Habitat - Indoor :: How to get him on his basking dock

[Simba]

A couple days ago I filled up his tank (thank you) and built him a nice new basking dock. I don't know if she just can't figure it out or if I just havn't seen him do it. It has been 2 days and the only time I've seen him bask is when I pick him up and put him on it. So I ask, all of you great turtle carers... here is his dock... is there something else I should do? Have I somehow made it to complicated for him :p

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v147/ ... IM0339.jpg

When he is in the water the water level rises to touch the bottom of the dock... since he is on it right now it does make the water level look a bit low.

Before, when the water level was lower, I had a floating basking dock and the pictured rock, which had the top out of water, that he would sit on and he'd do that all the time with no problem so I figure he just can't figure out this new thing.

[Daniel3507]

you might try making a ramp that goes into the water some. he may still be getting used to it.

[marisa]

It can take them a few days to try out new things (like basking areas). That said, maybe it's the pic, but is there a ramp for him to climb to get to the basking area? He's not likely going to be able to pull himself up over the edge, or if he does, it's going to take a lot of effort which would discourage him from even trying...

[Simba]

Thank you I always freak out when something changes and it is not instant gratification. Like I am a terrible owner and she secretly hates me :p So if I ask a plethora of stupid questions this is why. I get so afraid looking at all these hardcore fancy tanks and setups and wonder if he despises his ghetto home and his poor owner!

[marisa]

I really don't think your turtle cares what his home looks like in comparison to others as long as he can easily do what he's meant to, in this case, get out of the water easily and bask. He does have both a UVB light and heat light, right?

[Simba]

I just don't let him look at what others have, haha. Got the right bulbs Just anticipating christmas now to ask somebody for fancy energy efficient ones :p

I think I'll steal from the post of madmax (which I blindly didn't notice before... so sorry for a repeat question) and stick his dock back in as a ramp.

Thanks so much again!

[untsmurf]

I think the dock would work out well for a ramp, that's what most people use, myself included. I'm worried about the size of that rock in your tank though, it looks very heavy and round enough to roll around. I'd worry it would crack your tank. You could add some fake plants, they would serve the same purpose as the rock and are much lighter.

[mat012]

Just a thought, but you might also want to change out your thermometer for a digital one or better yet a thermal gun. There have been stories of shattered glass ones - they have either been broken as part of wear and tear, or in some cases the turtles have tried to eat the thermometers.