Getting close to purchasing a new incubator for my corn snakes. Wondering if anybody can recommend any good quality, dependable incubators. Thankyou.
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@noodlehaus recommended one like this to me and I’m planning to give it a try this year: Amazon.com
Last year I used a regular cooler with ~2 inches of water (be sure to use water in bottles, not standing water). The water keeps thermal inertia regulated when the lid is opened. I also taped a 6” strip of heat tape and a temp probe to the inside of it and it worked pretty well keeping temps for my first two clutches. Each clutch was in its own tupperware, of course, and it worked pretty well.
I would recommend using pure vermiculite over perlite, though. Everyone I’ve seen with good hatch rates has used vermiculite. It fights mold, apparently, especially when combined with a good quality sphagnum moss. Personally, I tried perlite last year, but lost a lot of clutches to mold even though my temps and humidity were spot on. Another breeder I know tried to save $ switching from vermiculite to perlite and went from nearly 100% hatch rate to losing over 1/2 of his eggs without changing any other factor. So I’m pretty sold on using vermiculite from now on.
Here’s the links of what I’ve been told by other more experienced breeders is best:
Vermiculite
Sphagnum moss this is pricier, but the cheap stuff is fully compressed and dried, and does not protect against mold
Others with more years of breeding than I may chime in, but these links represent the best advice I’ve gotten so far. Hopefully this year will be better than my first year now that I’ve compiled these improved resources.
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Wow thank you very much for your input. I appreciate the help. I will considor your suggestions. Many years caring for snakes but my first breeding experience so want to purchase a good incubator. Considering the Exo Terra Pro, has mostly good reviews. Will look into the one you suggested.
Again, Thanks !
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I probably gave you more info than you asked for. Haha! I’m sure any incubator that can keep temps within a few degrees of your setting will be sufficient. Nature has more fluctuations than most incubators.
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Whatever one you use, it’s a good idea to have a temp probe as a backup to cut off power if it gets too high.
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Yes I have an additional back up thermostat just in case. Im not taking any chances with those eggs ! Thanks !
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