Habitat - Indoor :: Outside Basking Area - Material?

[g29w]

I recently constructed an out of tank basking area for my turtles and finally gave it a test today. If you want more pictures, I can show you the entire setup.

I basically used a wooden plank and a plexiglass ramp like others have before. I put some black tiles and my original large zoomed dock on to the wood. Problem is they only climb up the ramp and then climb on to the zoomed dock, without going on to the black tiles or any other areas. The never really climb on to the tiles at all. Also, I noticed that they really don't like walking around on the wood.

I was wondering what materials would entice them to bask in the center of the basking area and not just on top of the zoomed dock? (It doubles as a diving board ) Are there certain colors that RES like more? Or do they just have to get used to it, since it's only been a day?

[steve]

You could try to lure them up there with food. Breigh switched to a more natural look for her platform and had immediate success.

[g29w]

Yeah, I saw Breigh's post about her basking area but I don't know where I can find a nice slate like hers easily.

I think it's also possible that they are just used to basking on the zoomed dock, but it seems like they are scared of exploring further.

So you're suggest putting some pellets up there or some lettuce?

[Breigh]

Eish they can be fussy little buggers can't they?

I tried so many things with my first setup when I had the plexiglas bottom. I put cork bark up there, then flat cork etc... I tried luring them up there with food and they'd just run up, grab the food and leg it back into the water.

No matter WHAT I did they just refused to bask on the platform and instead just hung out on the ramp. It was so so so so frustrating.

Since switching to a different material for the platform they are up there all the time. I can only chalk it up to them not liking the slippery / see through / reflective surfaces.

It's bizarre because there are others who had great success with plexiglas basking platforms. I guess turtles all have their own individual tastes though and we have to keep trying until we find something they like hehe.

I would try removing the tiles and putting something on there that isn't slippery or reflective. Either some kind of astro turf or something like that and see if they go up there.

Keep us posted!

[grey goose]

With the tiles being black, they will absorb and hold much more heat. Maybe the surface is too hot for them? Just a guess, but maybe try a 6" lighter colored tile on top to see how they respond.

[Breigh]

With the tiles being black, they will absorb and hold much more heat. Maybe the surface is too hot for them? Just a guess, but maybe try a 6" lighter colored tile on top to see how they respond.

That's also very possible, I never thought of that. It may be hot on their delicate little turt footies

[g29w]

Well, I tried using fake grass + more rockish like tiles in between, but now they aren't even going up the ramp it seems. The zoomed dock is still there, but they don't even climb on that.

Do I have to make a temperature gradient close enough to the ramp that they can sense it? I put the light further away from the ramp this time and that could be why. Or else it's the fake green grass that is scaring them. The only other reason could be I put a light over the tank just to make it brighter.

I'll try it again for a few days and hopefully they will come up and bask. Will RES eventually bask if I wait?

[adam85491]

Did you try just putting them up there? Sure, they might just run down, but if you show them it is OK maybe they will like it. Eventually, they are going to want/need to bask so I think they will eventually, but that is just a guess.

[grey goose]

Turts are very leery around things that are new to them. It may take a while for them to get comfortable....

[g29w]

Looks like they are up and basking a bit now. But unfortunately, they still remain right at the edge.

I turned off the general light I had over the tank and then moved the basking light closer to make it warmer on the ramp area. It's quite possible they weren't able to sense the heated area from the tank.

My plan is to get them acquainted to basking up there for a while and leave things as is, and then gradually move the basking lamp back to its original position to see if they will then move further out on to the basking area.



It is very interesting watching them with webcams. I can see how they climbed up, jumped off, climbed up, jumped off, until they felt it was safe and finally basked. Also, I have to remove distractions like lettuce in the tank so they are bored enough to explore/bask.

[grey goose]

From my own experience, they will bask around the "edges" of where the light falls if the center is too hot. Maybe measure where they are basking, then measure the center of where the light falls and see if there is a difference.

[kinetic]

whats the woven looking material you used for the ramp up to the basking area?

[marisa]

It looks like gripper shelf liner.

[N4784N R4613]

Or that stuff that keeps area rugs from slipping on hardwood (or other hard) floors.

[g29w]

I found it in the contact paper section of Home Depot hardware store. It's very grippy and they can climb up it pretty easily.

So after testing many different lamp spots, I'm back to where I started:


The problem is if I move the lamp too far away, they won't climb up to bask. If I move it too close, they stay right around the edge. The furthest they seem to be willing to climb up is really close to the edge of the ramp. I guess until they grow bigger there really isn't a point to having so much space for a basking area.

I think I will have to be more scientific about it and be very precise with a thermometer to find the exact thermo gradient.

Any one have any new suggestions? Maybe I should try two lamps to get the ramp+edge to ~85 then the other lamp further in to raise the temp to ~90+? Bah, I tried so many distances/temps and I always get edge basking or no basking.

O, and also I never mentioned it but I had an extra smaller rubbermaid for clothes and I converted it into a mini tank. So on the other end of the basking area there's another same style ramp leading into another tank, where I plan to put breeding guppies or such.

How would I get them to travel back and forth? I figure that's near impossible with them not even willing to go a bit further into the basking area.