How to Construct an Incubator

An incubator can be a great way to care for eggs and hatch them without a mother, grow bacteria cultures, or perform other experiments A simple incubator is easy to build and can maintain a controlled temperature. All you need are a few materials to get started and a few minutes to build the incubator.

Things You'll Need

  • Scissors
  • 20-gallon aquarium
  • Heavyweight clear plastic
  • 75-watt bulb lamp
  • Tape
  • Celsius thermometer
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Instructions

    • 1

      Turn a 20-gallon aquarium on its side. The opening of the aquarium should be facing the front instead of the top.

    • 2

      Cut a piece of heavyweight clear plastic to cover the opening. It needs to be slightly longer and wider than the opening.

    • 3

      Tape the plastic to the top of the aquarium. Don't tape the plastic all the way around. This will allow a "door" to the incubator.

    • 4

      Run a lamp with a 75-watt bulb under the plastic and place it in the aquarium. The cord should be kept outside the aquarium. Plug the lamp in.

    • 5

      Put a Celsius thermometer under the plastic so you can learn the aquarium's temperature without opening the aquarium door. Find out what temperature the animal needs, and confirm that a 75-watt bulb creates the correct temperature. You may have to experiment with different wattage bulbs.