Redfoot enclosure help

[snowflake123]

I got a redfoot and I am panicking about the enclosure. I know that 4x8 is recommended but I'm wondering if I can get away with something smaller since he will only be inside for only a few months a year. I'm in Arkansas so outdoors is good until winter. Outside he will have something huge built.

 

[Maggie3fan]

I got a redfoot and I am panicking about the enclosure. I know that 4x8 is recommended but I'm wondering if I can get away with something smaller since he will only be inside for only a few months a year. I'm in Arkansas so outdoors is good until winter. Outside he will have something huge built.

I keep one RF and he's in a minigreenhouse to control the heat and create lots of humidity...in my opinion if he's in a smaller enclosure for 2 to 4 months every year and after a while he will/could have poop problems from not getting enuf exercise..this is 6'x2.5'

 

[snowflake123]

I was thinking 6 by 2 at minimum.

 

[snowflake123]

Or basically a really large entertainment center since under my mounted TV is the best place I have

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Or basically a really large entertainment center since under my mounted TV is the best place I have

Anything wooden will probably fail due to the high humidity you'll need.
YOU CAN lay down some pond liner or an extra thick shower curtain and pile up your substrate on top of that.
(Use Orchid bark) But you'll need to be able to close the top and create a "closed chamber enclosure". Otherwise you'll drive yourself insane trying to regulate the humidity and keeping the temperature right in that sweet spot of between 80 and 86. (82-84 is what I consider perfect.)
My Redfoot live outside 24/7 here in south Florida. But I really like the setup that @Maggie3fan has posted. Apparently they're on Amazon and not at all expensive

 

[Maggie3fan]

The green house is sitting on what was a wooden tort table, there's a shower curtain liner stapled to the sides covering the bottom...this is how humid it is

 

[snowflake123]

This is what I had when I got him. It's fine for now I'm just trying to figure out what to do when he's full grown and skip to the last stage of enclosure I will need.

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Hello!

In 3-4 years you can expect him to grow up to 6-7 inches. From my limited experience with a single redfoot, at that size 6x3 feet enclosure feels "tight" for them: with a hide, a couple of plants, water and feeding dishes there will be not much space to roam.

In 8-10 years redfoots can be 12-14 inches long and I feel that even a 4x8 feet will work only as a "motel style" enclosure.

Where I live, climate permits "sun rushes" outdoors every day - from 15 minutes to some hours. That helps my tortoise to keep shape and she freaks out when it's too cold and she has to stay indoors. So in a long-term, I would maximize the time she can stay outdoors with a heated shelter, maybe a greenhouse to keep humidity and temperatures higher. I'm also considering an outdoor shed (12x20 feet, probably), well-insulated and heated.

 

[snowflake123]

Okay. I have a dirt floor shed I think was previously used for chickens or something maybe 10 years ago. Maybe I can rig that into a really nice winter shed for him

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Sounds like a plan! Would be extremely cool if you will post updates from the "construction site"...