Are you breeding reptiles? If you have pet reptiles you are breeding you will need an incubator to maximise the chances that they will hatch. Reptiles like any animals can be carnivorous when it comes to their young, especially if they feel they are about to miss a meal. It is imperative that when your reptile does lay eggs that you move them into an incubator.
Reptile Incubators
An incubator will range in temperature from 5 degrees C to 60 degrees C depending on the surrounding temperature. There is a thermostat on the incubator so you can regulate it properly. Reptile incubators and products come in a variety of sizes. You need to purchase the right size incubator based on the type of reptile and how many eggs you expect to have. Lighting will come as part of the incubator.
Another option when it comes to incubators is making your own. There is a cheap and easy way to get a reptile incubator. You would need a terrarium heater, terrarium with the right size for the reptile, and substrate for the incubator based on the type of reptile. There are substrates designed specifically for eggs. You will also want to purchase a thermometer to help regulate the temperature. Chicken incubators do not work for reptiles. Chicken incubators run too hot for the reptile eggs since they are cold blooded animals.
There are reptile incubator kits that come with everything we listed above to make your own. The kits can be more affordable for you because you are not buying piecemeal, but they can also be harder to find. Not all manufacturers will offer an incubator kit.
An Incubator like the Lucky Reptile Herp Nursery is a fully equipped incubator. It is one unit with the thermostat and thermometer built into the incubator. It typically looks like a mini fridge in size due to the larger size and style. They can be helpful if you will be breeding many reptiles.
Other options you have are small incubators with the access hole in the top. These incubators are completely covered and very much like small holes. In the wild reptiles dig holes into the dirt to bury their eggs. The soil keeps the eggs the right temperature as well as keeping the poachers away. The Turbo Fan Hova or Thermal Hova incubators are a lot like the natural dirt incubator. You can fill it with substrate, and bury the eggs to keep them at the right temperature.
Before you breed your reptiles speaking with a professional like a vet can be helpful. They will be able to tell you what style incubator will work best for your reptile eggs. They can also help you determine the temperature, humidity, and other reptile incubator products you might need. Raising hatchlings can be tough if you are new to the process. The incubator you set up may need to be the hatchlings terrarium, which may decide what you choose.
If your looking for more information about breeding pet reptiles then here at www.ReptilePetSupplies.co.uk we provide you with all the information that you need to start breeding your own reptiles, so make sure you have a look at are reptile articles and reptile care sheet sections.
