How do you setup the basking area?
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Hello all! I am using turtle docks for my terrapins basking areas. For my 5.5 inch female carol, even the large size turtle dock is not good enough anymore. So I am trying to get him more stalbe basking area. I can’t only think of corkboard, but I do not like it too much because of red water and little pieces. How do you setup the basking areas for your adult terrapins? (I have a couple of 40 inch x 20inch x 20 inch glass tanks) Thanks very much. Danny * I just posted pictures of new addition to my terrapin families. These are healthy little ornates.
For my large ones I go to any builders supply store such as Lowe’s. I buy one of those large sheets of what appears to be thick pink styrofoam. I cut it the size I want and wedge it in. I prefer the middle of the tank. I cut slants in each side of the styrofoam for easy access to it. I wedge the foam about halfway underwater so that the top is dry. I am sure in some of my photos there is a pic of it. Lisa
I actually am using cork bark with great success. The trick is to rinse it thoroughly and wipe it down to get off those little pieces off. My water doesn’t turn red as long as I rinse it for about 10 minutes in the tub. After I put it in the tank I might have to run a net around the perimeter once or twice and then I really don’t have any more breaking off. I like it because the turtles can dig their claws into it to pull them selves up and it gives the aquarium a slightly more natural look without the risk of having rocks shift or the risk of them chipping their shells. At first I was going to saw off part of a larger piece that I bought so I could wedge it in but to save the risk of more pieces breaking off of the rough surface, I took the suction cup clip from an old aquarium heater and screwed it into the side of the bark so it wouldn’t keep floating around. It works great! When the put weight on the bark it sinks down a little on the opposite edge of the suction cups so it makes it really easy for them. Originally one of my terrapins wouldn’t bask because I believe it was difficult for her to climb onto it while it was floating around. I had bad luck with those turtle docks because I would take it out and scrub it every once in a while and eventually the surface started chipping away and it wouldn’t float very well. I think they are great for hatchlings but not for larger juveniles or adults. I hope you figure out something that works for you, it is crucial to have the most comfortable and easily accessible basking area as possible.-Scottdasom97
— In diamondbackterrapins@yahoogroups.com, “dasom97”
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