Habitat - Indoor :: Need a suitable basking platform

[Dreamopen]

Hello, I hope you can see my photo. I have two turtles. Larges ones. One is abour 6 inches, and one is about 9 inches.

I need a basking platform that can support them both.

The platform you see in the photograph is just one of 'em floating things you buy at a pet store. My turtles are unable to climb on top of it to bask. My turtles haven't basked for 3 weeks now!

Before, the platform was lower, supported by two bricks. And my turtle was able to climb on the platform easily. But I have to increase the water depth so the water wouldn't be as "stinky".

I've seen the platforms other people used in the photos, but those platforms are for baby turtles. And I haven't heard good things about them. Also it would never support the weight of my turtles.

So if anyone have any custom platform ideas, please tell me. Materials and pictures of your platform would be great too!

Thank-you in advance,

Dreamopen

[fishandcandy]

I use a plastic shower organizer. It has suction cups, so I just stuck it on upside down. I'm not sure if you could find one big enough for your turtles. You could try building a stand with PVC pipe and putting a tile or something on top, or using plastic milk crates as a stand.

[Dreamopen]

Thanks. I'm not sure how to build a stand with PVC pipes. It's sounds too difficult. But the milk crate is a good idea. I will find one tomorrow as a temporary solution for my poor turtles!

Thanks!

[marisa]

You could use corkbark and wedge it in between the sides of the tank as well.

[Turtleboy]

i've seen some where ppl built a wooden box kinda thing with no roof (for the light to shine in) and it's placed outside the tank, usually at the top of the tank and theres a ramp going from the box into the water.. so its an exterior basking area.. maybe you can try that?

[Turtleboy]

check out this post of this creative basking platform..
http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1218

[Dreamopen]

Thanks so much!

I'm going to go material shopping this weekend. I'm thinking clear plastic. If not wood with chicken wires.

Thanks so much guys! I'll keep you posted!

[marisa]

What are you going to do with chicken wire? I wouldn't keep it exposed to water as it most likely will rust.

[Dreamopen]

I was thinking the chicken wire will keep it from crawling out. Thanks for the tip!

[Spookster]

You can maybe get some ideas from mine. Link to my photos is in my signature.

[Dreamopen]

Spookster,

I love your tank! What materials did you use to construct it? What is the ramp made of? Is it just wood and plastic?

[Spookster]

The basking area I built with a couple small sheets of plywood and some 3/4 inch x 2 inch boards. I cut the boards up to create a box frame that fits the top of the tank so it sits on the inner edge of the top of the tank. I then cut the plywood and put it around 3 sides to give the turtle privacy and put a piece on the bottom for the floor. I then used wire mesh which you can get at any hardware store. I think they call it hardware cloth or wire cloth. I use the one with 1/2 inch holes so it doesn't block any UV light. I nailed the wire mesh across the top and bent it down the front side so we have one open side we can see the turtle while she basks. I covered the floor with shelving liner, the kind that is soft and has holes in it. I then took three metal braces from the hardware store and bent them at a slight angle and bolted them to the bottom of the basking area. I cut out a piece of acrylic/plexiglass for the ramp. I siliconed the shelving liner to the plexiglass to give the turtle grip to get up the ramp. I drilled holes in the ramp and bolted it to the three braces. I used a grinder to round over the sharp edges of the plexiglass so the turtle doesn't cut herself. I also got some of that stick on shelving liner that matched the color of the tank and put it around the outside of the basking area so it blends in with the tank. Other than that I cut a small hole in the wire mesh on top so I could clamp the UV heat lamp.

Inside the tank I have a plastic crate which I cut the side out so the turtle has a large cave to go into when she wants to hide. I had to put a brick on top because the plastic crate floats. The turtle loves to sit on top of the crate.

As for size my turtle is about 8-9 inches and she plenty of room in the basking area and the tank is 90 gallons.

[Dreamopen]

Thanks so much! I'm going to model my basking ramp after yours. I just have one question. How did you bend the plexiglass? Was it already bend at an angle when you brought it? Or did you bent it using a heat gun?

Thanks again!

[Spookster]

No problem. I didn't bend the plexiglass, it is flat. The ramp is attached to the basking area box with 3 metal brackets. I bent the metal brackets to the angle I wanted the ramp to be at and then attached the ramp to them.

[Spookster]

Here is a better pic. This is the original one that I built. It only had two metal brackets and had a wooden ramp. A wooden ramp didn't end up being a good choice so that is why I changed it to plexiglass. I also made the ramp longer which is why I added a third bracket in the center to give it more support. My turtle likes to just sit on the ramp so it needed to be sturdy.

http://www.designqueue.com/photos/turtle/P1010001.JPG

I had posted several pics of my original setup here:
http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2114