Habitat - Indoor :: Basking area help!!

[Florecita]

I've recently made a ATBA for my two RES which are about 6 months old who live in a 65 gallon tank. Both turtles seem healthy, they eat and drink and would bask on a regular basis when i had the floating dock.

The basking area that i have is made out of wood and has plexiglass cut out to make the walls higher to prevent escaping and a little bit of cover for the turtles. I have a heat bulb and uvb bulb up there along with a bunch of wood sticks for the bottom.

Now, the ramp is quite long which i believe is the problem. It is maybe 5 inches wide and about 20 inches long considering that the basking area is higher up and towards the side of the tank rather than on top.

One of the turtles has shell fungus which i am treating atm and i put them up there to dry for hours blocking the ramp to prevent them from entering the water. They just always seem to try to escape and when i do unblock the ramp, they just launch themselves onto the ramp and into the water. I have seen one of them go down slowly as i guess he has learned but he doesn't go up. The ramp is made out of a green carpet looking texture which you can buy for reptiles at the pet store.

The water ranges between 78 - 82F. I have a fish tank lid with lights and all which in my opinion makes them feel safer than without a cover.

What could be the problem with the basking area? Are they just not used to it? Is the ramp way too long? How can i fix this?

[steve]

Fungus is contagious, so you risk the other turtle getting it too. Can you post a wider view of it? What's it's temperature?

[Florecita]

I know its contagious thats why I've been treating the both of them and yea sure ill get a picture now

[Florecita]

So the water is at 76 because i opened up the windows last night and the Hottest part of the basking area is about 90.
The top part of the ramp is also about 90.

As for the pictures, its days the file is too big. Any idea of how i can fix that? I'm doing this through my phone.

[Florecita]

Sorry for the mess but i had to screen shot them smaller in order to post them :p hope this helps. I put the water bottle so you can compare it.

Right now i have them up there but I've closed off the exit and they are just fighting to get out.

[Florecita]

Last image

[Gurgi's Mom]

My guess is that the basking area is too far away, which makes the ramp longer of course. The turtles are enticed to bask by feeling the heat - perhaps they can't tell they are suppose to go up there to bask. Also being a long ramp might make them feel that they are too far away from the safety of the water.

[Florecita]

Thanks guys for your advice! I'm actually working on it today, I've already made it less steep but i gotta fix the stand so that i can make it shorter.