How to Make Ball Python Incubators

Ball python breeding can provide a source of both enjoyment and additional income. Ball pythons exhibit a great deal of variation in their coloration and patterning and can be bred as very desirable pets for certain people. These small pythons become excellent pets, because they do not grow very large and therefore do not require large cages or large prey, nor do they pose a great threat to children and other pets. Breeders usually hatch eggs in incubators, which range from expensive, climatecontrolled cabinets to simple homemade setups. You can create your own basic incubator in a few hours.

Things You'll Need

  • Large (such as 24-gallon) opaque plastic storage bin with locking lid
  • Metal kitchen cabinet organizer shelves - sized to cover bottom of bin
  • 2 submersible aquarium water heaters
  • Utility knife
  • Distilled water
  • Shallow, plastic storage bins with clear lids - length less than main bin width and height, about 4 inches deep
  • Vermiculite
  • Perlite
  • 2 digital vivarium thermometers
  • Thin plexiglass - slightly larger than bin
  • 2 cabinet handles
  • Drill and drill bits
  • Masking tape
  • Non-toxic aquarium sealant
  • Power strip or outlet
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Instructions

    • 1

      Install submersible aquarium heaters in the storage bin by attaching the suction cups to the bottom of the container. Place the heaters at opposite ends of the bin. Drill a hole near the center of one edge of the bin, about 4 to 6 inches below the edge. Make sure that both heater cords will reach the hole. Cut a slit in the bin from the top edge to the drilled hole, and slide the cords down the slit into the hole. Seal the hole around the cords and the slit with aquarium sealant, and allow to dry according to the manufacturer's recommendations.

    • 2

      Add about 6 inches of distilled water to the bin, making sure the heaters are covered by about 3 inches of water. Place the metal kitchen cabinet organizer shelves into place in the bottom of the bin carefully, so that they don't touch the heaters or rest on their power cords.

    • 3

      Cut plexiglass to fit snugly into the opening of the bin -- score the plexiglass with the utility knife, then gently break along the scored line. Cut the plexiglass into two pieces to create two separate inner lids for the bin to prevent heat from escaping when you open the lid of the bin. Attach a cabinet handle to the center of each piece of plexiglass to serve as a handle -- place strips of masking tape on the plexiglass before drilling to prevent the glass from cracking.

    • 4

      Plug in and turn on the aquarium heaters.

    • 5

      Fill the clear plastic storage bins about 1/3 full with a mix of moistened vermiculite and perlite (see Resources). Place a thermometer in one of the bins so that you can check the temperature of the egg containers. Stack the clear bins on the shelves in the larger bin, making sure the bin with the thermometer is on top.

    • 6

      Attach the second thermometer to the underside of one of the plexiglass lids so that you can check the temperature of the incubator. Place the plexiglass inner lids into place, and then cover the bin with the outer lid and latch it into place.

    • 7

      Allow the temperature in the bin to equilibrate for a few hours, then open the outer lid to check the temperature of the incubator and egg container -- remove one of the plexiglass lids briefly if necessary. Experiment with aquarium heater settings until you achieve a temperature between 88 degrees and 90 degrees (see Resources).

    • 8

      Add eggs to the egg containers only after the temperature has been adjusted to a constant level.