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My two turtles are getting too big for the turtle dock (which has been excellent to-date!) - when they both bask at the same time, which they like to do, the dock starts to sink now. I have a 65 gallon tank and I am looking at an exterior basking area but I am not very 'handy' and was hoping to buy a pre-made tank that is functional and looks good. Does anyone know of a company that will build one? I have been searching on-line but have not found anything. I would have thought that a two-tiered tank designed for turtles would exist somewhere?

Any help would be appreciated.

There's a picture in the habitat gallery on this site that made me think, 'wow, an above tank basking area would be so easy! It basically looks like a wooden crate (I'm not sure where would be cheapest to get them but I know I've seen ones like it at AC Moore and Joann Fabrics) with a hole just big enough for the turtle to walk through cut into one side. It's just resting across the top of the tank, then there's some kind of screen mesh leading down into the water. It seems like all it would require is the box, the ability to cut a little hole in it, the mesh and some zip ties. All you'd have to worry about is making sure it's positioned so your turtle can't use the ramp to climb out of the tank. It's the eaisest looking solution I've come across. If the person who built it reads this, please elaborate! I think it's a great idea. I'm contemplating doing it but adding a peice of slate to the bottom to absorb heat and possibly replacing one side of the box with Plexi so I can watch

Tinyslider and Grey Goose have posted some step-by-step pics of their above tank basking areas.

Thanks for the replies. I will look at the photo gallery.

I was still hoping that there was a company somewhere that sold pre-fabricated tanks but if not, I will consider building one. The problem is that my wife does not really like the turtles (they were a present from her mother (my mother-in-law) for our children but I have been taking care of them for the last year) and she does not want to have some ugly monstrosity as a turtle tank. That is why I was hoping to buy a nicely built one.

I did see one in the gallery that was really nice. It had a clear front and it fit right on top of the tank. I may try something like that if I can't find a pre-fabricated or custom-designed one.

Well, I finally took the time to design an above tank basking area and build it myself. It is almost done and is very similar to one I saw on this site. I will post the pics once I am done. Thanks to everyone who posted examples of their set-ups on this site!!!

Sounds good, thanks!

PVC is your friend. You can hide anything in a tank if you put your mind to it. I look forward to the pics!