Habitat - Indoor :: POST YOUR BASKING AREA PICTURES HERE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[twoam]

I have read this entire thread lol. Very good stuff. We are currently using the Zoo Med Large Turtle Dock. This was purchased in our scramble to set Clarence up in a proper habitat with absolutely no idea on how to do this. I really like the Cork Bark and the plexi glass "fence". The white sand is beautiful, though I currently have a bare bottom tank. Love the post with the stained glass look. Love how the Zoo Med Turtle Dock can be used as a ramp. 3 tanks and 2 filters later, its nice to know something wont go to waste lol. Does anyone have any pics/ideas on a resting spot below the water? I have an awesome piece of driftwood (shaped like a cane) that I could put in the tank. Is this sufficiant or should it be a bigger resting spot? Currently he enjoys resting on his fake plants. Obviously that will not last forever as he continues to grow. Trying to find things that take up the least amount of swimming space possible. My only other question (I can hear the sighs of relief lol) is on what size Cork Bark to order. I dont mind trimming/cutting or any of that stuff. His tank is 150 gal (100 gal of water). Can a basking area be TOO big? Thank you all for sharing your pics, ingenuity and advice

[steve]

Sheba had an acrylic dock, I think it was this one or similar to it: http://www.amazon.com/Kordon-Oasis-Nova ... B0006L12HS

I think it was slipping too, so some have been using aquarium cleaning magnets to add support. With tile, it shouldn't get too hot. You could also put down some cork. How are you taking the temp of the basking area?

[dumbork14]

hello! we just created a new ATBA for my turt. can they figure it out on their own? the turt doesn't seem to know the way to the ramp. help please!

[dumbork14]

here's a clearer pic:




dumbork is hiding behind the rock.

[dandj425]

As a mom who lost her baby(2 yr old RES last summer) to escape. I would be very concerned about Dumbork climbing the wiring(mine liked trying alot!) or going off the ramp over the sides of the tank where there is no boundary. It has been heart breaking not finding Tweedle's twin sister last year but since then I have been anal about possible escape routes. Otherwise it is a very good idea.

[dumbork14]

As a mom who lost her baby(2 yr old RES last summer) to escape. I would be very concerned about Dumbork climbing the wiring(mine liked trying alot!) or going off the ramp over the sides of the tank where there is no boundary. It has been heart breaking not finding Tweedle's twin sister last year but since then I have been anal about possible escape routes. Otherwise it is a very good idea.

he tried to escape RIGHT after this post. got a mini-heart attack. luckily my hand was ready to catch him. made some temporary boundary out of a chopping board ( i have to be a LOT creative). will think of a permanent boundary later. here are the pics:




thanks!

[dumbork14]

sorry if i keep posting! anyway, check this out!! i got ideas from this thread, so THANK YOU!

So for three weeks I’ve been constructing the ATBA. The main materials used are:

-barbecue grills

-cable/zip ties

-green carpet

-green anti-slip grass mat

-3 sheets of acrylic (taken from picture frames)

-Hollow metal (aluminum) tubes for the placement of the deep dome lamp fixture



Descriptions

ATBA 1.0

-Three grills that serve as walls, the fourth grill serves as the floor

-the floor part is covered by the green carpet

-The walls are covered by the acrylic sheets to prevent the turt from sticking his head out of the square grids

-the grass mat is attached to the floor that serves as ramp

-On the left corner is a hollow tube where the deep dome lamp fixture is attached



ATBA 1.1

-same setup as 1.0

-additional designs include “boundaries” to prevent turt from escaping the tank

-on the left side is a flat rectangle strainer

-on the right side is a small chopping board



ATBA 1.2

-additional design includes the use of 2 hollow aluminum tubes for the deep dome lamp fixture

-the deep dome is used for the UVB lamp and heat lamp

-the tubes are attached to the corners of the wall by cable/zip ties

- a strip of chicken wire is placed inside the hollow tube, while the outer part serves as the “hook” for the dome fixture



ATBA 1.3

-aluminum foil was added to the UVB lamp deep dome fixture sbecause the lamp was “sticking out”

-the heat lamp is placed on the left corner

-the UVB lamp is placed on the right corner



ATBA 2.0

-the flat strainer and the chopping board is replaced by 2 barbecue grills

-the the heat lamp is placed on the right corner

-the UVB lamp is placed on the left corner







here’s a picture of dumbork testing out the ATBA.

climbing....


hmmm. can i escape to the sides?


finally!
give me heat!


unfortunately he is still skittish, hestayed less than a minute the dived back to the water.

to know more of dumbork's adventures follow my blog (in my signature).

thanks! )

[Listen97]

Glad to see he is using it now. I recall you saying he wouldn't use it.

[dumbork14]

yes, it's in my other thread. thanks for all your help!

[Gracie Turts]

i was gonna suggest taping background wallpaper to hide the escape routes but... looks you got it well covered.
smart idea too. how did you make the glass stand upright like that?

[dumbork14]

@gracie - i used a very small amount (pinhead size) of superglue.

[dandj425]

I really like the creative modifications I couldn't even see the picture glass but very smart!

[dumbork14]

thank you!

[TurtleDog]

I made the entire ATBA shell and ramp out of 3/16" acrylic bonded with what I think was Weld-On. The floor is 1/4" lighting diffuser, carpeted with drawer/shelf liner and zip-ties. The stainless steel grill is holding the lamp up. I am going to make a lid for the removable part once I get the money for more acrylic. There are two male RES and eight fish in this 75gal tank. If anyone wants more info or pics/video I will be happy to oblige since I got a lot of ideas from the pictures on this thread.

[natealie]

This is my 300 gallon Rubbermaid stock tank. It houses 7 turtles, one koi, and a variety of feeder fish that are starting to become permanent residents it seems....

The basking area is a 50-gallon sterilite container from Wal-Mart. We used a box cutter to open a ramp in the side of it and have plastic shelving in the water as steps to get up into it. It is weighed down with a concrete block on the first step. I have turtles that like to sit on the concrete, turtles that hang out on the ramp, and others that get all the way into the box. All 7 turtles can fit into the basking box at the same time, with a UVB on one side and heat lamp on the other (I live in a trailer so the room temperature during the day here over the summer is warm enough they hardly need the heat lamp at all).

The decorations you see on their basking box are because I felt they needed something cheery to brighten up their room lol. Enjoy!