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I spent about 10 hours yesterday and part of today looking for ideas to create a out-of-main-container basking area for Monet on here. I have cut the side out of a plastic container and plan on using the original lid for the ramp. I intend on glueing popsicle sticks to the lid to be used for traction. All of this will be set on wooden blocks. My problem is constructing it so it will fit together snugly and be able to withstand Monet getting in and out of it and potentially the cats knocking it around. There was a post awhile back that used something similar to this setup - but I can't seem to find it anywhere now! Does anybody have any suggestions?

Would someone please respond to this post! I had planned on building this yesterday, but I wanted some criticisms and comments before I began....

Well I for one am not sure exactly what type of construction you have in mind. There are many posts regarding this and some of the people who have made them no longer frequent the forum. You'll just have to be patient maybe someone will show up to help.

[img][img]http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n122/lotsofpets_2006/Monetbasking.jpg[/img]

As everybody can see, this is an extremely precarious, HOPEFULLY temporary setup for Monet. I saw Spookster's pictures on here and I think he did a really good job, BUT I really don't want to use wood as I have no money right now and no tools to build it with. My only hope is my dad helping me build something when I go home over Christmas! I hope this works until I get back from my parents house in Ohio.[/img]

As long as your current basking area is holding well, I guess you could keep it until your dad helps you build one. If you don't want to use wood, someone else here used egg crate. Here a link:

http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5256

Is that styrofoam? Be very careful that your turtle doesn't wind up ingesting pieces of it if some break off. Can he actually climb up on his own? From the picture, it looks like it would be too wobbly for him to get on it. Plus, there's nothing for him to grip to help him get on it...

You can't see it in the picture because it is so fuzzy, but I put grooves in it so he can pull himself up. There are all kinds of scratches and scrapes in it already, but it has held up amazingly well for a temporary dock. He makes loud screeching noises with those long claws of his - it sounds like fingernails on a chalk board! Before my roomate took this picture and scared him off, he was in a beautifull superman pose with his head held high!
Anyway, those are some of the reasons why I want to make an out of container, permanent basking area for him. I will have to ask Bulldog how he attached the basking area to the tank and where the ramp is. I can't figure it out with those pictures. With a 5.5 -6 inch growing boy, I don't think one of the ZooMed basking docks would work - I am pretty sure he would sink it.

[img][img]http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n122/lotsofpets_2006/ChristmasVacation016.jpg[/img]
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[img][img]http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n122/lotsofpets_2006/ChristmasVacation014.jpg[/img][/img]

looks nice, cant wait to see it over your tank!

Very nice. Are you going to leave it bare or use aquarium backing to give it a more nature-type look?

I put Monet's basking container on yesterday afternoon, but he has not used it yet. I had not really planned on doing anything else to it except for putting a flat rock on the basking platform itself. I'll see what I can do later on about improving the looks of his swimming and basking areas. I just got back from Ohio yesterday: I left the 23rd of December and I am still unpacking and cleaning things from being gone so long.