Homemade Gecko Incubator

Incubators are essential tools for anyone interested in breeding reptiles, particularly many types of geckos, such as leopard geckos, tokay geckos or house geckos. Incubators ensure that the eggs are kept a constant temperature and humidity, allowing the embryos to develop into healthy hatchlings. These devices can sell for hundreds or even thousands of dollars for professional units, but you can build your own at home with a few easy-to-find materials for a fraction of the cost.

Things You'll Need

  • Polystyrene box with lid
  • Broiler rack
  • Heat mat
  • Thermometer
  • Plastic bowl
  • Scissors
  • Plastic food container
  • Vermiculite
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Instructions

    • 1

      Place the heat mat at the bottom of the polystyrene box. These mats are readily available at pet stores and are designed to warm reptile enclosures. An adjustable heat mat is recommended but not required. Cut a hole at the bottom of one side of the box to run the heat mat's power cord through. Plug the mat into a power outlet.

    • 2

      Place the broiler rack over the heat mat. This will suspend the gecko eggs over the mat so they do not come into direct contact with it and overheat.

    • 3

      Place the bowl of water on one side of the broiler rack. This will maintain a proper humidity level in the incubator.

    • 4

      Attach the thermometer to the wall of the polystyrene box in order to help monitor the temperature. A digital thermometer is highly recommended.

    • 5

      Twist a few ventilation holes into each side of the box using the scissors. Two or three holes, each with about a 1 cm diameter, should do.

    • 6

      Fill the plastic food container with a half-vermiculite, half-water mix. This will hold the eggs as they incubate.

    • 7

      Place the eggs gently into the vermiculite-water mix and be careful not to turn them over while transferring them.

    • 8

      Place the plastic container of vermiculite and eggs onto the broiler rack and close the polystyrene box's lid. The eggs will begin incubating.