Temperature and Hatching Eggs

[Taz Devil]

OK My first big questions.

Do eggs require a stable temperature for them to hatch?

I am thinking of getting a heat mat for my bug house and creating a hatchery (if that is the correct term) on the top floor of my bug house by using an old container with some paper towel in it. At the moment I have the eggs that I have collected (did have 10 but while the girlfriend was showing her brother the eggs she dropped 2 which she could not find and then crushed 2 screwing the jar lid back on (I currently have the eggs in a glass jar with the lid on the bottom so that we can see when they have hatched).

I'll try and take a couple more pictures now that the bug house has a bit more foliage in it. I have mainly used privet for feeding and some long lengths of Ivy for them to get from floor to floor.

[AlienMarky]

A stable temperature is good for hatching eggs, but it's ok if it fluctuates slightly. Room temperature (~20C) is usually fine too for hatching them, although they will hatch faster at warmer temperatures. One thing to warn about is don't get them too hot or you'll cook them! IF you plan on using a heat mat don't place them directly onto it - make sure there's enough of a gap that they don't get too hot. I've never used a heat mat to hatch eggs and have never had any problems...

[Taz Devil]

I have my sticks in this:-

http://www.tazworld.co.uk/stickinsects/Sticks_New_Home.jpg

I want to use the top shelf for incubating and hatching, so in theory it will be the warmest part of the setup. I'm just a bit worried that with the current cold weather and the fact that we have no heating on during the night, it might drop a bit too cold.

[AlienMarky]

Never seen one of them used for phasmids! Great setup :) The top shelf should be ok. When I first started out with insects I used to keep the eggs in the airing cupboard where the boiler was. It worked pretty well, as long as you dont let the eggs dry out. If you're worried about temperature this could be an option?

[robsorchids]

intresting, i have also heard of these UPVC greenhouses used for larger species.
i have found a constant temprature to give good results with regards to high hatching rates.

rob

[Ian]

Nice setup taz! We have one of those for growing plants in upstairs, I've never thought of converting it.

[Taz Devil]

The greenhouse cost £9.99 which was cheaper than most of the other aquariums we looked at.

I have had to prick some holes in the top for ventilation, but will eventually cut a section out and have some fine mesh cloth sewn in. I'll wait a little longer to see how they go before jumping into getting a heat pad.

There is room under the bottom shelf to place a heat pad if I decide to get one.

I have added a nice floor (cardboard covered with linoleum tiles) to it and filled it with a few more plants, I am thinking of growing some privet in a few pots and then rotating them into the stick house as and when required, I think about 8 would do so that I can put 2 fresh bushes in a week.

I will be taking a few more snaps of the house and the sticks because my son will be taking a couple to school on Friday for his show and tell, the teacher has expressed some interest in actually having some to keep in the class room, so I'll point her over to this site for some info and help, I'll post some pics either tonight or tomorrow night.