Using bubble wrap to insulate glass tank?

[kiiarah]

I was just hoping to run this idea past everyone. I have been noticing that the hot hide and ambient temps in Shesha's tank have been on a gradual, but steady decline as the weather gets colder. I am afraid too much heat is escaping through the glass and have been reading that it can help to insulate three sides to trap the heat. I also read that some people will use bubble wrap to insulate windows in the winter. Do you think this would work on a snake tank too? I was thinking of just doing a layer of bubble wrap attached with double sided tape.

Current heating set up:

He has a heat mat for the hot hide which is regulated by thermometer. I have noticed recently that while I used to be able to set the thermostat itself to about 93 and have it average 90 degrees on the inside glass under the hide, now it only seems to get up to 87.5 or so. After setting it to 94 on the thermostat it gets to maybe 88. I am not sure if this is normal (maybe just the heat mat having to work harder to heat the colder glass) or if there is something going on with the equipment, but I have only had everything for a month and a half.

He has a night bulb heat lamp to help with ambient temps and the tank is being measured by an Acurite digital indoor/outdoor thermometer with the probe under the hot hide and the thermometer itself on the cool side. The screen lid of the tank is covered about 90% with a cut out below the heat lamp.

If anyone has any thoughts on the best way to stabilize the temps as the weather gets colder that would be incredibly helpful. This will be my first winter with him, so I want to prepare if possible and hopefully not get any surprise heating problems. What would be the best way to prevent heat transfer out of the tank, and would it be advisable to somehow insulate the bottom of the tank around the heat mat to keep more heat in contact with the tank. I have read that some people use some type of insulation with a vent for a little heat to escape from below the tank, but I am nervous to play around with it on my own just due to fire risk. Thanks everyone!!

[Saber402]

When I had glass tanks I used bubble wrap with smaller bubbles on the sides and back. It made a difference for me. I never used any on the bottom.

[dr del]

Hi,

My only concern would be the fragility of the bubble wrap long term. I tend to use cork sheeting or polystyrene.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Get styrofoam , just check your local hardware store.

[jclaiborne]

Why not go to HD or lowes and buy some rigid insulation, build your "box" around the cage, that way you have something that will last, and its not expensive. http://www.homedepot.com/b/Building-...n/N-5yc1vZbaxx

[kiiarah]

I am tentatively planning to get something set up with polystyrene sheet board or something similar that would be more permanent. Just due to work schedule and where we live (quite a ways from town) it would take some time to put together. I figured this could work as a short term solution to ensure he is comfortable while I work on something better suited to the application. I did talk with some employees at the small local hardware store and they indicated that it should work reasonably well lining three sides with the bubble wrap if we are just trying to maintain slightly higher temps indoors. I am sure it wouldn't do enough if the tank were in a garage or something unheated but given that the indoor temps should only be a bit lower than the tank needs to be it just might work.