redearslider.com

I was looking to make a new resting area for Buddy and while searching around today at Petsmart I found something that worked. I was in the reptile section and noticed the reptile hammocks. I bought one of the large size to try out. It was the perfect size for my 6 1/2 inch turtle. He was very interested while I put it in and as soon as I was done he got right in it. I'll have to take some pics of him in it later and see if it continues to work out.

Got a pic of him using it.
[/img]

Cool! I've seen those before.
Isn't it funny how they seem to know right away that it'll be a nice place to sleep?
Frankie was the same when I made her underwater platform, she was up there in a shot!

Some turtles get so excited about new stuff in their tank. I had to keep pushing Buddy away so I could get the thing in there! I'm so glad he isn't shy.

Lol! squirt was the same way when I put a sleeping dock in his tank. he was checking it out right after I had it placed.

I used a clear suction cup soap holder flipped upside down so that it was a platform. It works really well.

That is an awesome idea! I've been struggling to figure out how to make a good platform and now I'm gonna go get one of those!

Good job! I've seen them and wondered if it would work ok underwater like that. I went w/ traditional fake plants instead, lol. Maybe when my little guys get bigger...

A caution with the hammock, if your turtle gets their claws caught in the netting and is unable to free themself, they can drown.

Heres a photo of my dock to show what it looks like in the tank.

Jax- I wondered about his nails getting stuck. One of the first things I looked at when he got in it was how thick his nails where in comparison to the holes in the netting. Only the very tips of his nails go through. Anytime I put anything new in his tank I monitor it very closely the first couple of days. I still have the supplies for the first idea I had in case this doesn't work out.

Chris- I wish I would've had the soap dish idea when Buddy was a baby. It would've saved me alot of headaches! It looks great in your tank and I liked your turtle blog you've been keeping.

Thanks for the nice comments!

How important is it to have a resting area? My turts don't have one and I want to make them as happy and comfortable as they can be.

It's not necessary but I put it in there as a convenience/ sleeping thing. He kinda slept in this uncomfortable spot before and now he sleeps flat out on the dock. He loves it!

The only resting areas my turtles have is their basking areas, floating and real plants, pieces of driftwood, and the bottom of the tank.

I did the soap dish thing, but one-upped it with a soap-shaped white rock. I found that the soap dish I bought, when set upside down tended to tilt downward. I've had this soap-looking piece of quartz rock for about 15 years and finally have a soap dish it can feel at home in! They don't seem to sleep on it though, but they do sit on it from time to time.