Habitat - Indoor :: Cork mat

[JayBee]

Does anyone know where I can find a chemical free cork mat for my basking shelf?

[steve]

Do you mean cork board? I think they all have additives/glues.

[MEandYouPhoto]

Depending on the size of your turtle and the size of your basking area I actually would recommend cork bark

http://www.amazon.com/Zoo-Med-Natural-C ... +Bark+flat

Here is an example of it in my basking area

[Kansasslider]

Tile also works and comes in many shapes and styles.

[JayBee]

Thanks for your replies. I love the set up with the cork but she is 7" and there isn't enough room between basking shelf and top of tank for that. I will have to go with tile. I was afraid it would get to hot on her feet, but sounds like the way to go.

[Kansasslider]

Turtles bask on rocks over 130º maybe hotter.Your turtle will be just fine. My basking area is a large rock and my turtles love it.

[Kansasslider]

Turtles bask on rocks over 130º maybe hotter.Your turtle will be just fine. My basking area is a large rock and my turtles love it.Try to find some tile that's not glazed. Its slick and your turtle might not like it. Just because it won't have traction when it trys to run. They like to get away fast

[MEandYouPhoto]

Thanks for your replies. I love the set up with the cork but she is 7" and there isn't enough room between basking shelf and top of tank for that. I will have to go with tile. I was afraid it would get to hot on her feet, but sounds like the way to go.

That the size of my turtle as well. What size tank do you have her in? I once considered tile as well but I, like you, thought it would get too hot. The basking area shouldn't be more than 90 degrees (iirc) and although turtles can bask on hot rocks in the noon day sun I would still worry that tile would get too hot unless you had a way to adjust the height of her lamps to make sure she wasn't burning her feet. Something else to consider. My Turtle has an above the tank basking area and he loves it..... but his penthouse was a recent addition. Prior to that I rigged up the cork bark flat to serve as a floating dock. It worked very well until it became waterlogged and started to sink (took about a year)

Any chance you can show us pictures of your current set up for her?