Homemade Incubator for Reptiles

An incubator is an ideal site for hatching reptile eggs, because a controlled environment encourages more successful hatching. Each reptile species has its own specifications for the perfect temperature and humidity in an incubator, but you can make an incubator suitable for most reptile species relatively easily at home.

  1. Outer Container

    • Reptile incubators consist of an outer container and an inner container. The outer container can be an aquarium that you buy from a pet store, or some other insulated box, such as a Styrofoam cooler.

      Line the outer container with bricks or flat rocks for the inner container to rest on, and fill it with water until the water level reaches the bricks or rocks. This will help the incubator achieve an appropriate humidity level.

      Place a submersible heater on an inside wall of the outer container in order for the incubator to reach an appropriate hatching temperature. For most reptile species, a heater setting of 80 to 85 degrees is appropriate.

      Place a humidity gauge toward the top of the outer container. This will help you monitor the humidity level inside the incubator.

    Inner Container

    • The inner container will hold the reptile eggs. It can be a small "critter cage" or a plastic storage container with a lid, as long as it fits neatly in the outer container.

      Drill a hole in the top of your inner container that's large enough for a thermometer probe so that you can monitor the temperature inside. Line the bottom of your inner container with a layer of vermiculite, potting soil or sphagnum moss, depending on the species of reptile you're hatching. This is the material that the eggs will rest on, so put a small indentation in the material where each egg will be before placing them inside.

    Incubator Operation

    • Research the species of reptile you're hatching so that you know what temperature and humidity level is ideal for your eggs. Then, once your incubator is set up, run it for about 48 hours to make sure that it reaches the appropriate temperature and humidity before placing the eggs inside.

      The temperature in the incubator is extremely important, because temperatures that are too high or too low can cause the reptile to hatch with deformities or to not hatch at all. You can adjust the temperature in your incubator by adjusting the heater or turning it off.

      You can adjust the humidity in your incubator by opening and closing the top of the outer container, which allows evaporating water to escape. In order to avoid too much humidity in your incubator, open and close the top of the outer container every one to three days. Do this more frequently as hatch time approaches because the eggs will need more adequate ventilation at that time.