turning a viv into an incubator good idea or not ?

[Dave W]

would it be a good idea to turn a 3 foot viv into my incubator ??

we currently use poly boxes but they are taking up some room and we are getting larger viv's in a fortnight and we will have a spare 3 foot viv.

if it is a good idea i though about geting a pulse stat and a ceramin bulb to be left on at all times to keep the heat.

we would still have the eggs in trays with the verm in

i would like to know if anyone has turned a viv into n incubator and if so the best way to go about it.

youhave to admit a viv acting as an incubator is more pleasing on the eye than poly boxes..

cheers

[reptiles_galore]

no i would recomend a poly box as the temps stay much much more stable. Plus it need to be able to hold the moisture so if its a wooden viv it will be no good anyway.

Dave

[Dave W]

ok cool worth a thought though

[Mouki]

Yehh, go for it, if you have a spare viv why not? i have an 18inch viv as an incubator. works ace to be honest, have had eggs hatch after 36 days (leos)
its got a ceramic heat bulb at a constant temp ... the viv incubator works better than the polybox, or so i've found

[HadesDragons]

It's possible to do, although I'd recommend insulating the viv to help keep the temperatures more stable and to keep running costs down. Have a look for a sheet of polystyrene in B&Q that you can cut to size and use to insulate the viv.

[reptile rhys]

hi i am low on cash and need a incubator i have a 2ft square viv i was thinking of lyning it with polly and puttins sliddders and glass shelfs and a 25w heat mat will this work ?

also can people email pics of there home made incubators rek97@hotmail.co.uk

,thanks

[SteveCourty]

Why not go on freecycle and advertise for a broken down fridge. Heat mat/cable in the bottom hey presto large incubator for bug all. You can also use it in layers so the eggs requiring more temps go at the top and lower down the cooler ones

[steve_3125]

A long as it insulated well I cant see why it wouldn't work. Andys idea of using a sheet of poly is worth a shoot and probably the best way.

[funky1]

I used to use a viv as an incubator years ago - mixed success with it tbh, but at the time it really did do a job. If you`re incubating leo eggs, try to make sure that the `egg box` isn`t in direct contact with the heatmat/strip (the incubating medium will dry out way too fast regardless of temp) and if possible, use a totally sealed box - once they reach the required temp, they hold them far better than an egg box with slight airflow (a weekly, or twice weekly air exchange becomes paramount if sealed though). As said too, insulating the viv in whatever way you choose, will also be a great aid - anything that holds a steady temp, and a fairly constant level of humidity `should` be able to be used as an incubator (within reason )