Habitat - Outdoor :: Does this look too crowded?

[reptilegrrl]

I finally built my other basking point, yesterday. I am not sure if I like it. The pond looks kind of crowded to me now. I was planning to take out the turtle dock but I like the idea of having two basking areas so he can pick and choose.



The basking point is a planter basket filled with rocks and some sphagnum moss. A small area of it has been set aside for plants to grow- I have already added a xanthosoma and when my pickerell plant is taller I will add it. The basket extends about 8 inches, altogether, below water level. On top are two flat rocks- one is just below the water's surface, and one is clear of the water. Al can swim up onto the lower rock and then, supposedly, climb onto the higher rock and be out of the water.

The larger rock overlaps the basket somewhat, creating a shelf. Al can swim below that shelf and also swim below the basket itself.

I really needed to add some shade to the pond, and this did that, but I think it looks a bit crowded now. What do you think? Was it better to have just the floating turtle dock and all te open space? This dock also means I have to monitor the water level more- too high or too low and this thing won't work.

I don't know, maybe I am just talking myself out of it, but I really don't think I like it

[samandnelly]

Is the plant there just for decoration? It's supposed to create a waterfall affect, right?

[reptilegrrl]

Which plant?

The big orange planter is my biofilter. It sits on top of a Pvc stand that he can swim underneath. The waterfall effect is the water flowing through the filter and out the top.

The plant in the small basket is there just for decoration.

I think now that I want to replace the second basking point with a floating planter.

[samandnelly]

Oh okay

[sonyj]

I think it looks good. You can just observe his behavior to see which basking area he prefers. If he uses one the majority of the time, you might decide to remove the other after a while.

I can't wait to have a pond... I caught my husband at Tractor Supply Co. early this week looking at stock tanks. When I called on his cell phone to see what he was out doing, he claimed that he just wanted to see what they looked like in person. Knowing him, it won't be long now till Koopa has one. I have to let it be all "his" idea and not mine before he'll actually do it. MEN!!

[Jessica313]

i thik it looks great!!!
i love it if it were mine, id keep it just how it is...

are the flat rocks resting on anything or are the just floating? they are cool if there is some type of floating rock thing i wanna get it lol

[reptilegrrl]

They are resting on top of a planter basket.

[Jessica313]

ohhh ok. gotcha.. cause i want something like that that floats... i saw these fake lilly pad things at petco a while ago and i asked the girl if it would hold a turtle and she said no, and then i saw a turtle floating on one IN that same petco when i went to look at the turtles .. so i dunno.....

[reptilegrrl]

I just saw those lily pad things online today, I want to get one. They are 8" across and the blurb says they are supposed to hold small turtles.

[Jessica313]

very cool. just out of curiosity, where did u see them online?
i think i might get them but they were somewhat expensive at petco....

[reptilegrrl]

I saw then at petsmart.com, they were $10. That was a bit rich for my blood, so I am holding out in the hope of finding them for less.

[Jessica313]

yea.. i think they were 15 at petco.... im going to look around too.. if i find anything food ill let you know if u would do the same for me =)

[reptilegrrl]

Will do! A web search finds Petco as the cheapest place so far.

[reptilegrrl]

Sorry, that was supposed to be PetSmart- PetSmart s the cheapest place I can find them on the web.

[kneecole]

I think it looks great! I can't wait to have a house and be able to do something like that.

And Sonyj you're comment is so true! haha can't live w/ them can't live w/o them!