Habitat - Indoor :: My idea for an above tank basking area.

[bently11]

Ok, a crazy idea popped into my head!!! It's a cheap, easy to make, above tank basking area!

Here's what you will need:
~A Rubbermaid container (not too big, like one of those small ones meant for holding toys)
~Piece of egg crate or other durable material with a grip for ramp
~Strong plastic cutter of some sort
~Piece of reptile carpet or another substrate with a grip
~Hot Glue gun

Procedure:

1. Cut off one of the shorter ends of the bin so it has 2 longer ends, 1 smaller end, and 1 gap.

2. Take the ramp (with the grip of some sort) and position it on an angle so your turt can climb up and hot glue it to the "platform".

3. Put the reptile carpet in the container.

4. Position it on top of tank.

5. You have an above tank basking area!

I thought of this b/c I'm on a budget and need a cheap, easy to make basking platform. So, I'm going to start working on this idea this weekend but wanted to think what you guys though first.

[zoologist]

awesome idea. i hope it will sit level on the tank for you!

[bently11]

Yeah, I thought I'd kinda rest it on some little table or somthing.

[SpotsMama]

That sounds very interesting. It reminds me of a similar one someone posted on here awhile back:

http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewt ... 984#141984

I think we were concerned about the turtle escaping over the side from the ramp on this example, but otherwise it looked pretty good. I think reptile carpet on the egg crate to make it more comfortable for the turtle feet is a nice idea.

[bently11]

I was planning on putting the ramp in the middle rather than on the side by the edge. This is for a stock tank and I was planning on putting a blanket over the top of the tank so I can't see the swimming area, therefore preventing Bently's escape.

[bently11]

SpotsMama, I wasn't planning on using egg crate. I was going to flip the container the other way so the solid bottom is on the bottom. Then I was going to cut a side off the container and connect a ramp to it.

[stars sc]

That sounds like a cool idea and seams like it would save some space inside the actual aquarium to make it so your turtle has a little more swimming room.

[bently11]

Yep, that was my plan.

[stars sc]

sounds like it will work look at some other peoples above tank basking areas some of them are really cool. they can get real complex it seams ! good luck !

[Turtlebiz]

SpotsMama, I wasn't planning on using egg crate. I was going to flip the container the other way so the solid bottom is on the bottom. Then I was going to cut a side off the container and connect a ramp to it.

Just make sure you have the right size container. I wanted to do something like that except I was going to try to wedge the container in the tank. Of course I couldn't find a container that was the perfect size, so I ended up buying egg crate from Home Depot and tying the container to that and resting it on the top of the tank. And it works wonders! I really recommend the egg crate

[maryR]

Turtlebiz can u take a pic and put on here for me to see?? Sounds neat

[flsprophet]

you can check out some pics of basking areas here that's where i got my idea. http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=15260

[grandmadoes]

I would love to give Shilo a basking area too. The only thing is Shilo is on the bathroom vanity in a 20 long. I love all of these ideas, but is there some way to make them a little more "pretty?" I realy would like for the swimming room to be all it can be for Shilo. Any suggestions friends?

[bently11]

I was going to use reptile carpet in there to make it look like grass.

[zoologist]

Grandmadoes: you could make a small basking area out of plexi glass. fashion it into a three sided box of sorts that sits on the lip of you fish tank. the ramp into the water could be a glued on zoomed turtle dock.
very simple, very cheap and easily made elegant