Wanna make dry land for snapper, how to go about?

[ITHURTZ]

He is in a 30gal long atm (dont need no lectures on tank size, I have a 330gal fish tank, so I can build him whatever his heart desires) But I am wanting to make him a "dry" station where he can climb out of the water and do whatever he wants. But the main question is how would I go about doing this. Only idea I had was to make some kind of ramp going out the top of the tank into a enclosure he can wonder in. But I have no clue. There is really no room in the 30g long to make a dry area, that and I dont wanna decrease his movement area.



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Some say they never leave water, but whenever I am near a pond, I almost always see them chilling out on the shore, but then dart back in the water when I approach.

And yes thats my ghetto rigged CFL for now, all I could hook up until final plans

 

[syddakyd]

you are probably seeing sliders or painted then. snapper females only really come out to lay eggs

 

[snakeguy101]

http://www.google.com/images?q=turt...tle&resnum=4&ved=0CDUQsAQwAw&biw=1440&bih=717

I have kept nearly 10 common snappers. Only one of them ever came out to bask on occasion. The others never touched land.

 

[biohazardcustomz]

i have a wild caught snapper myself. ive had him since he was about the size of a half dollar. he is in a 30 long as well. he is still a juvi and i plan on building him a pond. anyway back to topic. he DOES bask. and as snakeguy said it may not be common or normal for all snappers but i would at least give him the opportunity. two options for you. 1 is a floating turtle dock. i have one for my red ear sliders and painted turtle tank. it attaches to the wall of the tank with suction cups and floats with the water level. allowing them to get on it when they please.they come in different sizes from most pet stores. petsmart sells them. this would be less invasive to his swimming room. the other option is a little more space consuming but not too bad. i have a reptile log cave. its the same width as the tank (so like 12 inches) and it has holes in it so it will not float if submerged. it does allow him to get on top of it but also allows him to have a shelter and feel a little safer if you will. since he can go in the cave and its still under water its not really taking up his space to swim. my turtle some days will spend hours on top of his log in the heat light. other days he wont get on it at all. i prefer to give them the chance at least. who knows what the little guy is thinking.

 

[biohazardcustomz]

and snakeguy has already taken care of the turtle dock suggestion lol. i didnt click the link untill just now. but take a look thats what the one i have looks like.

 

[ITHURTZ]

you are probably seeing sliders or painted then. snapper females only really come out to lay eggs

haha, I am 25, I know the difference between the 3

As for sunction cup, I am almost 100% positive he would rip it off. He gets, should I say, "overly excited" when he sees me enter the room. But it gives me a starting point. Time to brainstorm more on that idea.


http://www.freewebs.com/jadestorm/Herps/100_0477.JPG

hmmm, Perhaps I could do the same, and stick the heater underneath, and put the filter inlet under their to, less things for him to destroy when he goes nuts.........hmmm

 

[ITHURTZ]

http://www.amazon.com/Super-Pet-Fir...=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B0006IUL64

man now the wheels are really turning haha

 

[Citrinellus]

What about something like this?

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[ITHURTZ]

yes yes!

I have a few spare smaller tanks (prob use a 10gal). Hmm I could break one side of the glass out, make a tall stand. Figure out some kind of ladder system..... Man why did you show me that, now I have to think think think

 

[Citrinellus]

More ideas/examples, just youtube "turtle above tank basking area"

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