Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm thinking about putting a little rubbermaid, about 1x1 meters, up on the roof. I live in an apartment which has a flat balcony on the roof, or which is the roof. Thought it'd give my turtles lots of sun.

Just wondering if you think it'll get too hot for them. I'm going to put it near a wall, so that it gets some shade. Would this be enough? Would plants and what not in the pond keep them well-shaded?

I worry about overheat.

Overheating could be a problem. Especially if you have a tar topped roof. They heat up quickly so even if you have shade the rooftop itself can very hot. I don't think it would be too good an idea.

Get a thermoneter and test out the water BEFORE you put your turtle in it.

I can usually tell by hand, but I'll get a thermometer in the future. This act of putting turtles on the balcony I've done before, once in the middle of summer. I do think about the possibility of them over heating, so I have this question.

Would shade sufficiently protect them? By this I mean, shading part of the pond? Could they still get heat stroke?

I wish to make a sizable pond, maybe at least 6" in depth. The roof is pure concrete, the apartment made of steel beams. I often wonder though, if before I'd overheated my turtles a little too much, although none died.