Habitat - Indoor :: Need idea to get turts onto basking area

[NikkiD]

Hello everyone,
I've been searching through a lot of posts and I can't seem to find any ideas on how to get my turts onto their new basking area.

I just buit a new basking area for my babies that sits on top of the tank, unfortunately, I don't have any ideas on what to use the get them to crawl up onto it. I would typically use one on those Zoo Med docks, but my babies tend to eat them!!!!

Right now they're still using their intank basking area, but I would like to finish this soon to give them a little more swimming room.

Any ideas? All are welcome!

[the_orphaned]

On top of the tank? how many inches from the rim of the tank? And how big are your turts? Well, I know that you know they cant run or fall off the tank where you put the new basking area right?

Usually, just make it accessible and they'll figure it out themselves. or you could put them there once or twice so they can associate it with basking. Mine just figures it out when I place a bigger rock or something.

Before though, i had to put him there when I clean out his tank until he actually associated it a a basking spot.

[missibsu]

Are you concerned because the turtle isn't using the dock to bask, or are you concerned with a way to access the basking area?

To answer the first one, make sure your temps are correct. If it isn't warm enough, your turtle won't be encouraged to bask.

To answer the second question, I have seen people use those anti-slide grip pads to line the slope so that your turtle can grip it. I have also seen the use of a small piece of all weather carpeting. It's thin and can handle the water. You might even get a home improvement store to donate a small piece at no charge...since you wouldn't need very much.

[Sally]

Try removing their intank basking area. If they have that, they might be less inclined to go searching for the other basking area.

Missibsu, what anti-slide grip pads are you referring to? Are they the ones you would put inside a bathtub? I need something like that for my tank but they seem to be of two varieties: held by suction cups which wouldn't work well; and stickers but I'm worried the glue in the sticker might be toxic. I'm also worried the grip might be reactive in the water but I'm more worried about the glue.

[missibsu]

I'm talking about the ones that people line their shelves with. You can buy it pre cut for under your placemats, or in rolls. I have seen it in the housewares sections of stores like walmart. That said, I don't know how people attach it, but I was thinking that it just clings. I haven't used it personally, but I know there are some pics in the photo gallery if you search. I can't think of who off the top of my head.

[NikkiD]

Let me explain a little more. I haven't put the new basking area on yet because there is no way to get up on it. They are not having any trouble basking, in fact, they love to lounge around all day and then continually dive in later on in the afternoon, it's like a game for them. I made the new outside basking area so they have more room to swim in the tank. My only problem is building a ranp to get onto it. It is going to hang about an inch and a half above the water level, so they won't be able to reach it. I just need an idea on how to make a ramp so they can climb up there.

Also, I have put up walls around the tank so that with the high water, they can't climb out of the tank, so no worries there.

I actually have those anti cling place mats, and that would work well, except I don't know what to attach it to to make it float in such a way that it's a steady incline for them to climb.

Thanks for your help!

[Sally]

ah, my mistake. I had the same problem when I built mine. But in the end I opted to lower the basking area slightly into the tank than build walls. I may raise it at a later time though.

What material did you build with? I used acrylic so I just took a 14"x5" piece of acrylic, heated it and put a 135 degree bend in the center and then attached one end to the bottom of the basking area- this made a 7 inch ramp at 45 degrees that extended 2 inches deep into the water. Those dimensions would extend about 3.5" deep into the water in your tank so you could use a smaller ramp (the base that attached to the basking area didn't also have to be 7" long but it was easier to work with for me).

[NikkiD]

I used a non-chemical-treated wood, wrapped in a green grass texture "thing" with plastic walls. I was thinking to just use some left over plastic and have it bend into the water so they can climb in, but it seems to be to slippery. I could attach some green grass "stuff", but I don't know how. Glue could be bad for the turts, and I don't know what else could work.

[steve]

Have you seen tinyslider's above tank basking platform? They describe the materials used in their post.

[NikkiD]

Thank you for pointing that out. That looks very nice, and I never would have though of using the top of a tuprware container. I may have to borrow that idea.

[Sally]

Use aquarium silicon instead of glue. The plastic you have sounds sort of like the acrylic I used, which is also slippery, although my entire basking area + ramp is made out of acrylic. I spread some silicon along the surface and poured some gravel on top. When it hardens, it holds the gravel in place to create grips and a rocky surface for the turtle. The best thing would have been to heat the silicon in a small jar before spreading it so it spreads evenly and continuously . Otherwise, it's a pain to spread and there's weak spots where the gravel will fall out if you're not careful.

I have another ramp for something else I built but I wanted to forgo the gravel this time and try something else like those grips missibsu mentioned (still can't picture it. I looked around housewares at Wal-mart yesterday but didn't see anything. I'll have to look again). I would just silicon it right to the ramp.

I was looking at 100% vinyl bath mats but the tupperware sounds like a neat idea. I'd like something the turtle could get their fingers into so I might cut strips and silicon it to the acrylic to create finger holds. But silicon should be strong enough to hold whatever material you use to the ramp. Or stainless screw it to the ramp if possible although the silicon can be reversed- the holes can't.

[missibsu]

This is what I was talking about:
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product. ... id=2510679

[steve]

I've seen similar pads for cabinets and shelves... I think I've also seen them at WalMart for around $3-$4. There's also reptile cage carpet, though I'm not sure how much they go for.

[NikkiD]

Thank you Sally, I used the silicon glue and glue on the green grassy stuff, since they seem to like that. I then tacked it on, with the tackes hidden under the grass of course. So far they seem to like it.

I put them up on the basking area once to show them it's the new spot, them I loured them up there on their own with some "Turtle Yummies". By the time I did that, it was late, so the lights went off shortly after that. I got up this morning, and the lights went on, and when I got out of the shower, the littler one was at the top of the ramp, not quite all the way up, and she saw me and jumped off. So I think they understand what it is and they should be ok. I have a friend checking on them while I'm at work, so I'll know more tonight.

Thank you everyone for your ideas!! You've all been so helpfull!