Habitat - Indoor :: How to prevent escape...

[jenaero]

Some of you might remember when my res, Rocks, made her big escape. I rigged up a screen and a piece of sheet metal so it wouldn't happen again. I did have to cut a hole in the screen to let the uvb through, but looking at it, there was no conceivable way for them to get out.

I come home today and Pandora was sitting ON TOP of the screen, under the lamp. I just about had a heart attack because she's the skittish one that flies into the water when you come up to her when she's basking. I thought for sure she was going to dive right into the wall but luckily she turned around and dove back into the tank. What else can I do? I grabbed a rack out of my oven and placed it on top of the screen but it's sure not pretty. Any ideas besides getting a screen top to fit the tank? (it's pretty expensive)

[marisa]

Had a chuckle picturing Pandora on the screen. You waited until now to use the oven rack? (I know it's not pretty, but neither is an injured turtle.) How about some kind of fence--I think Stacy posted some pictures of her indoor pond, and she had a kind of lattice fence around the top of it to prevent them from getting out.

[jenaero]

I waited til now because right after her escape I rigged up the screen and the sheet metal and I thought there was no way they'd get out of that...seldom right and wrong again I guess. I figured it was rigged up well enough and it won't be a problem after we move and get their pond set up. They're definetly not gettin out of this now but I kind of need that rack for the oven

[tini]

I know what you mean I would imagine the screen would work. well good luck with the oven rack sounds like it should work.

[daredevilgirl013]

Chicken Wire. Big enough for UVB to go through usually but small enough to where no one can get out.

[marisa]

You could get some hardware cloth (that was suggested before as well) and cut it to make a screen to fit the tank. If you get the 1/2 inch-hole size, there's no problem with UVB rays not getting through.

[Grifter420]

I came into my room the other day to check on my 3 turtles, when i looked in babies tank saw only one, i went into panic mode lucky for me Bitty had managed to get out of tank and decided that the bed was a good place to jump to so when i lifted up my blanket i disrupted his nap. but he was very happy to go home though. Its scary to think they can manage some amazing escapes when you arent around, had i been gone longer i dont know what he could have done I placed a screen over the dock so that they dont have a chance to sneak out again.... i hope.