How to Build a Quick Turtle Dock

Almost all aquatic turtles need a place to haul out of the water and bask in the sun or a heat lamp. Elaborately constructed docks with neat modern architecture are available, but your turtle may be just as happy with the sort of spot it would choose for itself in the wild. Fit a half-round or shallower log of the sort found in your turtle's natural habitat to an outdoor pond or an indoor tank. On their own, turtles climb out onto free-floating logs. You may want to put your log dock on legs to give it some stability, but be sure it never goes too far under the surface of the water with your turtle's weight.

Things You'll Need

Split log section to fit inside your tank
Planks or light framing lumber
Bow saw
4 to 6 long galvanized nails
Hammer

Instructions

- 1
  Inspect the log for foreign material that might injure your turtle, or large splinters on the cut side. There's no need to disrupt the natural texture or bark, and you should expect bits to break off as your turtle uses it. Especially when introduced to a new habitat, however, a turtle may bumble into large protrusions and injure itself.
- 2
  Cut legs for the dock from shelving planks, 2-by-4s or any other untreated and clean lumber. Cut one wide or two narrower legs for each end of the dock, to a length just a bit less than the water level in the tank less the thickness of the log section. Make sure each leg or pair of legs fits under one end of the log without edges sticking out.
- 3
  Nail the cut side of the log to the ends of the legs through the top of the log. Take extra care to see that the points of the nails do not protrude from the sides of the legs, and that the heads of the nails are hammered flush with the log surface.
- 4
  Soak the dock in water for a day or more, so the wood is saturated, before placing it in your turtle's habitat. Even soaked, you may need to weight the dock down with rocks when you first install it. Be sure to leave plenty of room for your turtle to scramble up and turn around.