lizard eggs aswell?

[Jeff_Favelle]

Depends on the lizard Al.

Dom, I her ya! But it just shows, that you can never read too much, nor can yo ever be too prepared!