We are in the proccess of building a cage that is 8x3x2.....the glass keeps get backorderd or something and right now its a pain in the bum.We were gonna buy an old display case from a jewerly store that went outa business but it would have been moe trouble to modify than it was worth. I useally have a sheet of plastic wrapped around 3/4 of the top of the tank but i didnt put it back on right away after lunch .....I thought the exact same thign when i got the cage shelby....about it being hard to keep the temps right....but suprisingly it is working....on the hot side it goes from about 93-90 and the cool stays about 82-80....the air temp is about 87 right now because of his illness but i was suprised i was able to keep the temps steady....and he spends equal amount of time on each side.....i try to take him out once a day when hes not digesting and let him strech completly out becasue he cant do that in that tank very well...he barely has any loose skin now to ....a lil bit but a lot less than before....if you check out the other pictures i posted a while back and compare you can tell ...anyways this is long so i will be quiet now