Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have my rainbow boa in a tank that is approximately 4 feet tall, 2 feet wide, and 2 feet long. It's made entirely of glass (except for wooden edges), and naturally, this tank loses a LOT of heat...

I have a 150 watt heat emitter above, and an undertank heater on the bottom, this keeps the overall temperature at around 71, while some areas (where the heat mat or heat emitter are located) it's around 82. Now I am fully aware that it needs to be about 10 degrees warmer in there, but it's extremely hard since the heat escapes so much through the glass.

My question is, is there a way I can insulate the tank so I can trap heat in? Perhaps attach cardboard to the outside of the glass or something? I have no idea. Suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
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Innocent as a dove you will harm no one, but wise as a serpent no one will harm you. - Haug

It doesn't need to be any hotter. Many people incorrectly think these snakes need to be kept hot. Part of the cage in the very low 80s and part of the cage in the low 70s is ideal for a Rainbow Boa. If you have a screen top on the tank you are losing loads of heat and humidity through it. If you have a screen top and cover it you will need to cut way back on the amount of heat you are applying to the cage. This product works well for insulating around cages. It has reflective surfaces so it can be placed outside glass and add to rather than detract from the look of the cage.
www.homedepot.com/Building-Materials-Insulation-Reflective/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xr5Zbedf/R-100012574/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

Yeah, I just read the 'regurgitating BRB' thread below this one... Sad stuff! I just worry about mine sometimes because unless he's in his hideys (which are near the hot and warm spots), he feels cold when I pick him up. But the temperature in there never drops below 71, so that's really all right?

For some bizarre reason the humidity in there is amazing, he's only had one unsatisfactory shed in his life, and that was due to the incredibly dry winter we've had this year, and my unfortunate lack of compensation for it.
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Innocent as a dove you will harm no one, but wise as a serpent no one will harm you. - Haug

Actually unless your hands are "cold" a BRB at the right temp will feel cool. Remember, your internal temp is 98.6 +/-

If a BRB feels warm, it may very well be too warm.
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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count (05/26/2009):
36.51 BRB
29.42 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

Oopps, posted before I was done.

The most important point is get a temp gun. Don't guess at what temps you are feeling, know it!! I temp gun everything from the enclosures hot and cool spots to the animal itself. I've even temp gunned freshened water bowls for my gravid females. Don't want the "bath" too warm or too cold.
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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count (05/26/2009):
36.51 BRB
29.42 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

i was going to make the same point about our body temperatures being sufficiently high most snakes will feel cool to the touch. In fact when I am handling a snake if they start to feel warm to me, I know its time to put them back.

My hands are always warm so any snake I handle feels cool to me unless I just came in from outside during the winter, or my hands were in cold water.

Though I haven't handled a huge amount of different species of snakes, the only time I remember picking up a snake that feels warms are garter snakes who have been out basking in the direct sunlight for some time. These snakes move fast and are designed to heat up fast so they can forage quickly and get enough to eat before the sun goes down. (well maybe not so for all species of garter snakes, but the ones I used to catch are the Common Garter snakes which, at least the ones I have seen, are quite dark with off white/yellowish strips. Their dark background color allows them to absorb heat from the sun much faster than lighter toned snakes. They certainly feel warm to me when I do manage to catch them.
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PHLdyPayne

Cliff,
....No problem. Looks like they deleted my post because of link to where to get Reflectix.
Jeff

Thanks for the replies, guys! I'll leave the temps where it is.
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Innocent as a dove you will harm no one, but wise as a serpent no one will harm you. - Haug