Habitat - Indoor :: ABOVE TANK BASKING

[hrly]

WE BUILT THE ABOVE TANK BASKING AREA FOR OUR TURTLE WITH THE EGG CRATE, AND PLASTIC TOTE. SHE WILL CLIMB UP THE RAMP BUT NOT GET IN THE TOTE. SHE'S A PRETTY BIG TURTLE AND WHEN SHE GETS TO THE TOP OF HER RAMP SHE IS ALMOST STRAIGHT UP AND CAN'T SEEM TO MAKE THE PLUNGE INTO HER TOTE. SHE IS STAYING IN THE WATER TOO MUCH AND I'M THINKING OF PUTTING HER FLOATING DOCK BACK IN WHICH SHE'S PRETTY MUCH OUTGROWN IT AND IT'S A LARGE DOCK.
THANKS FOR ANY HELP.
HRLY

[BullDog]

How long has the new basking area been there? Turtles take a long time to get used to any new surroundings (even as long as a month). If she's going onto the ramp, that's really encouraging. I'd give her a bit more time. You can also try moving the heat source a little bit farther from the ramp, so she has to climb up the ramp a bit more to get nice and toasty.

[ScrewZoo]

A pic would help to judge if she can make it up there or not.

[megcornell]

When you say she needs to "plunge" into the tote to get to the basking area it makes me think that things are too steep for her. The ramp should be gradual and straighten out to the level of the basking platform.

I think a picture would be helpful so we can see what's going on.