Hey, reptile fans! Ashley here from Zoo Med. Today we're going to give you a
step-by-step on how to set up your new Zoo Med ReptiBator®!
Zoo Med's ReptiBator® is a state-of-the-art incubator that can be used to hatch a
variety of Reptiles and Amphibians. With its easy to program interface and self-
gauging temperature controls, the ReptiBator® is the perfect tool for both new
and experienced breeders. We breed a lot of animals here at Zoo Med, and incubation
is naturally an important part of the process. We currently have 12 ReptiBators
in use here with over 175 eggs from a wide range of reptiles. The ReptiBator®
provides the most vital element of the incubation process: Heat. Without a
proper temperature the embryo of fertile eggs won't develop and mature. Now that
we've gone over the importance of incubation, let's prepare our ReptiBator®.
The ReptiBator® consists of three main pieces: The first piece, the Base, has a
molded reservoir that allows water to be added. This helps create a more humid
environment inside the incubator. Zoo Med's ReptiBator® uses recycled
styrofoam made in the USA. The Foam Sponge insert allows for greater water
retention for cases where high humidity is needed, or if the incubator will be
unattended for long periods of time. The hood contains the main heating unit as
well as the control panel for programming the temperature scale,
temperature settings, and alarm settings. The clear, plastic design allows you to
view the eggs without having to disturb the microclimate inside. When setting up,
it's recommended to position the incubator in a cool area in your home
where the temperature is fairly consistent. Add water to the channels of
the base's reservoir. Make sure to fill only to the top of the channels to
prevent spilling through the ventilation holes.
This step may or may not be necessary depending
on the needs of your eggs. Place the foam insert inside the incubator with the
flat side facing down. Now place the hood on top of the base with the control
panel facing up. Once you've plugged in the ReptiBator®, the display on the
control panel will activate. From here, first set whether you want the ReptiBator®
to display in Fahrenheit or Celsius. Do this by pressing and holding
down the button labeled 'Warmer', then press the button labeled 'Cooler' to
switch between the two. Once you've set the display, press the
'Warmer' button to set the default temperature. The word 'Heat' should pop up
on the display. From here adjust the temperature with the 'Warmer' and 'Cooler'
buttons accordingly. Once you've decided on the temperature, let the menu sit for
five seconds for it to accept the input. The temperature on the ReptiBator® can
be set anywhere between 59° and 104° Fahrenheit. The red LED on the
display will light up whenever the heating element is running. A flashing
LED indicates the ReptiBator's pulse proportional thermostat giving off
pulses of heat to stabilize the incubator's temperature. Next we'll set up
the alarm function. With the alarm, the display will flash if the temperature
drops outside the set levels. Press the 'Cooler' button to access these controls. A
picture of two bells on the right-hand side of the display should pop up to
indicate the correct menu. Set the number of degrees you want for the alarm and
allow the menu to sit for five seconds to accept the command.
Now that we've prepared the ReptiBator®, let's go over some tips on how to set up
your eggs for incubation. First off, while the ReptiBator's thermometer works fine
for gauging and setting the overall temperature of the incubator, it's always
a good idea to have a secondary thermometer set up in close proximity to
the eggs. This allows for a more accurate incubation temperature. Zoo Med's Digital
Thermometers are perfect for this task. When it does come time, and your pet is
displaying signs of nesting or egg-laying behavior, make sure to allow
her to finish nesting before attempting to remove them. Doing so beforehand may
cause unnecessary stress for your pet.
When you have found the nest, carefully remove each egg without
rotating it. Reptile eggs should not be turned over, so dig carefully when
searching for eggs. When using an incubation container in unison with the
ReptiBator® make sure to research the different varieties of incubation media
and choose the one that will work best for your pets eggs. If you're using a
secondary thermometer, placing it directly inside the incubation container
will help produce the most accurate readings. Record keeping is a very
important part of the incubation process. Here is Zoo Med, we label our containers
with the name of the species that laid the egg, the date they were found, and the
number of eggs that we found in the clutch. It's a good idea to check your
ReptiBator® at least a couple of times a week. Here at Zoo Med, our ReptiBators
are checked daily for new hatchlings and to ensure that the humidity levels are
correct. Be sure to research the particular needs
and care tips for the type of eggs you plan on incubating. We hope you've
enjoyed this video on Zoo Med's ReptiBator®. If you have any questions please
leave a comment below or contact us at zoomed@zoomed.com. Until next time, I'm
Ashley from Zoo Med take care. Please leave a comment below, or send an email
to zoomed@zoomed.com. Make sure to subscribe to our
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for more information. Get Serious, Get Zoo Med.