Habitat - Indoor :: Basking Platform Question

[jasmiester]

Hello agains

In my new tank, I have this temporary platform for now while I make the new one, but the problem is, its kind of hard for my turtles to get up on the platform.. i put the platform a bit under water so they can get on, but their shells are still above the water..is fine for a few weeks while i finish their new platform?

[emma]

You might want to make it so their whole shell can get out of the water and dry off and make sure that the platform dries fast so all the water wont stay on there forever.

[SpotsMama]

Yes, it's essential that their shells get to dry out completely at frequent intervals - top and bottom. If they don't get to dry out, their shells will develop infections and they will have trouble shedding.

Just be sure the new platform provides easy access for the turtles. There needs to a gently sloping ramp that extends into the water with a surface rough enough to provide traction.

[turboturtle8]

As long as their platform is a place for them to completley dry off then it should be fine.

[tennisnut]

So, here's my plan:

After realizing how ridiculously expensive turtle docks are for large turtles, and knowing that I am a poor poor college student, I have decided to build a basking dock for my Mississippi Map.

I was thinking of using PVC pipe to mount it like I have seen on here before, I am told it is very cheap and easy to work with. However, I need some advice:

1) What should the ramp be made of so the turtle can get up on the platform?
2) What should the platform be made out of? Plexiglass, tiles? I was thinking of gluing large river rocks on the ramp and the platform to make it more natural-looking and so that the turtle could have a bit of traction and not slip off.
3) What kind of glue can be used to do this that isn't harmful to the turtle?

Any advice would be nice. =)

[industrial_girl_2000]

Aquarium-grade silicone (in a tube) is readily available at every pet store & is great for gluing things. It's the same "glue" that holds the glass panels of your aquarium together.

Ramp - most people on the board use some kind of acrylic plexiglas & use a torch to heat it up enough to bend it. If you heat it up too much it will crack, so you have to be careful.

for traction: some folks like to use that indoor/outdoor "grass"-looking carpet. Glue on acrylic platform.

Make sure not to make the ramp too steep. It's ok if the ramp is long & extends into the water.

Some people like to use a large piece of cork bark as a dock for their larger turtles.