Habitat - Indoor :: new basking spot (beta version)

[pumpkinsherbet]

i took a page from the tohmit craft guide (hope you don't mind) and swiped a petco basket. i went to the dollar store and picked up that kitchen drawer stuffs (i honestly can't think what it's called, it's late), a cup, some more aquarium rocks and some seashells.

i cut a 5"x5" hole, used silicone to put the green in. the ramp and plexiglass are in the temp stages right now, i have to online order the actual ramp i want (that people here seem to like ) and get more plexiglass so i can properly cut it to size. it is clamped on there now, and immobile so i'm not worried about the turts doing anything they shouldn't.

i do have concerns that the ramp is at too sharp an angle. if i need to fix it please let me know.

pictures, sorry it's so blurry.
the curing of the ''glue"


fit snugly into the tank:


basking area:


road to dry land:


the cup is a nifty addition. if i ever need to keep the turtles up in a landing spot, i can just stick the cup in the hole and take it out whenever i'm done cleaning the tank. minimum disturbance. john jumped back into the water immediately, aeryn kinda hung around trying to figure out what i was up to this time.

once it's in its more permanant state, i'll be adding some plants in there so everyone has something nice to look at.

[xsavingsaturdayx]

Whoa nice job! The basking area looks great

[Breigh]

Hey good job I think if you can I'd lessen the angle of the ramp though, they may have some trouble with that.

[pumpkinsherbet]

rock on. the actual ramp itself should be coming in next weekend, 'til then i'll see how i can fix what i've got now.

[DaddySkittles]

whoa awesome basking spot, but yeah if you could lessen the angle of the ramp then it would make it easier for the turts.

[DavidY]

Does Petco know you have their basket? lol!

[RunninWideOpen]

hey, that looks great! good job! i found that i needed some adjusting on my ramp as well. i was laying on the couch and saw both my guys trying to get up but it was too steep, even with that grass. i adjusted it a bit and they've been good to go ever since.

to decrease the angle you may need to cut just a little more off the bottom of the basket so there is a longer gap. that's what i did with mine anyway.
great job!

[pumpkinsherbet]

oh wow, heh, getting just that out was a pita. i don't have a hacksaw or anything, i just used scissors.

if i must, what's best for the little ones!

[RunninWideOpen]

wow, i salute you. i can't imagine trying to do that with scissors. hack saw blades are really cheap and would make it so much easier. you don't need the actual hack saw. i got two hacksaw blades at my hardware store for $1.50.

you're doing good though. your turts are gonna love you

[pumpkinsherbet]

it's not really any type of bravery so much as stubbornness and a reclusive tendency. so i just got the scissors out, scored it with my plastic cutter and went at it.

i got robbed at work for the third time lastnight, so it's safe to say i won't be returning. means i have to sit on my money indefinitely,so i ran through the stuff i had at home since i'll have to be sitting on my money indefinitely. found my headdress from the renaissance faire and tore it up for the flowers and ribbons. and i also trimmed, cured and ''decorated" the plexiglass. it looks nicer now, and i put aeryn on it earlier she didn't seem to have much trouble getting up.

the headdress before i destroyed it:


what it became:
curing stage-

obey the tiki turtle and he will bestow upon you great things-

bells were put on to make the tape slightly less unattractive. they're high up there so the turts won't ring them when they come up.


the ramp up:


from a couple angles:



full view of the tank:


it's craziness that the tiny little thing in the corner of the tank is what i bought them in. taking care of these two has been good therapy.

[DavidY]

Nice job, Pumpkin! Looks really good. I agree with your statement about caring for these guys being good therapy. I love taking care of all of my animals. It's very rewarding.

Sorry to hear about your getting robbed, that's scary! Where were you working?

PS: Don't the turtles' faces remind you of Pilot?

[pumpkinsherbet]

yes they do! and the leviathan ships remind me of big ol' turtles with the ability to starburst, which is why i chose FarScape characters as the namesake.

i was working at sally beauty supply. i really just mentioned the incident to state for the record i'm going to be broke for a bit and there's good reason behind it. this is robbery #3 and rules of baseball apply.

[DavidY]

lol! Turtle's startbursting, now that would be a sight! That is a fun show. Have you ever seen FireFly? That's another really good SciFi series but it never really took off.

Geez, I never would have thought of a beauty supply store as being a target for robbers! It's a good thing you quit working there. I hope you're able to find something else that's safer. And I don't know about you, but I'm always broke, even though I have work. It's better to make things yourself anyway IMO.

[steve]

Is that basket stabilized/secured in any way? I'd just want to make sure it doesn't budge... especially with a light clamped onto it.

[pumpkinsherbet]

davidy- are you talking about joss whedon's firefly? i saw the serenity movie and the first two episodes of the series. i would love to see more, though. i love joss's stuff, i was sad to part with my buffy dvd's

steve- yes it is stable that was the first thing i checked.