Incubating at a Constant or a Variable Temp?

[yankfanthom]

I'm just looking to see who has had more success with hatch rates. Do you use variable temp to create diapause or do you stay at a constant for the entire term?

 

[kinyonga]

I've always incubated at a slightly variable temperature. I've had almost 100% hatching of all fertile eggs. I can't say it caused a diapause.

 

[fluxlizard]

Diapause always occurs for non-montanes- that's why the huge variation in incubation duration. The trick is ending it.

I've tried a number of different ways. I used to use daily temperature swings from low 80s days to low 70s nights and that gave incubation times around 6-7 months, which seems to roughly be what some of the newer techniques get by incubating warm for a couple of weeks, cold for a couple of months and then warm again for the duration. I've been lazy the past 10 years or so and just keep most of them in a cabinet under the sink at room temperature. Incubation duration varies wildly from ~6.5 to ~11 months. Mostly ~7 or 8 months. The longest were pardalis 13 months.

I haven't seen any big difference in hatch rate regardless of the method I have used. I believe that constant warm temps would decrease the hatch rate though.

 

[yankfanthom]

Kinyonga-I'm currently going at about 74 degrees with 90% humidity. How many degrees do you vary by and how often?

 

[kinyonga]

I set the temperature at aabout 74F. My incubator isn't normal...its open to the room....which is why I get varied temperatures because as the room heats and cools it will affect the eggs in the container slightly too. I never measure the highs and lows that it gets to inside the containers but I would think it wouldn't change by more than 4 degrees up and down.

 

[KCcham]

Diapause always occurs for non-montanes- that's why the huge variation in incubation duration. The trick is ending it.

I've tried a number of different ways. I used to use daily temperature swings from low 80s days to low 70s nights and that gave incubation times around 6-7 months, which seems to roughly be what some of the newer techniques get by incubating warm for a couple of weeks, cold for a couple of months and then warm again for the duration. I've been lazy the past 10 years or so and just keep most of them in a cabinet under the sink at room temperature. Incubation duration varies wildly from ~6.5 to ~11 months. Mostly ~7 or 8 months. The longest were pardalis 13 months.

I haven't seen any big difference in hatch rate regardless of the method I have used. I believe that constant warm temps would decrease the hatch rate though.

When you keep them warm for a couple of weeks, then cool them down for a couple of months, how cool should you keep them and for how many months??

 

[fluxlizard]

Chameleon Company recommends 65-68.
I am trying this with some ambilobes as we speak.
See this post for details:

https://www.chameleonforums.com/eggs-incubation-questions-20735/#post178180

 

[KCcham]

Thanks for finding that post for me! I have it all written down and will try it with this next clutch