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Help with basking area please!

PostPosted: Sat May 31, 2008 1:26 am
by Turtlebiz
I'm having issues with my current basking area. I have this green ramp that works perfectly except it gives my turtle a chance to try to escape because the ramp is right next to the glass of the tank and he just crawls up it. I've tried every way to move it around so that he can't try to get out, but it's not working. i'm afraid he's going to fall and crack his shell or hurt himself. can anyone give me ideas on a quick and relatively inexpensive fix for this? I'm currently saving up to invest in a bigger setup but i can't afford it yet so any ideas would be greatly appreciated!! i've seen pictures of the above-the-tank basking areas and i think they're awesome, except i have no clue how to build a structure like that. help me!!!

PostPosted: Sat May 31, 2008 1:42 am
by BullDog
If the ramp he has is good otherwise, sounds like you just need a cover.
You want the cover to have at least 1/2" holes though so the UVB can pass through.
One option is to cut a piece of eggcrate to size, and friction fit it in.

Another option, which I recently implemented myself, is an old fridge rack. If you have a spare fridge or oven rack, just put that on top of the tank. The slats are big enough so the UVB can pass through, but the rack should be heavy enough so your turt can't push it up.
Here's what mine looks like on my 90 gal:
Image

PostPosted: Sat May 31, 2008 5:16 pm
by Nettle
I taped some cardboard about six inches above the edge of the tank, so that even if they get to the edge, it's impossible for them to reach the top.

PostPosted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 7:17 pm
by Turtlebiz
i actually have a cover on it. the problem was that my turtle would stand on his back legs with his front claws touching the screen top trying to get out and then he would eventually fall backward onto his shell. it hasn't been going on very long and he he has not damaged his shell, thank goodness, and i am working on making an above the tank basking area using egg crate. so hopefully it will work! i will post pictures when it is all done. thanks! :)