incubation methods.?

What do you think are the best most reliable way to incubate panther eggs.? Do you buy an incubator make your own.? What do you use inside it.? How do you keep it moist.? Do you change temps, is are they all the same the whole time.?

I've just been reading post about everyone's methods and wondered what was the best.

I put the eggs into vermiculite that is damp (but not wet) in a small plastic container with a lid. one or two pin holes in lid. Put container into a closet in my chameleon's room. Then I Wait.
The temperature of the room fluctuates, but its never really cold.
I check the container about monthly for the first six months to make sure the vermiculite stays moist.
After that I may check a little more frequently, for signs of hatching.

I've always incubated (and would incubate chameleon eggs the same way) by putting the eggs in damp vermiculite (like Sandra) in a plastic container with a couple holes, and place all of that into a plastic shoe box with about an inch of water in it. I find that regardless of what the room does, the water acts as a temperature sink and maintains things pretty steady. And it keeps the humidity up, I really never have to replace the water in the vermiculite. It's worked well for me with gecko eggs that incubate at room temperature, I speculate it would work for chameleons as well. But I haven't tried it with them, so take what as I say as just an idea.

What exactly is damp.? I heard you should be able to squeeze it and get out no more then three drops.? Or was it two.? The only reason why I am hesitant about a room incubator, whenever I start breeding, is that my room get extremely cold. I wouldnt want to risk anything.

mychamtini112012 said:

What exactly is damp.? I heard you should be able to squeeze it and get out no more then three drops.? Or was it two.? The only reason why I am hesitant about a room incubator, whenever I start breeding, is that my room get extremely cold. I wouldnt want to risk anything.

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ya, being able to squeeze out 2 or three drops from a big fistfull is about right.

how cold is really cold?

I had eggs that took 13 months to hatch, likely due to long periods of time at well below room temp.

Umm....it was around sixty in there a couple nights ago. its usually between 60-65 in there.

that is not very cold, but it might be too cold for eggs.


The "Hovabators" are simple foam heating incubators that might serve you well. There are the big heat/cool types too, but I have heard too many horror stories about those (tho i have no personal experience)