Tank question

[tress29]

For those of you who use tanks, do you use an aquarium background or poster board to cover the back and ends? I read on here (and on other forums,) about covering them for a sense of security and some heat retention. I though to use some sheets of craft foam, that should help insulate even better. I don't keep my thermostat very high in the winter, only 69 degrees! I wonder if this would help in keeping the inside tank temps up? I'm getting a UTH for the 20L, and I have a light fixture I could use if needed. I used 25w night bulbs with the gecko, he doesn't like the bright light! Now he's in a smaller setup with a UTH and doesn't need (or want) any light!

[guidofatherof5]

Just my personal opinion but why not use a under tank heater? The smallest one doesn't create a lot of heat. If you offer a cold and warm hide your snake will be able to do its own thermoregulating. Then the temp in the house will not be that important.
I use under tank heating on all my enclosure. I use Zoo Med under tank heaters on all my aquariums and Flexwatt on all my large enclosures.
Just an idea.

[tress29]

Just my personal opinion but why not use a under tank heater?

I'm going to pick one up this weekend, payday and all! I just wondered about insulating the sides to help retain heat.

[guidofatherof5]

I go to the meat dept. of Sam's Club and buy those styro meat trays.
It's easy to break doors out of them and they retain some of the heat from the heat pads.
They can also be cleaned in the dishwasher.

[tress29]

I go to the meat dept. of Sam's Club and buy those styro meat trays.
It's easy to break doors out of them

A door? To use the tray as a hide? I've got two styrofoam mushroom boxes to use for hides! Nice and thick, and the prettiest pink! I'm trying to reuse many of my supplies (that are already paid for!) and plan to do something more natural later...

[Kantar]

I am a firm believer in aquarium backgrounds. I just have it so the background is wrapped around the back and 1 side

I just notice it helps the snake be more active and they sure are.

[guidofatherof5]

A door?

I break out a pieces of the styrofoam to give the snakes an opening to enter the hide. Usually on all 4 sides.

[kimbosaur]

I purchased a tank off kijiji and the guy had the two sides and the back wrapped up in styrofoam. He kept fish in it, but I would assume that it would work for a terrarium too.

[Light of Dae]

For a more natural look with yours styrofoam hides cut them shape them, use 'expanding foam' (big gap filler) and basically carve it, Then cover it in floor tile grout, and then the top sealer coat! makes it look like a 'rock' and it withstands heat lamps n easy to clean, My snake loves hers!

[d_virginiana]

Another cheap way to make natural textures backgrounds and hides is to use GreatStuff foam from any hardware store and sculpt it into whatever shape you want. Then use either aquarium brand or 100% silicone, and cover your background in it, sticking rocks, bark, ect. in it. I also press cocofiber into it. This will give you a really natural looking backdrop, and it should help to retain heat since the GreatStuff is an insulator. I find that my snakes are the most active when they have a lot of different textures to crawl over. You can also 'glue' it to the side of your tank with the silicone.

[kimbosaur]

I recently did this! I used Quicrete instead of grout or GreatStuff though.

...Or if you're looking for a quick fix type thing, just stick the aquarium background underneath the styrofoam so that you don't see it from the inside.