Habitat - Indoor :: Stabilizing the Turtle Dock.

[Pizza]

So I bought a large Turtle Dock for my turtles, but so far, for the past two days I've had them, none of them have been able to get on it. Two of them keep trying, but the slip off the edge of the dock and give up, then swim around to the other side of the tank, then back and try again. It seems very slippery to them, they claw like mad to get some grip, but they all fall back into the water. The one or two times I've seen one successfully get on, the dock tilted and the turtle slipped back into the water 5 seconds later.

I think the dock is not strong, or heavy enough, it gets knocked around by turtles bumping into it a lot, tilts down when one tries to get on, and isn't stationary. Also seems like my turtles can't get a claw on it, they scratch hard, but end up falling back in the end.

Any tips to keep the dock stable and stronger?

[cam722]

What type of turtle dock do you have?

[scripta_elegans]

Do you have all 4 suction cups attached and the textured side facing upward? You also said that you have a 12 inch turtle right? She may have trouble on the large dock even. When they get that big, it starts getting interesting trying to figure out a basking area!

[Pizza]

The Zoo-Med one.

[Pizza]

Yeah, all four cups are in, the 12 incher rarely tries, same with the male. It's mainly the two medium sized females, around 8 inches each.

I forgot to add (if it's important), that the few times that they do hang onto the top for 5 or so seconds, half of the dock sinks under the water, probably from the weight.

[scripta_elegans]

I have seen people who have layered the docks one on top of the other with silicone gluing them together.

[Pizza]

So buying another dock? Hmm, I bought the last "large" one in town (seeing as no aquatic turtles are allowed to be sold in my city), and it was sold at an inflated price of 44 USD! But I guess if that works, I might give it a shot, or at least until I find the time to make my own (which won't be for a while).

I think that half the time the two mid-sized females are awake, they try getting on, even now they are, they spend more time trying to get on than swimming or resting in the water. They try particularly hard when the 12 incher is next to the ramp of the dock though, the mid-sized ones climb on and try to get on like there's no tomorrow. Of course, the 12 incher reacts kind of aggressively, often swimming away from the dock area, or sometimes scratching/pushing away the mid-sized ones.

[cam722]

I think you'd be better off building a more stable dock than buying another with turtles that size.

[Pizza]

I see, well then I guess my turtles might have to hang in there for a few weeks.

[scripta_elegans]

i think I saw someone use a stool from target at a slant. It worked and was inexpensive. You might also be able to put the dock on top of the stool to raise it above the water too?

[Pizza]

That sounds like a good idea, though it may take up some more swimming space, a good idea, nonetheless.

[myeeyore174]

i had the same zoo med dock, my two RES didn't really like it so i took it back. they tired to get on but no matter what size it was they fell off and half the time it went under the water. i just have a few rocks in there now and they love to bask on it. you could always try putting little plug things under the dock so it doesn't move down. i am not sure, sorry but good luck!

[industrial_girl_2000]

I have seen people who have layered the docks one on top of the other with silicone gluing them together.

That is an AWESOME idea.

[CrossKnight]

Hey Pizza, my little turtles have the same problem, but I took a big rock that was just heavy enough and put it on the side, away from the suction cups so the dock is slightly slanted into the water (the side of the dock is dipped into the water but most of the surface of the dock is dry) , eversince then they haven't any problems getting onto the dock.

[Pizza]

Well my water is about 20 inches deep, so finding a rock that tall would be a little uncommon (not to mention space-taking), but that's a good idea for shallower waters.

In the meantime, it's been a few more days, and now the two medium sized turtles (8 inchers) have gained enough determination to get up on it and stay, and they just spend hours basking away, except that now, half the dock is slightly submerged underwater, mainly the area next to the ramp and the rim of the Dock, about 30% of it is wet.

Is it important for turtles to be able to completely dry off? My two mid-sized turtles bask, only the rear area of the carapace is in the water, and the rear legs sink into the water. The front and top of the turtles are dry.

My littlest turtle (7 inches) won't go on it, it rarely tries, it just sits in the darkness under the dock for 11 of the 12 hours its awake, and my biggest turtle tries to get on occassionally, but ends up giving up everytime, either it's too heavy and can't drag itself up, or the dock is too small, since the turtle is about 10% bigger than the dock itself (not including the ramp area).