Basking areas are crucial for aquatic turtles because they keep their shell and bones healthy and regulates their body temperature. That said, a basking area is a necessity for any red-eared-slider setup. The basic requirements for a basking area are:
A space where the turtle can crawl up to and dry themselves completely
A space where the turtle can access heat and UV
If a red-eared slider setup does not have a basking area, they will suffer from various infections (typically on their shell), such as fungal/algae growth because of the moisture.
Most basking areas you find online are ones that suction-cup a platform onto the wall of the tank, like this one.
However, these simple basking platforms can lead to many problems.
Your turtle can use it to escape
Your turtle can get too heavy that the platform cannot support it anymore
Therefore, a better alternative are platforms that sit on top of the tank, with walls that prevent the turtle from escaping.
However, these basking areas can be really expensive, especially the enclosure-like ones, as shown below. They range from around $50 to more than $100.
Therefore, I am going to show you how to DIY a strong and stable basking area from materials you can easily find in your home.
1. Empty out a laundry basket or storage container. It is important that the material is sturdy so it can hold the weight of the lighting equipment later on.
2. Use pliers to cut a rectangular opening at the bottom of one of the sides. This will be the entrance into the basking area. Make sure to smooth out any sharp edges so your turtle's shell doesn't get damaged.
3. Use a piece of egg-crate or other light, sturdy material to create a ramp which allows the turtle to climb up. Attach the ramp to another piece of egg-crate or sturdy material with zip-ties and hot glue that piece onto the bottom of the laundry basket. This will ensure that the ramp does not fall off. Make sure to dry the hot glue at the desired angle by propping something underneathe.
4. Tie 2 strings from the corner of each ramp to the side of the laundry basket. This will improve stability.
5. Attach 2 long beams that is able to sit across the top of the laundry basket onto the top with tape or glue, and set your lamp carefully across the two beams. You can ignore this step if your lamp is wide enough to set on top of the basket without additional support.
And it's done! You have successfully DIYed a good-quality turtle basking area completely for free (or at least for very cheap). Now your turtle can enjoy a premium spot to dry off and bask!
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