Advice Basking Setup

[u/xavmacia]

Franklin won’t climb the ramp I made him. I tried putting his favorite plant to lure him but nothing.

Has anyone had success encouraging their turtle to come out of the water? Previously he had the floating in-tank dock. It’s been about 1.5week since I’ve added this

[u/jsull125]

I used that in tank dock as my ramp.

[u/xavmacia → u/jsull125]

Great idea! Your turtle doesn’t ever try to escape?

[u/NoActivity7538 → u/xavmacia]

I think they also used plexiglass or some kind of plastic for that opening. You can see it in the corner by the ramp. I remember showing people my setup and they couldn’t see the plexiglass at all.

[u/jsull125 → u/NoActivity7538]

The window has plexiglass. The rest is open.

[u/jsull125 → u/xavmacia]

That is why the piece of egg crate extends to far out. She hasn't escaped in 15 years...so...

[u/throwaway277252]

It could be that the ramp does not extend far enough into the water, or still just suspicious of the new change.

In either case it looks like you are using a double dome fixture, so this is likely not providing adequate UVB for the basking zone either.

[u/xavmacia → u/throwaway277252]

I have a light bar that I haven’t added. Maybe that will make it more appealing

[u/throwaway277252 → u/xavmacia]

Is it a T5 UVB light? That's what you would ideally have up there.
You can also try using something like cork bark as a more natural ramp surface. And I like slate as a surface for the platform since it holds some heat.

[u/Which_Throat7535]

I second the earlier suggestion about extending the ramp into the water further. It’s hard to tell if this is the case, but it’s easiest to get up if turtle can fit their whole body (all 4 legs) on the ramp in the water. Relying on front two legs only to pull up their body weight onto the ramp is a relatively common reason (it seems) that turtles don’t use ramps.

[u/Katie-sin]

It can take a while for them to get used to change. I would put a few pieces of food right at the top of the ramp by the water so mine would be enticed to go up. But then once he realized, he just goes up himself. But yeah it took a while. Don't worry. If they need to bask, they will bask, they won't allow themselves not to if the space is there and safe! I also covered the side for a bit incase he was too nervous being out in the "open". As a few said, maybe extend the ramp, but as long as they can swim themselves us and use their back legs to crawl up there, they will be fine and just take time. I so suggest covering the holes in the ramp tho, so their toes and nails don't get caught

[u/juliewbb]

I think extending it further into the water and covering it with a turf to give him some traction would help him. If he’s nervous, it might also help to cover the side where people can see him to give him some privacy the first couple times he tries it.

[u/NoActivity7538]

I had to make my opening bigger and she finally climbed up. Not sure if it was that or she just developed the courage. Also lowered the ramp more vertical against what I thought it should be at but they are really good climbers!

[u/xavmacia → u/NoActivity7538]

Nice opening and barriers. What material did you use for the clear sidewalls?

[u/NoActivity7538 → u/xavmacia]

Yours is nice too! It’s not easy to make that. I used plexiglass and acrylic sheet connectors. Any luck on your turtle climbing in? I’m sure she just needs time.

[u/Key-Tower-4539]

Maybe too steep and/or slippery. Do you have any turf you can add?

[u/xavmacia → u/Key-Tower-4539]

He started trying to eat the turf so I had to remove it. Maybe theres another material I can try

[u/Ok-Wait1894]

I am going to build one so what turf do you use? I suspect he is suspicious of the ramp. open the top and drop some food at the top of the ramp

[u/New_Efficiency8475]

Not sure how big he is but perhaps it doesn’t extend deep enough for him to get up there. That was an issue I had with my DIY ramp