Habitat - Indoor :: My new Above Tank Basking Area

[Racer_X_123]

I used plexy glass, zip ties, and some egg crate light diffuser.






It is not done, I still need something for the ramp to make it so the turtle can climb up.

[Coli123]

Looks good, you have inspired me to get started lol.

[Raphulk]

youre design looks well thought out and DANDY haha
im not gonna lie, zipties are what saved my atba hahaha.
theyre honestly very efficient to get jobs done

how did you get the plexiglass bent like that?



hmm about the ramp traction. ive seen a number of people glue down pebbles for traction, i dont know how though.

[Racer_X_123]

To bend the plexy i used a heat gun. I had my Girlfriend hold one side on a hard surface with a straight 90* edge and then used the heat gun to get the plexy soft.

Once it is soft then you can bend to any position you like. To cool it fast i took an Ice cube and cooled the edge to harden the plastic fast.


You are right, Zip ties are great. I was originally going to use silicon and a piece of square dowel, but it was cheaper and easier to use the tie wraps.

Rocks may be a good idea, though i am leaning to the non slip carpet things or some Astroturf, i am not really sure.

[Daniel3507]

zip ties and duct tape are the two things i always have in my tool chest.
i like how you cut the egg crate

[Racer_X_123]

Yeah, the egg crate was originally going to act as a whole screen for the top, But i did not like the way that that looked, so i just made the little side things so that he can not escape.

[Racer_X_123]

So how long before i should worry that He is not using the new basking area...

I just put him in his new tank for the first time and he is really scared and hides every time i come in the room.

I know he can get up there because i have enticed him with food to see if he can even make it up there and he can.

How long before i should worry about him not basking?

[Raphulk]

it actually shouldnt be a problem. i say that not as in he shouldnt be scared, but that hell most likely find out about it.

it actually took my smallest RES almost 2 and half weeks before he found the prime basking spot, he would go on the platform, but not under the heat.

im sure it wont be that long before your turtle finds it.

if the water temperature is around mid 70s and the basking temperature is 85 or higher, then hell find out where the goods are

[Racer_X_123]

yeah, the water is 78 and the basking spot is at 100 at the hottest spot. I put a reptomin pellet up there so i will know if he makes it up there or not when i am not looking.

It is just that before i moved him to the bigger tank, he was not acting like this...

[Raphulk]

just wait it out, im sure he'll figure it out.

who knows, maybe he basks when youre not around!

how big is he?

[Racer_X_123]

2" so technically i dont even know if it is a he or a she.

Also, he is acting really shy now that he is in the new tank, but i hear that its normal for a major habitat change.