General Care Discussion :: where can i get a giant piece of cork bark?

[theartbook35]

petdiscounters.com sells pieces as large was 18x24 I believe...

I hope that helps.

[marisa]

Caphits, I only like to deal with Black Jungle on the phone or in person (taking a nice long drive to the place, which I know you can't do). When they get a shipment of corkbark in, they've always had a lot of it, all shapes and sizes. I once spent an afternoon trying to decide on what to buy and it nearly drove me crazy.

That said, I was at their site and only saw the corkbark for backgrounds. And searching came up with none of the products I wanted. Hmm---I'm going to try to call and see if they have anything. Perhaps they're out of it...I can't imagine them not selling it anymore.

[bover907]

I watched the video that pumpkin14 mentioned about a week ago, and just found it again. I'd actually found the ebay store she mentioned before rewatching the video and ordered a 20"X10" piece for $20 plus shipping. That came to $29.95 Shipped! Not bad.

I can't wait to make this and get rid of that huge pile of rocks in my tank. I'll update after it comes in and I get it cut and fit.

Anyway heres links for:
Youtube video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-viTWbsHDZA&feature=related

and Ebay store
http://stores.shop.ebay.com/Tilly-Stuff__W0QQ_armrsZ1

[untsmurf]

That's a really interested concept. I wonder how it would hold up after being in the water for a while...

It would work really well for someone that is looking for the more natural appearance.

[bover907]

For me, the rocks look nice, and give a natural appearance, but I am afraid of Squirt causing a rock to fall and hurt or trap him or something.

Plus, Since my tank is mildly undersized for him, eliminating the rock pile will free up swiming space.

At least if that cork bark comes loose, it'll just float.

Some people say it lasts a pretty good while. At $29 for a 10X18" piece, Getting a year or even 6 months out of it ain't a bad deal.

[Honu23]

I just got my ZooMed bark in the mail today, size Large. It's rounded on one side and mostly flat on the other (the flat side has a slighted rounded-up "lip"), and rectangular in shape. At just under 12 inches wide, it was a shade too small for what I wanted to do, which was wedge it in as a resting platform in a 12-inch-wide aquarium. So I can either float it, sink it under a heavy rock, or try to send it back used.

Still no mid-level resting platform for my turtle.

[bover907]

You can't go wrong with the tilly stuff bark linked above. It got to me quick, was cheap, and was HUGE!.

Like I said, I got a 20" by 10" piece for $29.95 shipped! You can't wrong. I put it in the tank the other day. When I put squirt back into his tank, he immediately swam right over and climbed right up onto it! (seems like it took him a day or so to get brave enought to swim under it). It's a ton of additional swimming room without the rock pile in there. He was basking on it as soon as I put the lights back on the next morning.

As soon as I get a chance, I can take a pic, although it looks just like the setup in the girl's video.

[bover907]

OK, so here's the pictures. I think you can't beat the price for this cork bark. I wish I had a pic of the rock pile he was basking on, so it'd be apparent how much nicer this looks.









It's pretty darn textured, and much softer than the piece of stone that he was basking on, so I am sure his plaestron will be that much better for it.

It's been in for about five days now, and there's a slight sweet cork smell that I only notice when I am gone to work all evening and come home. I am wondering how long it'll last, but to me it was a pretty cheap solution that'll hold over until I get his permanent home and make a permanant ATBA with all the ammenities.

[steve]

Looks good bover907. I think I commented on the video before and felt that it was a bit too tight. The bark will expand a bit from it's dried/original state.

[Mech Cb]

I went and got a nice piece of cork bark from my local pet store. My turtle loves it, as do the smaller fish. I also threw in a few of the plastic plants and my turtle will use those to hold on to as he floats near the top. They help him keep from sinking, I guess. I tried grouping them up in one area, but he just went through and destroyed that, so I they're more spread out now.

[bover907]

Looks good bover907. I think I commented on the video before and felt that it was a bit too tight. The bark will expand a bit from it's dried/original state.

Thanks, Steve.

My piece didn't go in anywhere near as tight as she forced the bark in on her video. We ain't talking a sea turtle here, just an RES that probably doesn't weigh much more than a good burger.

I am still wondering how the part that's wet is going to hold up. I don't know if it was necessary, but I put the pice I got in a 200°F oven for about 45min to make sure it was sterile before putting it in my tank.

[mackadocious]

the wild turts i pass every time i walk the dog down the road from my house gave me a great idea i wish i'd thought of when i was purchasing my tank.....i live on the river and there are several fallen trees in this area of the river w/ large eddies (water's calmer and allows the trees to stay there)...anyway, the branches of the trees stick up out of the water and the turtles LOVE basking there--i see at least one and often 4-5 basking out there in the afternoons....this would only work in larger tanks (i would think at least 40g) but you could easily find a branch in either a V or Y shape to stick in your tank....you would have to find something between 4 and 6" wide to allow enough space for them to get on, but basking area obviously doesn't need to be that big as like i said, i see these turts on them all the time....one day i'll remember to bring my camera and i'll take some pics and post them for people to check out....it was just enlightening how narrow you could get and still have function....plus i think it would look really cool in a tank...

[harleysmom]

I got some at an aquarium/reptile shop in town, it was "background" corkbark but it was about a foot wide and only $12.00!!

[atagtmeier]

I am finding cork slabs and cork curves or rounds. My tank is 18 inches across. If I get a flat slab is cork bark easy to bend to be able to make the ramp for my RES to get up on? Or should I find a curved piece?

[bover907]

I'd go for the curved piece... as long as the curve isn't too tight. The straight one will bend some, but will probably straighten itself out over time. Even the flats (if natural) will have a slight bend in them, but only slightly. I'd go for the curved. Cut it a little bigger than 18", like almost ¼" bigger than 18". You can always shave off a little if you need, but once it's too small... forget it.