How to Make Your Own Reptile Incubator

Reptile eggs need to be kept moist, since their leathery shells make them susceptible to drying out. Different species of reptiles have different temperature and humidity requirements, but you can make your own reptile egg incubator that will suit most species out of common household items. If you know your reptile is going to lay eggs soon, you should make the incubator in advance, since you may have to do some fine tuning to calibrate the incubator's temperature properly.

Things You'll Need

  • Large plastic container with lid
  • 2x bricks
  • Water
  • Submersible aquarium heater
  • 2x aquarium thermometers
  • Smaller container with lid
  • Vermiculite
  • Scissors or nail
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Instructions

    • 1

      Place two bricks in the bottom of a large plastic container and fill the container with a few inches of water. You want the surface of the water to just cover the bricks.

    • 2

      Set the temperature of a submersible aquarium heater to the temperature of the eggs you will be incubating. Place the submersible aquarium heater inside the container. Place an aquarium thermometer in the water.

    • 3

      Fill a smaller container with a few inches of vermiculite. Add water to the container until the vermiculite stops soaking it up. Pour off any excess water that has collected inside the smaller container.

    • 4

      Poke air holes in the lid of the smaller container using a pair of scissors or a nail.

    • 5

      Place a thermometer inside the smaller container and put the lid on the container.

    • 6

      Sit the smaller container on the bricks and place the lid on top of the larger container.

    • 7

      Check the temperature readings on the thermometers after 24 hours. Make adjustments to the settings on the aquarium heater as necessary.

    • 8

      Once you are sure of the temperatures, press a depression for each egg in the surface of the vermiculite using your fingers. Place an egg in each depression.