General Care Discussion :: Need a bigger basking dock

[Boston_Zhao]

My turtle is so heavy now that the biggest plastic basking dock available can no longer support her. So she stopped climbing up to the dock. I can't find any bigger ones in PetCo, I don't know how to make one. She is a year and half, 6-7 inches, weighs quite a few pounds.

[TheComputerGremlin]

They aren't hard to make, just take some ideas off of the forums here. Once they get that big, you have to get creative. Sometimes you can find a piece of cork bark big enough to jam in the tank for a quick fix, although it can get pricey. An easy way is to buy some plexiglass and pvc pipe and make a basking area. It does take some creativity, though. You might be able to find someone locally (maybe a friend?) to help you make one.

[Bumby's Mom]

None of the acrylic docks work? I haven't seen any in petco or the petstores around here.

[SpotsMama]

You could make a dock, or try an acrylic dock. Here's one:

http://www.reptilesupply.com/product.ph ... ts_id=1311

Industrial girl 2000's Sheba uses a dock similar to this and she's a hefty 9" or 10". She uses magnets to provide additional support so the dock doesn't slide down the wall:

http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewt ... king#60668

Spot's got a set like this now and it works great. He's 7" long and I don't know how much he weighs - maybe a couple of pounds.

[laturcotte]

We live on the side of a mountain and in the woods so it was easy for me but you need to find some large rocks. Take a tape measure if you are in the city and the drive is long. I put 3 large rocks at one end and located the light over them. Just be VERY careful when placing them in the tank you don't drop them, there goes your tank if you do. Make sure the top rock is pretty flat. Put the water level to the very top of the rock but not over it, for a dry basking area. The turtle will just climb right out onto the rock. Costs nothing, and is as natural as you can get. I have had the same rocks in my tank for 3 years now. As with anything else in the tank remove them occationally for a good scrubbing.

[Take-One]

I have what indusrealgirl and what spostmamas link was. Very good dock.