Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Not sure if I will get any good responses, since normally I just post replies

Anyway, I am building a pond right now for my two male RES. Both are about 5 inches long, and the new pond is about 150 gallons. I need a basking area that can float in the center (round pond). I dont want something along the edge, because I dont want the turtles to have anything that could help them climb out. There will also be rocks and chicken wire to keep them from being eaten, but I would like to keep them in the pond if possible. So, I am looking for something that could float, possibly anchored to the bottom of the pond to stay in place.

Any ideas? The pond is actually in the ground already, just awaiting the arrival of my huge new filter and pump
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A mans got to do what a mans got to do. A woman has to do what he can't.

Mom to:

1 little boy born 7/19/04
2 male RES, born 1999
1 ribbon snake, age unknown
3 FBT, ages unknown
1 female bearded dragon, born 5/2002
1 male lab mix, born 5/24/03
1 female calico cat, born 6/7/04
1 common musk turtle hatchling

I use a large smooth rock I bought at a nursery and put it right
in the middle of their pond. My ponds are oblong instead
of round. Are you wanting it to float to give extra swimming
room? If your turtles are heavy they may just weight it down
if it isn't supported. I know mine would. They are really
heavy.

Linda

Right now they have a zoo med floating basking area and they dont weigh it down. It I put a large rock in the center of my pond they will have no swimming area, since it is round and only about 3.5 feet in diameter.
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A mans got to do what a mans got to do. A woman has to do what he can't.

Mom to:

1 little boy born 7/19/04
2 male RES, born 1999
1 ribbon snake, age unknown
3 FBT, ages unknown
1 female bearded dragon, born 5/2002
1 male lab mix, born 5/24/03
1 female calico cat, born 6/7/04
1 common musk turtle hatchling

I suggest using PVC or ABS pipe and elbows to create a floating ring. Then you can attach whatever climbing material you want, even stick a flat rock on top. This would also be easy to anchor to the bottom with a rock or boat anchor or whatever. I use this to float basking turtle traps which float in the middle of actual ponds. You could make the platform any size you want.
PVC is the white pipe, ABS is the black. ABS is usually lighter weight as it is only used for drain pipes. PVC is much heavier because it is designed to hold water under pressure. I prefer to use ABS since it is black and its usually cheaper, but it usually only comes in 2, 3, or 4 inch diameter.

Whichever you choose to use, make sure you get the appropriate sealer and a can of cleaner. Follow the instructions precisely. Any shortcuts, and your ring might fill with water lowering its floating ability, and its virtually impossible to fix without just building another one.

What I use to attach material to the ring is hose clamps. Just get some slightly larger than the diameter of your pipe. You can also use string or fishing line or even permanently attach with glue gun or some other adhesive. I reccomend your basking area be something other than metal, perhaps plastic fencing or maybe vinyl coated wire. With the vinyl coated wire, it could overflow the basking area and provide easy climbing surface to the top.

Here is a photo of a turtle trap i built for a friend of mine. He had already bought the PVC and assembled it with the wrong kind of sealant. It still worked, but I guarantee its not going to last very long.

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iturnrocks.com

Wow, great idea! That looks perfect! I will have to get my handy husband working on that
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A mans got to do what a mans got to do. A woman has to do what he can't.

Mom to:

1 little boy born 7/19/04
2 male RES, born 1999
1 ribbon snake, age unknown
3 FBT, ages unknown
1 female bearded dragon, born 5/2002
1 male lab mix, born 5/24/03
1 female calico cat, born 6/7/04
1 common musk turtle hatchling