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Incubator Question

Posted By:

DiamondBliss

Okay, I figured I’d try my new hovabator(it's the 1602n version) and make sure it worked and now I’m confused. I’ve finally figured out how to set the temp but the humidity’s a bit confusing.

It says to only fill the middle water tray for chicken eggs and that put the humidity at around 35% so I put a little more water in that, and some in the surrounding tray. I’m not sure what the humidity has to be for incubating Ball Python eggs, since I tried a DIY incubator last year and it didn’t turn out so well. The humidity is currently at 66% right now.

Any thing more I should do? It’s still going to be a while until I get eggs but I just want to be extra ready this year.

Thanks,
JoAnne

P.S. I may possibly have leopard gecko eggs as well, but none of the info online seems to tell you what the humidity should be for incubating anything, just the temps. :/
Anyone know the humidity range for leo eggs?


Points:	150
Topics:	Heating , Incubation
Tags:	Hovabator, Humidity, Incubator
Species:	Pythons > Pythons > Python regius
Administrative:	Show/Hide

Member Comment

1/5/2010 9:09:09 PM

amarilrose

There are several different products you can buy that would monitor humidity levels for you, and that is what you need to do. :)

RadioShack sells some indoor/outdoor "weather monitoring stations" or whatever they would be called - they would tell you exactly what the conditions are inside the incubator :)
Good luck!

Assisted Answer

1/5/2010 9:18:23 PM

kfethe

if youre using a hovabator, the easiest thing to do is to soak peat in water, squeeze it until its wet but not drippy, and put that into a container with one or two holes for air. this is a good medium for the eggs and provides just enough humidity. i have hatched a black racer egg this way and i have a few african fat tail eggs in right now that seem to be coming along nicely. i also know a corn snake breeder that uses that method and it works well for him. humidity is hard to control in hovabators from what i hear, so controlling humidity in the individual egg container seems to work better

Author Comment

1/5/2010 9:18:38 PM

DiamondBliss

Yeah, I've got two hygrometers in there right now, an acu rite and an outdoor walmart one. Both are reading about 66% with a temp of 89F. I just don't know what humidity the actual eggs should be at.

Member Comment

1/5/2010 10:02:16 PM

amarilrose

Actually, I think most people put an egg box inside the Hovabator, with a humid substrate inside the egg box. My favorite substrate for an egg box is vermiculite. I've also heard of people using a humid substrate with "egg crate" on top of it (I don't know why it is called "egg crate," as it has nothing to do with chicken eggs, but fluorescent lighting), to prevent the eggs from coming into contact with substrate that is too damp. I have used sphagnum moss for my Ball Python females that maternally incubated their eggs, and that required daily or even twice daily misting.

As for what humidity you should shoot for when incubating Ball Python eggs... I need to look that up. Let me get back to you! :)

Author Comment

1/5/2010 10:41:19 PM

DiamondBliss

Ah, alright. I was planning on doing that, gotta see if my local store has any egg crate. They usually do.

Thanks, that'll be awesome if you find that.

So far the only thing I've found is on another forum, someone told me 95% up, though, I'm very reluctant to follow his advice as he was part of what caused the downfall of my clutch last year. :/

Member Comment

1/5/2010 11:22:10 PM

rosesreptiles

I use a hoverbator for my leos. I use hatchrite in containers with a few holes for air circulation. I had a hard time getting it down at first, but with all the eggs hatching out the past couple of months I think I finally got it down!

Member Comment

1/6/2010 2:07:13 AM

shellboa

I'm pretty sure leos are a lot less humidity than balls. I get 99% humidity from my incubator because I use a candy shipping box and an underwater aquarium heater. I like a vermiculite/perlite mix but I have heard good things about hatch rite. I wouldn't put to much moss on unless you notice the eggs denting way to soon as it can cause mold issues.

Assisted Answer

1/6/2010 11:09:28 AM

dalvers63

For all of my ball python and carpet python eggs, I shoot for 95-100% humidity. One of the reasons I've never used the Hovabator is because of others talking about how hard it is to keep the humidity high enough.

For my guys, I've used a cooler with the eggs in a plastic shoebox in vermiculite. I also converted and was successful in using a wine fridge last year. This year I might ahve to actually purchase an incubator as I'm going to have 4 or 5 clutches if I'm lucky.

Member Comment

1/6/2010 5:46:03 PM

Cenobite

As close to 100% humidity as possible without getting the eggs wet for BP's at 88-90 degrees.

Member Comment

1/6/2010 5:50:30 PM

amarilrose

Yeah, what Cenobite said... kinda. I tried to look up an actual humidity range, and all I found was a reference to "adequate humidity" with no other qualifiers as to what was an adequate range. I would aim for "humid" but not "wet," and you'll basically need to look at the eggs to determine what is too wet or too dry; if the eggs appear wet, reduce the humidity... if the eggs dimple and it isn't in the last 2 weeks before hatching, consider them too dry. That's the best I can tell you, and I'm sorry I don't have better information for you! My references proved to be completely disappointing!

Accepted Answer

1/6/2010 7:18:30 PM

Cenobite

This is "almost" perfect. I prefer closer to 90 degrees.

http://www.worldofballpythons.com/articles/substrateles-incubation-method/

Member Comment

1/6/2010 7:26:11 PM

Cenobite

http://www.worldofballpythons.com/articles/substrateles-incubation-method/

Member Comment

1/6/2010 7:27:14 PM

Cenobite

AAAARRRGGGGHHHH.....It never shows my responses being posted! Sorry for the double post.

Author Comment

1/6/2010 8:02:33 PM

DiamondBliss

Oh wow, that seems like a perfect link! Thanks SOOOO Much!

My two BPs are STILL locked as of right now and going on 48hrs without separating!

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