When it comes to incubating reptile eggs, a product that has an adjustable temperature is mandatory. Chicken and duck eggs have to be incubated at a high temperature, whereas reptile eggs remain under 100 degrees, generally between 80-90 degrees Fahrenheit.

Homemade reptile incubators are fairly simple and relatively inexpensive.

Supplies needed:
10 Gallon Aquarium with top
Bricks, or flat rocks
Small critter cage, or plastic container
Preferably 2 digital thermometers
Humidity gauge
Submersible Heater, you will likey need a 50 Watt heater
Vermiculite

Setting Up:
1. Place the aquarium in the location you plan to keep it. Place the bricks in and fill the aquarium with water so it is about level with the bricks. These bricks should be spaced apart so you can put the plastic container (or small critter keeper) on top.

2. Take the aquarium heater and place it alongside the glass way. Make sure it is set around 80-85 degrees. You will want to let the water heat up before adding the eggs into the tank. Place one thermometer in the water, that way you can monitor the actual temperature of it

3. You will need to place a layer, an inch or less, of vermiculite in the plastic container, enough so you can place the eggs in it. You will want a 50/50 mix of water and vermiculite by weight. This will create a suitable environment to incubate the eggs. You will also need a hole in the lid of the container, small enough to just fit the probe of your 2nd thermometer. Place the lid on the container with the probe resting on the vermiculite and put it in the aquarium. Then place the lid on the aquarium.

4. Monitor the temperature inside the plastic container. You may have to adjust the submersible heater to obtain the desired temperature. You can mess with this over the course of a day before adding the eggs if possible. The humidity gauge must go into the aquarium, more towards the top if possible, that way to monitor the level of humidity in the tank. Depending on the reptile being incubated, this level will need to be changed by having more vents in the top, or closing it up.

5. When adding the eggs, make sure you place a small indentation in the vermiculite in which you will set the egg in. Do not rotate the egg, and make sure you know which side is up. It is often helpful to use a felt tip pen to mark the top of th egg, this way if a newly hatched baby moves another egg you can right it hopefully before any problems. Make sure you monitor the temperatures 1-2 times a day, especially during the first week or two of the incubator being setup.

~Sticky