Most effective way to build an incubator???

[gmoth]

My green and albino burms have really been at it recently...

I know there are going to be eggs, what is the best way to incubate them?
What i mean is tempreatures???
What to put in it??? vermiculite etc
What to use???
Does tempreture effect the sex of them???

Any tips for maximizing success rate of them hatching???

[Bushbaby]

I'll put some pics of my incubator up some time soon.

Just to answer a few of your questions though, No, temperature does not influence sex in snakes.

Vermiculite is the best to use for incubation. You must get the medium one, you get a very fine vermiculite and a very "chunky" one. Neither of them are good. You need to use 1 part vermiculite to 1 part water. i.e. 100gm vermiculite to 100gm water. When you squeeze the vermiculite water must not drip from it.

Incubation temperature I am not certain. I think it's 31 degrees. I'll get back to you on that one.

Hope this helps.

[gmoth]

THANK YOU BB...

It does help a lot.

just one thing u mentioned one part vermiculite to one part water, well what happens if you do that surely within a couple of days the water will eveporate slightly??? So would you then have to take the eggs out every couple of days and make sure you get that 1:1 ratio again??? Then you put eggs back in???

What heatsource can i use? I normally use heatlamps for all my cages but wouldn't this cause a problem as it will not be a consistant heat all round???
Are heating pads maybe better, although to achieve 31 degrees C i dont think a pad will do that??? Also if i use a pad the heat is coming from the bottom will this cause issues???

[Bushbaby]

No, you can either mist the vermiculite slightly every couple of days, or use an incubator which uses water for heat as this will create humidity.

You need an ambient temperature (i.e. all round). It is not impossible to use a heating pad as I know of someone who had hatched eggs that way. The problem with some incubators is that they have a light and heating pad for heat distribution, but the light dries out the air, so you need to be able to up the humidity. Also, you should not place the bowl with eggs directly ontop of the heating pad, as this will also cause the vermiculite / eggs to dry out too quickly.

[gmoth]

Thanks again...
Any idead of humidity levels and correct tempreature???
Would you recommend buying an incubator, or do you know of any to buy???
Do you build your own incubators???
When i spray for humidity should i pull the eggs out then spray, then put them back in???

[Bushviper]

The eggs have to be at 100% humidity. Temp 30.5 to31.5 and not a half a degree either way.

Once the eggs have been laid you must not touch them again. If they just turn a bit it can cause the death of the embryo. Spray the vermiculite around the eggs with warm water so that if some lands on the eggs it is not a cold shock to them.

[gmoth]

Nice thats the info i needed...
Okay so the only time i touch them is to take them off the mother??? I presume when taking them off her you need to handle them very carefully???
How long before they hatch???

And thanks...

[gmoth]

Lastly, do you build your own incubator or would you recommend buying any? And what heat source do you use for even distrubution all round???

[Bushbaby]

The main thing is to move them as little as possible when you are taking them away from the mother. It is usually best to take out the female first, and then remove the eggs.

They incubate for about 60 days.

[Gabi]

The mother is also protective over the eggs, is she not?

[Bushbaby]

Very!! Some are not as bad, but most are. Same with Boas. The mothers protect their young, and even the calmest snake can turn into a "monster".

[Sean]

i think you may also find this post helpfull

http://www.sareptiles.co.za/forum/viewt ... =incubator

[gmoth]

Im sure they can be a bit aggressive a mother with her young... VERY DANGEROUS... I really dont mind that i will be so over whelmed by the eggs...