How to Construct an Incubator

An incubator can be an alternative to hatching eggs naturally.

An incubator can be a great way to care for eggs and hatch them without a mother, grow bacteria cultures, or perform other experiments A simple incubator is easy to build and can maintain a controlled temperature. All you need are a few materials to get started and a few minutes to build the incubator.

Things You'll Need

• Scissors
• 20-gallon aquarium
• Heavyweight clear plastic
• 75-watt bulb lamp
• Tape
• Celsius thermometer

Instructions

1. Turn a 20-gallon aquarium on its side. The opening of the aquarium should be facing the front instead of the top.

2. Cut a piece of heavyweight clear plastic to cover the opening. It needs to be slightly longer and wider than the opening.

3. Tape the plastic to the top of the aquarium. Don't tape the plastic all the way around. This will allow a "door" to the incubator.

4. Run a lamp with a 75-watt bulb under the plastic and place it in the aquarium. The cord should be kept outside the aquarium. Plug the lamp in.

5. Put a Celsius thermometer under the plastic so you can learn the aquarium's temperature without opening the aquarium door. Find out what temperature the animal needs, and confirm that a 75-watt bulb creates the correct temperature. You may have to experiment with different wattage bulbs.

References

• University of Missouri -- St. Louis: Make Your Own Incubator