Just got the LLL Reptile MR-148

[ChameleonAlley]

And it's impressive! I honestly didn't expect it be this sturdy and solid. It's also larger than I expected. I'm running some temp tests to see how well it holds the temp.

I wanted to ask you all a couple questions. The booklet that comes with it says that panther eggs should be incubated at 80-84 degrees. Is this the right temp?

Also, if I have my eggs in a tupperware container with the lid on, should I also fill the water resevoir on the bottom of the incubator to keep humidity? When using a tupperware container with the lid on, do I need to make small holes in the lid?

Thanks a ton all.

 

[Vegas Chad]

I wanted to ask you all a couple questions. The booklet that comes with it says that panther eggs should be incubated at 80-84 degrees. Is this the right temp?

I prefer my panther eggs a little runny. Incubating at those temps will give you a nice hard boil. I prefer to keep mine in the low 70’s.

 

[ChameleonAlley]

Hey thanks for the reply Chad. Yeah, I remember reading around 74 degrees. Does that sound right? I thought the 80-84 degrees seemed high. It does sound like there's quite a large range you can incubate at? Did anyone ever find any truth in the fact that different temperatures can create a different ratio of males to females?

 

[Vegas Chad]

To the best of my knowledge chameleons are not able to be temperature sexed, I have tried, and despite different temps no solid ratio numbers came from it. It only works in our geckos. My eggs never get more than 76, with 73-74 being the norm. Some people incubate them at higher temps for a faster hatch, but I would not feel comfortable with eggs in the 80’s.

 

[ChameleonAlley]

I really appreciate the info Chad. I'll make sure to keep them around that temp. I'm not worried about it taking longer at 74 if it puts the eggs in jeopardy putting them at 80. That's really interesting that it works for the geckos and other reptile species. Also thanks for the info that you've tried some different things but didn't notice a difference. I remember someone saying here or reading it somewhere that they thought putting the eggs at a higher temp created more males, but of course, there's no info to back that up. And it could have been that no matter what the temp, that's what the ratio would have been.

 

[Kent67]

I incubated my first clutch of panther eggs at a constant 80F for the entire duration. 100% hatched in 7 months and survived until they were old enough to sell. If you check the old literature by folks like Philippe de Vosjoli and Ken Kalisch they were even recommending constant 82F at the time. I went lower because I didn't know how much of a fluctuation my homemade incubator would have. Anyway, in my experience, incubating above 80F was niether fatal nor any quicker than lower temperatures. Fwiw.

 

[ChameleonAlley]

Good info to know Kent. That is a large temperature range that they can incubate in. I guess there's going to be a natural fluctuation in Madagascar conditions.

So far, the incubator runs about 10 degrees off from the temp tests I've done. I'm using a Zoomed probe thermometer to do the tests, but I'll pick a different one up tomorrow to run some more. The offset off temperature to read out isn't a big deal though, as the inside of the incubator seems to stay a consistant temp.


I'm using it to incubate cricket eggs now.

 

[Texas Panther Man]

I hope those are faly eggs. lol

 

[ChameleonAlley]

I hope those are faly eggs. lol

Man, I can't wait. Should be soon....