Habitat - Indoor :: my setup w/ new out of tank basking box

[RunninWideOpen]

So i was pokin around the forum yesterday, admiring all of your great setups and was inspired to make my own out of tank basking setup. i started digging through my parent's shed and found everything I needed! took me an hour and didn't cost a penny.

here are some pics of my setup and my new out of tank basking box! so far the fellas haven't climbed all the way up inside on their own (i put one inside the box for photo-sake). they seem very timid about. it took them a few days to get used to the turtle dock though too.

i'm excited for them. they have about 3 times more room to bask and about 15 gallons more water in the tank to swim around in now.





















Let me know what you guys think. If you see any problems or potential hazards let me know. i don't want to endanger them!

[DavidY]

Whoa! That is very creative. I like it! You have a very nice looking setup.

[Starchick]

Yay! Can't wait to do that for my babies!

[pumpkinsherbet]

nifty! i may just make my way up to a particular walmart and swipe their crates.

my plan was to get a regular storage container, cut a piece out and turn it into a ramp, get some embellishments and turf so they could grip, and have my boyfriend paint it. just need something to put under or in it to ensure stability.

[industrial_girl_2000]

That's great & turtles look really happy in there!

[RunninWideOpen]

thanks everyone. i'm still impatiently awaiting the moment i see them both climb up all the way inside of it. so far they just stay on the ramp. i moved my heat lamp slightly to get less heat on the ramp on more on the floor of the box. maybe they'll be inside when i go home today!

pumpkinsherbet- yours sounds like a great idea! you mentioned painting it - are you planning on painting the inside too or just the outside? i would only paint the outside because the paint probably won't be good for the turts and would start peeling in the heat. i was gonna use a storage container too, but i found these crates that i already had, and we have a few hundred pounds of the clear plastic so i just used what i had. share pics when you get done with yours! i'd like to see what ya come up with.

[BullDog]

Ooohhh! I love it!
I've been thinking of building a more permanent out of tank basking area sometime too, as Ralph has knocked his dock down twice in the last month...

[pumpkinsherbet]

just paint the outside, so us land dwellers have something nice to look at. what did you use to cut it?

[adam85491]

How do you get an out of tank basking area to stay where it is above the tank?

[RunninWideOpen]

hey pumpkinsherbet- yes we need something pretty to look at. i'm thinking about decorating the outside of mine too. still trying to come up with ideas. i used a hack saw blade (just the blade, not the handle) to cut the crate. the plastic is soft and cuts like butter. i heated up the "joints" as i bent them down for the ramp.

hey adam- the crate has a convenient 12" lip on the bottom that holds it perfectly in place inside the tank. it's like it was made to fit!

[Spookster]

Very clever.

[camee1991]

That looks awesome! Good job!!!

I bet those plants kinda feel funny on their feet; but Im sure they will get the "feel" of it soon! Good luck!

Camee

[RunninWideOpen]

hm, interesting thought camee. you know i didn't even stop to think that they may not like the way the grass feels on their feet. i thought it would help them climb up into it by giving them something to hold onto. the grass had been in the water and they used to walk around on it all the time, but it probably does feel different now that it's dry.

Crush went up into the box once today. He was only right at the top of the ramp by the rocks, but that's a start. so far I haven't seen Squirt even show interest in it. I hope he does soon. I took him out and let him walk around the living room for awhile today so he could dry off a bit since he hasn't been basking for a day or two.

[camee1991]

I hope they DO get used to it! If not there is some "repti-carpet" stuff that Im SURE someone who has used it on their home made ramps can tell you about it for a no slip grip surface. Ive also seen someone who made something with some rubber looking green grip suface and also with stuck on popsicle sticks and seem to have NO problems with them.

Hope Squirt starts basking soon!!!!

Camee

[marisa]

It looks very nice.