Guest Anonymous Posted April 27, 2007 Report Share Posted April 27, 2007 A month or so ago one of my 'male' waterdragons laid eggs, unfortunately I found them too late. But I want to be ready for next season. I've seperated the pair from the others and was wanting to start wintering them soon (not completely sure on the dates for wintering). Repto, I've seen your setup, but I didnt ask to see how you incubate the eggs! I've seen a few rough ones, but they didnt seem very reliable with the temp. Any tips on making an incubator would be awesome. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tsarmina Posted April 28, 2007 Report Share Posted April 28, 2007 there is an excellent detailed process in T J Thornton's Red Ear Slider Turtle book. have a look at your local library if you don't wish to buy a copy (listed frequently on TM) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted April 28, 2007 Report Share Posted April 28, 2007 Teejay's design looks good or you can use a birds egg incubator without the turning mechanism Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
repto Posted April 28, 2007 Report Share Posted April 28, 2007 It can be as simple or complex as you like,you can get away with a lot more variance in temps than you can with birds. I have used everything from under the waterbed to hotwater cupboard and homemade incubators,floating containers in fish tanks and hovabator incubators. All will work but the professional made one takes alot of the worry out of it when you are trying to hatch out something rare and valuable. For $250 or so I would say a hovabator would be a good investment. goodluck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted April 28, 2007 Report Share Posted April 28, 2007 $250? Where from? Anyway, thanks guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Insect Direct Posted April 28, 2007 Report Share Posted April 28, 2007 http://www.trademe.co.nz/Home-living/Pe ... 261899.htm Ive got one of the hova bator jobs and they work good as! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted April 28, 2007 Report Share Posted April 28, 2007 sweet, cheers!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted April 28, 2007 Report Share Posted April 28, 2007 How do you control humidity with the hovabator? Or do you not worry about that so much? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Insect Direct Posted April 28, 2007 Report Share Posted April 28, 2007 It has a plastic tray in the bottom which you can/suppose to fill with water, but ive been abit slack this year checking that which hasnt effected my turtle eggs as theyre in ice cream containers inside the incubator which get a mist every so often. For an idea of size it fits 4 icecream containers inside perfectly! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted April 28, 2007 Report Share Posted April 28, 2007 I pack my turtle eggs in moist vermiculite in an incubator and mist spray periodically to keep the humidity up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted April 29, 2007 Report Share Posted April 29, 2007 ok, so no matter what you use, you would give em a quick spray every day or so? can you do it too much? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
repto Posted April 29, 2007 Report Share Posted April 29, 2007 Yes you can overdo it with moisture!! Depending on what species you are doing.Redears can take a lot of different rates of moisture but in my early days I actually had one swell up and pop.Now I just mix the vermiculite 50/50 by weight with water and inside a closed icecream container have a damp paper towel over the eggs which are half buried. Check weekly, if the paper is dry, dampen again if not, leave it. Look at your eggs,if they are shrinking and fertile up the moisture if not wait till next week.Things like snake necks can sit and sit till they get a jump in humidity to trigger the hatch. Boxies can get really dry, almost caved right in and you can swell them up again with more moisture.Too much moisture usually goes with mould as well which will stuff things up big time in no time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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