Enclosure insulating???

[Roddie]

I usualy make wood enclosures, & they hold heat verry well.
I also just made a plastic enclosure....verry nice & secure, but I seem to be having trouble holding heat in. The vents & everything are perfect, I was just wondering if anyone has any advise on insulating it.
Ive read that stirafome* works well, But do you put it one the inside or the out side???
I have never had this problem befor, like I said this is my first plastic enclosure.

If anyone can point me in the direction where I can get help that would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
-Roddie-

	Cloaca is the posterior opening that serves as the only such opening for the intestinal, urinary, and (usually) genital tracts of certain animal species.All birds, reptiles, and amphibians possess this orifice, from which they excrete both urine and feces

[lawrence88]

towels are cheap and hold my temp perfectly during the day

[Roddie]

Do you put them inside, or just on the top???
I knew a guy who kept a towel in the enclosure & the snake ended up eating the towel along with the rat.

[lawrence88]

i would cover the top but be sure to leave a hole for air to circulate... i have mine over the hot spot and nothing over the rest.. this way it creates the thermo gradient

[Roddie]

I got ya...Thanks!

-Roddie-

[starmom]

I have rigid insulation around the sides and top of my boa's cage and have the cage sitting on 3 inches of foam. I live in the high desert of central Oregon and it's cold here! The rigid insulation is 2" thick and works well! Hope this helps...

[ChadRamsey]

when i used to make my own i used pink board insullation

[fishmommy]

I put the pink board insultation on the outsides of the cages. Works excellent.
To make it look a little better I cover the exposed insulation with contac paper (sp?)
here's a pic of one I did this way:

[duckworth]

that thick styrofoam is the real deal too. not too hard to work with either. not cheap though.

i've always either added heat to compensate for the loss, used the "cover with towel" method or used the circulating fan that forces all the rising heat down to be reabsorbed.

having a room to heat is easier than trying to heat a cage in a room that is 68 degrees.

[Roddie]

That is exactly what I was looking for....styrafome(sp).
I wasent sure if I should line the inside or the out side, But you guys hit it on the head.
I know heating the room is way easier that just heating the box...I was just seeing if I could solve that problem with out doing so.
Ill post Pic's of it,.......as soon as I get my new little guy, He will be my first Albino Boa, Im so excited.
I have "DRECK" on this Forum to thank for that!!!

Thanks again everyone!
-Roddie-

[Roddie]

Here are some pic's of my Big Boa's enclosure when I first made it...

[ChadRamsey]

remember to seal wood EXTRA good. wood acts like a sponge and will absorb urinates at an alarming rate. manifest bacteria and smell to high heaven