How to Make an Incubator for Bearded Dragon Eggs

If you are breeding bearded dragons, it will be wise to have an incubator handy to deal with the eggs. Commercially available incubators are expensive, however, and you can make your own easily. The required materials for a bearded dragon egg incubator are easy to find in most local pet stores.

Things You'll Need

  • 5-gallon tank
  • Vermiculite
  • Heating pad
  • Wire mesh lid
  • Hand towel
  • Sand
  • Thermometer
  • Small plastic container
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Attach the heating pad to the bottom of the glass tank based on the manufacturer's instructions. The heating pad should not be directly in the center of the bottom of the tank, but on one side or the other.

    • 2

      Add sand to the tank until there is approximately 1 inch of sand all the way around. Smooth the sand out so that it is flat from end to end.

    • 3

      Press the plastic container down into the center of the tank, wedging it down into the sand so that it is firmly in place.

    • 4

      Fill the plastic container halfway with vermiculite. Dampen the vermiculite, but do not get it too wet. Plug in the heating pad and wait until the vermiculite feels warm.

    • 5

      Use your thumb to create an imprint in the vermiculite for each of the eggs that you need to incubate. Transfer the eggs over carefully, taking care not to turn or flip them over, as this can cause damage to the growing embryos inside.

    • 6

      Attach the thermometer to the tank to keep track of the temperature. Take care not to let the tank get too hot. The sand will remain hot and keep the vermiculite warm, which will incubate the bearded dragon eggs.

    • 7

      Place the mesh lid on top and cover 3/4 of the lid with the hand towel. The purpose of the hand towel is to soak up any condensation that rises to keep it from raining back down on top of the eggs. You want the vermiculite to stay warm, but not at the expense of getting the eggs wet in the process.