Foam Insulation Enclosure?

[shill]

I am wanting to build my own enclosure. I am looking into getting a red foot tortoise and want to be completely prepared for when I get them. I was going to build it out of plywood, but I have been seeing many issues with sealing it properly. I had an idea to make it out of foam insulation board and then cover the insulation with aluminum tape, so that the tortoise is not exposed to the insulation and the enclosure would be completely sealed. I am thinking that the insulation board would keep the enclosure warm as well as humid. I do not see anywhere where anyone has done this before, but I also can not find anywhere that says this would not work.

If anyone thinks this is a bad idea, especially if this would be toxic to the tortoise PLEASE let me know.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

I'm not sure if I'm visualizing your design properly. But foam board covered in insulation tape wouldn't hold up very well with a tortoises nails, etc.
It'd need something more substantial for the inner walls.

 

[shill]

I'm not sure if I'm visualizing your design properly. But foam board covered in insulation tape wouldn't hold up very well with a tortoises nails, etc.
It'd need something more substantial for the inner walls.

I would not be covering the walls with insulation tape, I was going to use aluminum tape. It is like a very strong duct tape. It is pretty difficult to cut, and impossible to tear. Most claim to be scratch-resistant. I particularly thinking aluminum tape because it is incredibly durable, water proof, and fire proof. This would be a first enclosure so it would only house the tortoise until it was about 5 inches big. However, I have never owned a tortoise myself, so do you think that a small tortoise would scratch through something like gorilla tape? Thank you so much for your help!

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

I was thinking about doing something alike using polystyrene boards. Didn't go into details yet (an old enclosure is still holding on), however draft was like this:
1. Make a sturdy frame (kind of cage out of wood, PVC pipes, or metallic profile). With sliding front doors - don't forget about "lip" for glass rails.
2. Stuff it with polystyrene boards (1.5" is enough).
3. Line the interior with coroplast (perhaps, only the bottom half).
4. Hang cable trays on the ceiling (they should be fixed to the outer frame, not the insulation board). Hang lightning and heating from cable trays.
5. Make holes on the sidewalls closer to the ceiling to pull the cables through, put rubber cable channel plugs in the holes.

For a 5 inch tortoise enclosure has to be 30-40 sq.ft, 2-2.5 ft. high. Can be 20 sq.ft. if you have outdoor pen available most time of the year.

 

[jaizei]

I would not be covering the walls with insulation tape, I was going to use aluminum tape. It is like a very strong duct tape. It is pretty difficult to cut, and impossible to tear. Most claim to be scratch-resistant. I particularly thinking aluminum tape because it is incredibly durable, water proof, and fire proof. This would be a first enclosure so it would only house the tortoise until it was about 5 inches big. However, I have never owned a tortoise myself, so do you think that a small tortoise would scratch through something like gorilla tape? Thank you so much for your help!

Can you link to an example of the aluminum tape. The first thing that came to my mind was foil tape used for hvac.

Where would this enclosure be kept (indoors, outdoors, shed, garage, in a climate controlled space or not)

 

[shill]

Can you link to an example of the aluminum tape. The first thing that came to my mind was foil tape used for hvac.

Where would this enclosure be kept (indoors, outdoors, shed, garage, in a climate controlled space or not)

Yes, exactly like foil tape! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07WSCS4R3/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20 I was going to keep the enclosure inside of my house. I was going to make it 4' x 2' for while the red foot is young, with a partial lid to keep the temperature and humidity up.

 

[jaizei]

Large (walkin) coolers/freezers use panels made from foam with a metal skin, so what you're thinking is similar to that. I think using foam board for an enclosure walls could work if you had something similar to that, ie with something rigid 'laminated' to the foamboard. if I was making it, I'd prob go with something like FRP on the inside, thin plywood on the outside. I don't see any advantage the foil tape would have, even if it worked (unsure).

it might be slightly easier than using the pvc sheets as far as cutting the materials since the foam can be cut with a knife and the other materials could be cut with a multitool (vs having to use a table/circular saw for the pvc sheets). but idk if all in all it would be easier than the pvc sheets. If you were going to use plywood, but sealing/moisture was what made you reconsider, I'd use the pvc sheets in place of the plywood.

since its a redfoot, and its temporary, I'd prob just find a tote, tub, or stock tank and do the greenhouse top thing that you see people do on the forum.