Mechanical Mom ( automatic incubator )

[Nerri1029]

I DID try to use the search feature on this but found too little.
( maybe didn't type the correct word(s) in )

I'm in the planning stage for making an egg hatching machine.
( have a great motor; a 20 gallon tall aquarium and a small heat source.)

But I'm curious as to what other people have done:
- what is the appropriate type of 'manipulation' that needs to be done to the eggsac?
- what is the frequency of the 'agitation' rolling?


I have an oportunity to get a male A. seemani but BEFORE I even attempt a mating I want all other things in place..

 

[Code Monkey]

I DID try to use the search feature on this but found too little.

You did notice the little sticky didn't you?

http://www.arachnoboards.com/ab/showthread.php?t=17496

I've not seen anyone discuss the sort of automated incubator that the ATS sells plans for so that probably explains why you found very little on it. Most people seem to use the rather non-mechanical incubator described in that sticky.

CM

 

[Bearskin10]

Why not just leave the sac with the mom for the first 30+ days and then taking it after that does not need to be rolled? But if you really want the mechanical mom the instruction guide can be bought here http://www.atshq.org/cgi-bin/miva?Merchant/merchant.mv+Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=shop&Category_Code=B
Greg

 

[Nerri1029]

Why not just leave the sac with the mom for the first 30+ days and then taking it after that does not need to be rolled? But if you really want the mechanical mom the instruction guide can be bought here http://www.atshq.org/cgi-bin/miva?Merchant/merchant.mv+Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=shop&Category_Code=B
Greg

I just put two and two together...

When left with the mother T for the first month.. the amount of care needed after is minimal compared to the sacs taken immediately.. huh?

SO after 30 days it only needs heat and moisture right?

SO making a MM is more than I would need??.. HUH?

 

[Bearskin10]

I just put two and two together...

When left with the mother T for the first month.. the amount of care needed after is minimal compared to the sacs taken immediately.. huh?

SO after 30 days it only needs heat and moisture right?

SO making a MM is more than I would need??.. HUH?

I believe this is still the way most everyone does it and only varies when to take away from mom (I think most common is right around 30 days) and then whether to open yourself or let the little buggers get out on there own or leave it with mom until it hatches natural (if you do it this why make sure to seal off any small hole as baby seemannis are verrryyy small, there are a few risks to take this way, the ones I can think of would be 1: she eats the sac 2: parasites get the sac and 3: she does not take care of it , as for risks with the MM? I have never used one and really have not read anything negative about them so???
So I feel the answer to all three of your questions would be yes. Greg

 

[Andrew vV]

Well, the above risks (especially the mom eating the sac) are normally more than I'd rather risk! The "mechanical mom" incubator works off a 24 hour timer with a rotating face (these models can be tricky to find nowadays, with "fancier" models more commonly available) so that the brood cups/eggs are rotated once every 24 hours. I would also reccomend that you manually give the eggs an extra few rotations a day whenever possible as well.

 

[Nerri1029]

I have a rather nice 24 hr timer..

My plan was to have the WHOLE thing inside a 20 gallon tank, have the Temp on a thermostat control..

The motor I have is for a Drum Recorder it spins VERY slowly.. I would set the timer to come on once every 6 hours for a 4x frequency of rotations..
the rotation would take about an hour to happen so it would be safe..

NOW ALL this would take some time and effort, and since I'm a techno geek and very handy/ mechanically minded.. would prove to be fun..

BUT I also see the logic and the EASE of letting MOM take it for the first 90% then finishing the job..

I might still make it and offer it in trade for some slings

 

[Andrew vV]

Yeah, see the thing with the timer with the rotating face is that the rod connecting to the brood cups is fixed directly to the centre of the timer so it is CONSTANTLY rotating, without being still for an extended period of time.
Like you said, if this is something you are looking at doing just for the fun of it, what the hell go for it!! However, if you plan to leave the eggs with the mother for any length of time this method would be obsolete, as it removes the need of being with the mother for the critical first few weeks.

P.S. You got it right with the "two tank" system. Place your whole apparatus inside another tank. This will allow a greater air conditioning accuracy and reduce system short cycling.

Cheers,
Andrew

 

[Nerri1029]

Yeah, see the thing with the timer with the rotating face is that the rod connecting to the brood cups is fixed directly to the centre of the timer so it is CONSTANTLY rotating, without being still for an extended period of time.
Like you said, if this is something you are looking at doing just for the fun of it, what the hell go for it!! However, if you plan to leave the eggs with the mother for any length of time this method would be obsolete, as it removes the need of being with the mother for the critical first few weeks.

P.S. You got it right with the "two tank" system. Place your whole apparatus inside another tank. This will allow a greater air conditioning accuracy and reduce system short cycling.

Cheers,
Andrew

You're mistaken on the method for rotating the cups

The drive shaft for the brood cups woould be attached to the motor that is then turned on by the timer.. the motor would turn the cups 1-2 times in an hour then be still for another 5 hours.. or what ever interval I decide.

Yes the "two tank" system is borrowed from a method for incubating anaerobic microbes..

 

[JohnxII]

...But I'm curious as to what other people have done...

So have you looked at [thread=30671]this thread[/thread] yet? It's a cool project, but I'm a lazy bone and I'd agree with others about saving some hazzle and let the real mom do some work!

 

[Catherine]

I've got the M. mom manual, the wiring of all the electrics is a bit beyond me, they all go together in a circuit, so when I do it, I'm going to do a simpler version. I'm beginning to collect the things i need to make one. I'm using a light timer for the rotation mechanism. It does one complete rotation every 24 hours, so the sac is constantly turning. Although very slowly.

 

[Andrew vV]

You're mistaken on the method for rotating the cups

The drive shaft for the brood cups woould be attached to the motor that is then turned on by the timer.. the motor would turn the cups 1-2 times in an hour then be still for another 5 hours.. or what ever interval I decide.

Yes the "two tank" system is borrowed from a method for incubating anaerobic microbes..

Nope, I understood your method just fine, I was just explaining a little further how mine works IMO I would set YOUR timer so that the eggs are being rotated almost non stop....just a suggestion.

 

[Nerri1029]

Nope, I understood your method just fine, I was just explaining a little further how mine works IMO I would set YOUR timer so that the eggs are being rotated almost non stop....just a suggestion.

Oh .. apologies.. :8o

I wasn't too sure about that method as I've seen those timer motors get hung up before..

I can have the motor On for and hour off for an hour.. and so on.. MUCH more fine tune-able.. and probably more like the real mom.


I'm thinking that the amount of manipulation will be more in that hour than the other method for 3-4 hours.. ( i.e. two full rotations )

As for heat and humidity I was going to use a method from my former Herp husbandry.. I would take a large pickle jar, fill it with water.. and use a submersible water heater for fish tanks, It has a thermo built in and can be adjusted, Plus a large heat sink like that is less likely to give you spikes in either temp or humidity..

THANKS FOR ALL THE INPUT SO FAR FOLKS
:worship:

 

[mick]

Trust me...buy the plans and build a Mechanical Mom. I did and I completly swear by it. If has hatched 5 out of 5 for me with practically no maintainence at all. Follow the plans exactly and take your time to do it right. I suggest a digital aquarium hearer though...you'll understand when you see the plans...trust me.
Mike