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My snakes are in the basement this is 2 rooms which was built partly as a favor for cheap. It has been really cold here in jersey last few days and so has it in the rooms, I then took some plastic and taked around the window which had a bad draft because of old wood fram. I switch the thermometer on inside and it was reading 58-61 and this is with an oil filled radiator heator on high. I should be getting my new jungle habitats cage 2morrow, now the wood cage is heated with a buld hot side was only upper 70's low 80's I then had to put a human heat pad in. Something I notice when they made the room is that they didnt put too much effort into insulation, the insulation seem small it didnt full the entire gap between each beam and some spots I dont think they put any. I tried to use another oil filled heater but it triped the breaker and knock the power out. Is there anything I can do to get the temps up? are there any heaters that may be better then the oil filled? Should I try to carefully take the sheet rock walls down find good insulation and put the walls back up? any ideas you have that you may have done would be apreciated.

Something you might try is wrapping insulation around all your cages. This helps hold the heat in. Also radient heat panels (like the kind on Jeff Ronnies site) for the inside of your cages may raise the ambient air temp a bit. Otherwise I think your right to try and seal up any gaps is your windows, doors, or anything with a draft. I've also used Kanes hear pads in a cold situation. They are made for outdoor use and REALLY kick the heat up!!

I would get some of that spray foam insulation and caulk/seal up the major drafts around the window.
Then get some "good"plastic sheeting and a staple gun and build a tent type area surrounding the cage by hanging/stapleing the plastic to the rafters and extend it to the floor "on all four sides".
Small electric space heaters can be found at Walmarts for under $20,put one of those inside your tent,set the stat about 75-80* and let it run.Depending on the space available I would make the tent 10'X10'or something of that nature to allow for movement inside the confined space.

Bigdee.....do you have to keep them in the basement? If so, do you have carpeting down? They sell styrofoam insulation, that you can glue to the walls with liquid nails. Seal up all drafts. You could use the expanding foam in a can for holes. How about the cieling? get some plastic covered insulation and put up in rafters. I use the basement, but did all these things to make sure it was able to hold heat, I use two oil filled heaters one set at 900watts and the other set at 600 watts. My basement is kept at 82 to 84 all the time. I have a 5600 watt gas generator for backup just incase of a power failure. Living in NY state that is common. If you only have one cage, it would be cost effective to keep in your bedroom for the winter, just my opinion. Hope this helps. Andy Federico