When I began keeping snakes, I was not only searching only for the best snake egg incubator but the best reptile egg incubator too.
With the right equipment, reptile husbandry becomes simple.
To end up with eggs that hatch successfully, you need to control both humidity and temperature well.
Electronic incubators are a premium solution for this purpose. However, you may discover that a simple insulated box with a humid substrate and a heating pad works magic too.
Either way, you’ll need one with accurate measurements of humidity and temperature.
Remember that you can determine the sex of some species by maintaining the eggs at a specific temperature.
Leopard geckos are an excellent example of this fact.
Top Reptile Egg Incubators
Now, it’s time to purchase the best egg incubators for reptiles. We have researched extensively and hand-picked the top performing incubators for reptile eggs for this article.
We are assured that our selections will help you find what you need today.
Zoo Med ReptiBator Digital Reptile Egg Incubator
The digital egg incubator from Zoo Med offers you total control over both humidity and temperature. This is worth the investment if you are serious about breeding reptiles.
The LCD allows you set the interior temperature between 59 and 104°F and the humidity between 10 to 95%.
It comes with an alarm that warn you if conditions go outside the selected range. Plus, the memory retains your settings even when the power goes out.
The incubator contains a 55 W heating element to keep the eggs at a consistent temperature. There are also many water reservoirs in the base to regulate humidity.
You can also watch your eggs via the transparent cover. The incubator itself is is compact, measuring 18.5 x 18.5 x 9.5-inches. It fits nicely on a tabletop.
Exo Terra PT2445 Reptile Egg Incubator
Exo Terra’s incubator is made for professional breeders. It is armed with a digital temperature control between 36-140°F including both cooling and heating. In this way, you can avoid unexpected temperature extremes.
To maintain humidity, add water to the slide-out tray in the bottom or simply place an extra container inside with water, too.
But although the LED display shows the temperature, it doesn’t show relative humidity though. You’ll need to add a hygrometer for this purpose or use the analog one that they include in the box.
The inside of the incubator has a light that you can switch on and off to check on the eggs. The front window allows you to check the dual adjustable shelves inside.
Plus, Exo Terra includes 2 incubation containers and a bag of vermiculite.
Happybuy 23L Reptile Incubator ReptiPro 6000
The Happybuy reptile incubator is similar to but less expensive than some other brand types. It maintains any temperature you set between 59° and 104°F.
It’s compartment is dual with slidable shelves and room at the bottom to place a container of water if needed. The large front window and digital display allows you to keep watch over the eggs.
However, you’ll need to buy a separate hygrometer to control humidity.
Farm Innovators 2350 Digital Still Air Reptile Incubator
Farm Innovator’s incubator may be simplest for new breeders to use. This is because you don’t need to purchase extra equipment to monitor the humidity or temperature.
It comes with an Incutek heater that is preset to 85°F, but you can adjust it to suit your needs. If the internal environment surpasses 90°F, you will see the high-temperature notification light.
The digital display shows the humidity, the days to hatch countdown timer and the temperature.
There is a large window in the lid of the polystyrene foam body of the incubator so you can check on the eggs.
All you need to do is add containers for the eggs, water, and a subsrate.
Hova-Bator Still Air Egg Incubator Kit for Reptiles by G.Q.F. Manufacturing
Hova-Bator is known best for their poultry egg incubators. However, they also make this still air kit for incubating reptile eggs.
It comes with a digital thermometer and hygrometer, reptile hatching substrate, a water snap thermostat, and cups to hold the eggs.
The design can manage up to 50 eggs depending on their size, but it measures7.5 x 18 x 18 inches.
It works by warming air through a radiant heat tube. The warm air flows from the bottom upward through the exhaust vents in the top.
To adjust humidity, replace or pull out the plugs.
You can peer inside via the transparent windows in the lid.
Little Giant 9300 Still Air Egg Incubator Kit for Reptiles
The Little Giant incubator kit looks like the one from Hova-Bator. Both are still air models that should be placed where room air stays between 65 and 72°F.
Then the 40 W radiant tube at the bottom is able to maintain the internal temperature. The warm air hoes through the box and escapes via the vents in the top.
Meanwhile, the LCD reveals the temperature inside and allows you to adjust the thermostat.
The moisture rings under makes it easy to add water and maintain humidity levels. While you can wash the plastic mesh screen that holds the eggs, it’s a bit harder to clean the body of the incubator.
It’s built with Styrofoam that helps keep it lightweight and budget-friendly than other options.
OMEM Reptile Hatchery Box
If you prefer a more simple setup for incubating eggs, try this breeding box. It’s a food-grade plastic container with an insert to hold up to 14 eggs,
The insert helps prevent the eggs from touching the substrates and offers maximum air circulation.
OMEM Reptile Breeding Box
Similar to the snake egg hatchery above, it has a round design that holds up to 8 eggs.
This is considered one of the best reptile egg incubators because the lattice insert suspends them above the substrate.
One customer reported placing it inside the gecko’s habitat to keep it warm. Then the gecko mother was able to watch over her eggs.
OMEM Reptile Lizard Incubation Box
The primary difference and improvement between this hatchery box and the other two above is that it comes with a thermometer.
There’s room for 12 eggs, too.
BleuMoo Egg Incubator Tray + Thermometer Incubation Gecko Lizard Snake Eggs
This incubation box is a bit more elaborate than the other 3 above. The incubator tray has a slot in the middle mainly for the included thermometer.
READ MORE: Best Cabinet Incubators
Recommended incubation temperatures and humidity
If you’re ready to breed reptiles using the best reptile egg incubators, you may already know the best humidity and temperature for the species you plan to raise.
On the other hand, If you don’t already know, here are guidelines for species that are often kept as pets.
Ball python | 85 to 88°F | 85 to 95% humidity |
Bearded dragon | 84 to 88°F | 60 to 80% |
Corn snake | 83 to 85°F | 60 to 80% |
Crested gecko | 72 to 82°F | 60 to 80% |
Leopard gecko | 82 to 88°F | 60 to 80% |
Veiled chameleon | 82 to 88°F | 60 to 80% |
As you can see above, ball pythons need high humidity levels and expert temperature control. Other reptile species of female pythons that brood their own eggs are able to keep them warm, but can’t cool them off if the temperature goes too high.
Lizards like geckos have proven to be easier for beginners to care for and breed because their requirements are less demanding.
ALSO READ: Best Egg Incubator for Quails
Which is the Best Reptile Egg Incubator?
The right reptile incubator depends on the species. Geckos can be hatched in a simple plastic container on a countertop in the summertime with a damp sphagnum moss or vermiculite at the bottom.
However, snakes and beardies require tighter temperature control.
As you shop for the perfect incubator, think about the ideal conditions you want to create. Would you prefer to have a digital control over the temperature?
How about an alarm if things go south inside the incubator?
Plus, how much do you require fine-tuning the humidity? Will a tray of water underneath be enough, or will you need to mist the eggs daily?
Some inexperienced reptile breeders may try to repurpose a poultry incubator. This is possible if you’re willing to enforce some modifications.
One primary difference is that reptile eggs don’t need turning.
Lastly, remember that when the eggs hatch, you’ll have live reptiles on the loose. Keep a close eye on your incubator if it has ventilation holes large enough that they can use to escape.
Conclusion
If you’re a beginner in reptile husbandry, we wish you the best of luck. There are few things as cute as a baby gecko cracking their eggs to breathe in a new air.
Get one of the best performing and top reptile egg incubators so that you’re familiar with how to use it and get prepared for the journey ahead.