Egg Incubators

[kitten]

I just got myself 9 cute cresties off the ACR store, most are babies but with the adult male I just got I now have a pair at age and weight for breeding. I've been looking around online for info on incubators, and while I have found a lot of great instructional guides on how to make your own and am confident I'd be capable of such a task, I'm still leaning towards getting an electronic one that can keep a constant monitor on humidity and temperature and the like. I know there's people who think its unnecessary to get a gadget if you're able to manage a home-made one, but I think I'd just be more comfortable with the extra help (plus a second opinion from err....an inanimate object....that's programmed to be an expert on it never hurts).

To the point--it's not too difficult to find products that look reliable, but it is hard to find reviews of the product that aren't selected or biased (it's unlikely that the reviews sellers provide you with aren't going to bash the product!). Do you guys have any personal experience you could share?

Also, I know not to get any kind of rotator or turner for the incubator, but what about one with a built in fan?

So far I've come across this one http://lizardincubator.com/ and the selling pitch sounds promising (I'm actually willing to blow the money for it if its as good as it sounds), along with some HOVA stuff on eBay. Any other stuff you guys have heard of or used?

Just to add, I'm not expecting eggs right away..my adult male is still adjusting to his new home and his two female roommates (he startles easily and always seems to be on the move!), and oddly enough my female adult Banana seems more interested in breeding than he does--she'll follow him about occassionally and every so often does this weird thing where she puts her head under his bum and nudges up at his bulge Lol.

Thanks in advance.

[Heather]

I use a deli cup in my kitchen cupboard.
I weigh it empty, then I weigh it dry(with perlite), then i add the water and weigh it again. then every so often I weigh it to see how much water has evaporated. if some has I add some. That's based on how Anthony does it. I have no idea why you'd want to spend money on an incubator for things that hatch at room tempature. I even live in a very dry climate, and almost never need to add water to my deli cup. It already stays how it's supposed to stay.

[justanotherfroginthepond]

Yeah.... incubators are pretty much a waste of money for cresties unless you live in a super cold climate AND your house is also super cold!  The majority of us incubate at room temp.  Generally speaking, anywhere between 69 and 76 degrees works for me. The cooler it is, the longer the incubation time.  Regardless, we all have different preferences.  I'm a room-temp in a Gladware container with eco-earth and sphagnum moss girl, myself!

[kitten]

I'm reluctant to use something so light weight and vulnerable to room temperature changes -_- my bedroom is an addition (technically the den room, 20x20ft) and the temperature fluctuates several times a day because of that.
the reason I'd be uncomfortable keeping it in another room is the same reason I'm worried about using a deli cup or anything light weight--I have several cats that get into anything and everything...not to mention my most major concern, which is my mom's habit of going into my room (and the rest of the house) and throwing stuff out/moving stuff around indiscriminately, and with her developing onset clinical memory and mental issues I'm not confident that a margarine or tupperware container with a note on it will suffice as her health goes downhill.

I don't mind spending the cash if it gives me some extra piece of mind; so something that constantly regulates temperature and humidity, is obviously a contraption at work (even to someone going slightly senile), isn't too light in weight, and can be kept within my sights, is ideal.
I'm sure there are plenty of tricks or ideas you guys can come up with to deter my concerns, and it's not that I'd be ungrateful that you've taken the time to consider my situation to think up some clever solutions; but I'm solely interested in an automated incubator, as it lessens my worst-case-scenario fears.

[Heather]

I don't know anything about them since I've never used one. And you might find that very few people have experiance with them on cresties because in most cases they're not needed. sounds like you're in a unique situation.

[kitten]

unique is definitely a suitable word. to be honest I didn't want to get into details as to why I'm interested in an automated incubator, but it seemed like it would help explain why I feel I have to resort to it rather than going about it the easy way.

now that I've thought about it more I think maybe if I keep the hatchrite solution and eggs in an empty kirtter keeper slot on the baby arboreal rack I got from the site here I'd be in a safer situation. the rack is placed so my cats can't cause havoc and my mom seems good about remembering to not mess with the cages (she's a little skittish of reptile critters). would that be harder to maintain due to the size of the container (which is about 9x9) as far as keeping the substrate ideal?