Other Turtle Discussion :: I wanna build this:

[Hoooneylynn]

Okay, anyone have any ideas on how I can build this basking area? I love it... I asked the guy on you tube and he hasnt answer me yet I dont want to support it with pc pipe because I HATE how that looks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-6TLK_R ... er&search=

Thanks!

[steve]

There are some nice pics on Flickr. I think I've seen them before...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/97284175@N ... 4460594882

[kikicool]

Has anyone noticed how creative all we RES owners are for our babies' habitats? You know WHY? because there are NO products out there. I mean, the largest basking dock is just that. A boring, plastic basking dock that MOST of an adult RES can fit on. I sense a market here. Anyone care to join me in starting a luxury RES item company?

[SpotsMama]

Kiki, I think you are right on target! There's a niche here for someone. One of the things I've missed most is a good lamp - I mean something that can take a 100 watt MVB, stand on the floor, be adjustable in height so it can shine down on a spot that's 5' in the air....and be pretty at the same time! There's nothing even close out there for any price.

And Jessica, I know I've seen that video before. It's posted on here somewhere. If you could find it you might be able to contact the builder. I even remember there was discussion of the design and materials but don't remember the specifics.

[Hoooneylynn]

Yeah, I tried to ask him through his youtube account, but he hasnt answered... steve is he a member?


oh yeah kiki, we should get together and invent new turtle stuff! and becoming millionaires! lol. You are right, they have nothing good for turts.

[steve]

Nope. I do see plywood (which shouldn't be used because its chemically treated), non-slip shelf liner and reptile carpet used.

[SpotsMama]

Maybe I saw it on some other forum, but I don't look at them much. Maybe someone on here linked to it. I can almost remember the discussion.

[DaddySkittles]

spots your not the only one.. I swear I saw this in the photo gallery..really I did.

[Breigh]

That basking area looks great but his tank is quite small for those 3 turtles...

[Hoooneylynn]

Steve, do you know what material is used for the zoo med? just plastic? Is there anyway I could buy some and make a mold or something? Or what can be safe? I dont want to use that wood... but I know you can buy different plastics and stuff at a hobby store and mix them and put them in molds.

[steve]

The turtle dock is made of some sort of Styrofoam and has a plastic support on the bottom. I have heard of some people using sort of concrete mix as well. You can use plastic and you can also use pieces of cork bark.

[industrial_girl_2000]

Has anyone noticed how creative all we RES owners are for our babies' habitats? You know WHY? because there are NO products out there. I mean, the largest basking dock is just that. A boring, plastic basking dock that MOST of an adult RES can fit on. I sense a market here. Anyone care to join me in starting a luxury RES item company?

Talk to greygoose on this board about that! He's got the most awesome basking areas for his turts!

A good basking dock is something I would pay for too. Sheba is managing fine with the XL acrylic stuck-to-the-wall-with-suction-cups dock, but if I could get something slightly bigger (where she could stretch out more), I would definitely pay for something like that!

[kikicool]

Being a crazy pet owner, I can't imagine I'm the only one out there. Look at the stores for dogs now. Turtle owners are sort of... their own "breed" I think we'll all agree. It would be a gold mine. I'm on it!!

um...grey goose? grey goose? No really. I think I'll start crafting and selling on ebay. See how it goes! I'll keep you posted!!

Honeylynn, I had a hard time finding good materials at the hardware store. I used a plastic paint tray (from a craft shop) and glued river rocks with aquairium glue. I didn't have a support though, so it unglued from the ramp. But at any rate... there are cheap, thin, lenghts of plastic in crafts stores, too. I'm talking about the kinds of trays that you put different color of water color paints in you know? Like kids use?

[grey goose]

Wood is not a very good material to use in water, treated or not. Unless you plan on putting several coats of marine epoxy on it (like how they make boat hulls) but it's a lot of work with some pretty nasty chemicals....
I actually tried making a basking ramp from plywood by forming a bend, then sanding and sealing, but it started flaking on me while curing, so I gave up.