DIY styrofoam cage

[thatkidhugo]

My 2 leos are in a 30x12x16 right now.. but I am looking to build something with more floor space for when they get bigger. Im thinnking 40x16x12.. anyways.

How would something like this work for leos?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnIBIeoHjv4&feature=related

 

[Dog Shrink]

That looks really neat, inexpensive and a great way to garner more space for yur herp. The snake doesn't look too thrilled at his empty cage tho. I would think something like this would work well for leos. I've asked in other posts about using vinyl and have been told it's fine for leos. Screen on the front and top for the lighting elements you might use and voila... huge new leo habitat.

 

[thatkidhugo]

Yeah I thought the same thing.

How well do you think a uth would work with 3/4" styrofoam for the floor?

 

[clemsonguy1125]

I think for heating it a red heat lamp would work a uth would just melt the foam.

 

[Dog Shrink]

That would depend on the heat rating of the foam used. The insul-board they were using is for houses so prob. has a higher heat rating or you can get the insul-board that is foil covered.

 

[clemsonguy1125]

Insulation foam is made to INSULATE houses so i dont think it would heat up enough to provide healthy temps, a infrared heat lamp would work better

 

[thatkidhugo]

Insulation foam is made to INSULATE houses so i dont think it would heat up enough to provide healthy temps, a infrared heat lamp would work better

Yeah insulate.. its made to keep the heat in. How wouldnt that work?

 

[clemsonguy1125]

But its made so stop heat from going through it, so if you pet the uth on the outside heats no gonna pass through it

 

[Dog Shrink]

The blue insulation boards can be used under a heat source such as this

This is shown using insulation board under floor heaters so it must survive higher heats such as that of a UTH.

The point of insulation is to stop temperature transfer such as cold to hot or hot to cold thru resistance of air flow. "Insulation’s role is to slow down the transfer of heat. This is measured in its ability to resist air flow, which is called R-value (resist value). The higher the R-value is, the greater its resistance to heat. Its R-value will be determined by the type of material it is made from, the thickness of the insulation and the density of the insulating material itself".

What I would do is use the insulating baord, then put the UTH INSIDE the tank under tile.

"Extruded Polystyrene Foam
Extruded polystyrene foam (XPS) also known as blue board or pink board comes in many different thicknesses and edge profiles. This insulation board is probably one of the most widely used foam board insulation products in the residential construction industry. XPS has an R value of 4.5 to 5.0 per inch of thickness."

Honestly if you were looking at doing that project I would recommend this board insted.

"vermiculite insulation - Characteristics: fireproof, heat preservation, heat and sound insulation, damp proof, moisture absorption ,mildew proof, lightweight, environmental-friendly etc" http://vermiculite0423.en.china.cn/selling-leads/detail,1070140360,vermiculite-heat-insulation-board.html

 

[clemsonguy1125]

Sounds like the heat tape is the best option under tiles, or a infrared heat lamp, anything better then heat directly under the foam. Even better, 2 layers of tiles, one under, and one over the UTH