Any thoughts on this Zoomed Incubator??

[ChameleonAlley]

http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog...ators/-/zoo-med-reptibator-digital-incubator/

I'm about to get an incubator and I like the fact that this one has a temp/humidity read out. The only other zoomed product that I had though was the habamist and that was a POS. I'm afraid of the thing busting after 2 months like the habamist. Has anyone used it before?

It is only $99.00 vs. this one that I've been looking at.

http://www.reptileincubator.com/

The zoomed is such a better price.

 

[ChameleonAlley]

I've also been looking at this one: http://cgi.ebay.com/Egg-Incubator-B...emQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item1c10785cf7

I've heard talk about these before. I could easily stick a humidity gauge and temp gauge inside to make sure it was reading right.

Can any of you fill me in on which one of these incubators you would use and why? Thanks all.

 

[summoner12]

http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog...ators/-/zoo-med-reptibator-digital-incubator/

I'm about to get an incubator and I like the fact that this one has a temp/humidity read out. The only other zoomed product that I had though was the habamist and that was a POS. I'm afraid of the thing busting after 2 months like the habamist. Has anyone used it before?

It is only $99.00 vs. this one that I've been looking at.

http://www.reptileincubator.com/

The zoomed is such a better price.

what are you incubating and what is your weather like? if you have a place to put an incubator that is cooler than the temp you need the eggs to be at, just buy a Hovabator. It only provides heat so you can't use it in a place that gets warmer than the desired temp.

The LLL MR-148 is pretty nice. I have one of these because the temps in my apt. go up and down relative to the temp I want my eggs at. Since this cools and heats, it works well for me. The temp swing depends on the temps outside of the fridge. but on a warm day the incubator swings about 3*F but that isn't +/- that is overall. Over the set temp it will swing about 1-2*F, again depending on the heat in the room.

 

[ChameleonAlley]

Thanks for the response! I'll be incubating panther eggs. My temps also swing like yours do. Is the temperature fluctuation too much of a problem in that mini fridge? This is the one I was thinking about getting from the beginning, but heard there was some temp fluctuation to it.

Also, do you think that Humidity within the incubator is a concern if the eggs are in hatchrite in tupperware containers? Also, do you know what the humidity levels should be?

Thanks a ton.

 

[summoner12]

I don't know much abut Hatchrite other than it should work straight out of the bag as long as it wasn't opened.... so if you use it put it into a delicup with no holes on the side or the lid and seal them up.... if you see lots of condensation you should remove the lid and wipe it away.

when using vermiculite you should put some in a bowl. add some water... stir it all up and then squeeze a fistful in your hand. If water drops come out it's too wet, if it falls apart as you open your hand it's too dry. You want maybe a drop or two of water to come out of the fist when the mix is just right. if you have too much water, add more vermiculite. If your too dry add water.

about the temp swings... it isn't a big deal. What I found is that you can't beleive what the face of the incubator is telling you. Buy a indoor/outdoor digital thermometer and put the 'outside' probe inside the incubator. Be sure to get one that will tell you temp. min. and max for both in/outdoor probes. I reset mine each morning to see how warm it got in the room and inside the incubator. I don't rely on the temp indicator on the incubator, I set it to what I think I want and then I watch min./max temps inside and then adjust the temp 'setting' accordingly. remember to put foil over the window so the eggs don't see any light. Remember, they develop underground.

The guys that sell this incubator tell us they redid the electronics to make the temp more accurate.... but if they did, please explain why mine has temp swings just like a 'thinkgeek.com' minifridge? They claim it is a different computer inside but i think they are BSing......

 

[ChameleonAlley]

I can't thank you enough Summoner. You've really clarified everything I was needing to know perfectly. Thank you so much for taking the time to answer these questions.

 

[summoner12]

Oh another thing.... I have a jug of water in the fridge to help regulate the temps.... having mass in the fridge that holds heat will keep the temp swings from being too big.

 

[ChameleonAlley]

Thanks for that advice. ^^ Have you found that a 3 degree fluctuation can affect whether or not the eggs will hatch? I guess, what I'm trying to say is does it have to be at an exact temp constantly? There's got to be some temp fluctuation in the ground.

 

[summoner12]

yeah it's not a big deal... I have only had my eggs in my incubator for about a month.... but I know others who have had good success regardless of the fluctuation.

the best thing is to put the incubator somewhere cool....

 

[ChameleonAlley]

That makes me worry a little less. Thanks so much Summoner. That's the one I'm getting then.

 

[summoner12]

Glad I could help. I wasn't sure what I was getting into... I knew a couple of bits but I knew if I wanted to keep my carpet eggs I was gonna need something that could cool just as well as warm. So I made the jump.

 

[Brad Ramsey]

I have had great success with making my own incubators using a styrofoam cooler, a rubbermaid shoe box and an aquarium heater.
I don't breed veileds anymore so I will just be sticking montane eggs in the basement closet.

Kevin, why do you need warm and cool for carpet eggs?
I don't think the diapause period is considered necessary with this species anymore.



-Brad

 

[summoner12]

It isn't for diapause.

what are you incubating and what is your weather like? if you have a place to put an incubator that is cooler than the temp you need the eggs to be at, just buy a Hovabator. It only provides heat so you can't use it in a place that gets warmer than the desired temp.

The LLL MR-148 is pretty nice. I have one of these because the temps in my apt. go up and down relative to the temp I want my eggs at. Since this cools and heats, it works well for me. The temp swing depends on the temps outside of the fridge. but on a warm day the incubator swings about 3*F but that isn't +/- that is overall. Over the set temp it will swing about 1-2*F, again depending on the heat in the room.

I have had great success with making my own incubators using a styrofoam cooler, a rubbermaid shoe box and an aquarium heater.
I don't breed veileds anymore so I will just be sticking montane eggs in the basement closet.

Kevin, why do you need warm and cool for carpet eggs?

Kevin Stanford says the diapause method is old news with this species and he has the greatest success of anyone with them.

-Brad

 

[Brad Ramsey]

I knew if I wanted to keep my carpet eggs I was gonna need something that could cool just as well as warm.

This statement confused me, I get it now.

-Brad

 

[chamelisa]

...The LLL MR-148 is pretty nice....

This looks similar to the ones I use. Basically the same mini-fridge they used to sell for $89.99 at www.ikitchen.com. It's no longer available. I think chameleon keepers caught wind of it and bought them all up.

 

[summoner12]

This statement confused me, I get it now.

-Brad

yeah I meant that if I planned to try and keep the eggs and actually hatch them I should 'upgrade' to something that would do a better job. my Hovabator failed me on all of my veiled eggs accept two.... I've had like 75 or more eggs and only 2 hatch and one hatchling make it....

This is mostly because I can't keep the temps down. My apt. gets too warm in the summer and we're on the second floor so we get most of the heat