I am in the process of building an incubator out of an old fridge/freezer

Question I have... do I need to run flexwatt all the way up the back?

I can use 11" in the fridge section.. but I have to use 4" in the freezer section.

When I built mine I used more flexwatt than I thought I could possibly need. I would rather have extra running at a much lower power then having the minimum running all out. Also, running it all the way up the back should make the temperature more even throughout even without a fan.

clay davenport has a diy plans on an incubator made out of a freezer i believe. i remember seeing one on his site not long ago if i am not mistaken.

clay davenport has a diy plans on an incubator made out of a freezer i believe. i remember seeing one on his site not long ago if i am not mistaken.

Yeah I think this is the one your talking about...

http://www.arbreptiles.com/cages/incubator.shtml

there's some good info in this sticky from the caging and enclosures section.....http://www.reptileradio.net/reptileradio/showthread.php?t=419

Kev when I made mine I used 11" flexwatt up the entire back of the fridge. I didnt put any in the freezer section. I have an up and down fridge with a seperate freezer on top. I just use the top for storage.

May as well go with as much as will fit. Better to have too much than too little. My flexwatt doesnt run constantly since I have plenty of heating element in there to keep it steady.

I also put water bottles in there. New addition (Hello Noah!). The addition of the water bottles as a heat sink also helps keep things steady and you dont lose as much heat if you open the door for a peeky.

More is better, as everyone said.

More is better, all extra area's fill with water bottles, save all your old milk jugs and juice containers...comes in handy.

The top just do a smaller section of 11" and set it up for other eggs since I know you keep multiple animals....or I really like the storage idea!

Hmmm good info here guys! I'm working on mine this weekend :D

I also used some bricks in mine to retain heat.....as mentioned above, the more mass you add the steadier your temps.

thanks... I am using a side by side

so I will have 11" on the fridge side... and 4" on the freezer side (since its only 10" wide)

Wolf,

You'll probably have to use two thermostats, considering the variance in area heated and 4" and 11" tape.

Rich

Oh yeah... Im definately using 2 herpstats.... the fridge side is gonna be set in the low 80's for colubrids and female leos.... and the freezer side is gonna be set in the high 80's for male leo's

2 incubators... one space.... gotta love it.

Thats a great idea using a side by side!!! I was looking for an upright freezer but now I may go the side by side route, just incase I get another species that need incubating at lower temps!!!

Alan

Very smart there Kevin

Thank you... I use what I have available... its gonna work great for corns and leos

Oh yeah... Im definately using 2 herpstats.... the fridge side is gonna be set in the low 80's for colubrids and female leos.... and the freezer side is gonna be set in the high 80's for male leo's

2 incubators... one space.... gotta love it.

Love it :D

Makes me want to hook up my freezer for a different temp

Update... I have ordered the following for the incubator

for the fridge side:
4 foot of 11" flexwatt and a Herpstat porportional t-stat

for the freezer side:
some 3" flexwatt and a Herpstat porportional t-stat

Still have to get the fans, thermometers.... I have some wire shelving.. but dont know if I have enough yet.