Reptile & Amphibian Forums

We are in the process of creating a corner waterfall to be used in a red eyed tree frog viv, measuring 18h by 12l by 12w. Several keepers have recommended using expanding spray foam insulation and carving it how I want it, and modifying from there. Whereas I like the idea, I am worried about the material having toxic properties, especially given the sinsitive nature of a frogs bodily systems. The foam seems inert once cured, but I'm being super cautios here.

Does anyone have any other suggestion for a base material? I am mechanically inclined, so difficulty level shouldn't be a consideration.
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1.1.0 Dumerils Boas
0.1.0 Anery Cornsnake
1.1.0 Amel Hurricane Cornsnakes (66% het Snow)
0.0.1 ?Mystery? Albino Plains Garter (WC)(Ask for pic/details)
1.0.0 Apricot-phase Plains Milksnake (WC)

I have done backgrounds with both the Great Stuff foam and just plain styrofoam. No ill effects thus far. I have been reading and i saw somewhere that the great stuff is fine until water permeates it and then the main ingredient reacts and leaks-which is toxic. You could seal either the stryofoam or the foam with concrete and aquarium sealant.
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1.0 '09 kahl albino (Silas)
0.1 '09 DH Snow
0.1 '09 Suriname x columbian
0.0.1 '09 Normal BCC (Noreaga)
1.0 Leopard gecko (Morrison)
0.0.1 Water dragon (Jaquin Pheonix)
0.0.1 RES (Rochi)
0.0.1 Three legged painted turtle (Goku)
0.0.1 Florida Softshell (Durante)
1.0 Green iguana (Lance)
0.1 Green iguana (Bubba)
1.0 Green iguana (Vintanto)
1.0 ALbino Nelsons milksnake (moby)
0.1 Feeder mouse gone permenant resident (Patches)
1.0 Guinea pig (larry)
0.0.1 Normal ball python (Monty)

Thing is, Great Stuff, if it should get saturated with water, turns to goo. Styrene foam does not.

You can make some cool stuff with pieces cut from styrene foam insulation sheets. Glue the pieces together (you can use toothpicks to "nail" the pieces together as you glue them - adds rigidity). Then finish carving. Non-toxic.

Coat with tile grout mixed with water. Thin soupy consistency for the first 2 coats, then a peanut butter consistency for the last coat. After that dries you can coat it with acrylic paint, then modge podge.

I've seen people use grout colorant alone and no paint, only the modge podge clearcoat. That works too.

Lastly, Josh's Frogs sells some black spray polyurethane foam. That stuff can get wet I believe and is non-toxic when dry. Ask them about it.
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Mark

Thank you both for your posts. I worried about a breakdown reaction with the spray foam, and it seems that it is a likelyhood. The foam blocks sounds like a winner to me.

We are going to try both the foams and a silicone/rock approach and see which works beter for us. Great info from both of you. Will report results as we get them. Thanks again.
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1.1.0 Dumerils Boas
0.1.0 Anery Cornsnake
1.1.0 Amel Hurricane Cornsnakes (66% het Snow)
0.0.1 ?Mystery? Albino Plains Garter (WC)(Ask for pic/details)
1.1.0 Red Eyed Tree Frogs