Mmathis
TurtleMommy
- Joined
- Apr 28, 2011
- Messages
- 13,924
- Reaction score
- 8,103
- Location
- NW Louisiana -- zone 8b
- Hardiness Zone
- 8b
- Country
This is a something I want to make for the turtle habitat......
You can see what I have now -- not pretty or practical.
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Now, on to what I want to do:
The top drawing [below] is basically what the habitat looks like [in my mind's eye]. The RED TRIANGLES represent corners that are designated "feeding stations" for the turtles.
The 2nd drawing [below] and pics [above] show how I have it set up for the turts to eat -- the corners are gravel and I use a large ceramic tile [or, in the case of the boys, several laid out, side-by-side] to place the food on. When the turtles are through eating, it's easy to pick up the tiles and dispose of any uneaten food.
But, I want something to act as covers for these corners. Right now I have pieces of planking laid across the corners, but I would like for the "covers" to be more substantial as well as movable for easy access. Was thinking of making hinged covers [see next 2 drawings below].
By using hinged covers, I will have [and anyone else who cares for my babies when I'm away] easy access to the feeding tiles without having to contort my body into a couple of tight spaces [and Hubby has back issues, so....].
Any ideas for how to go about constructing these? What materials to use.....? Tips, considerations.....? Dimensions for "boy cover," about 24", and "girl cover," 16-18". Both corners are 90 degrees.
Want it to be durable, lightweight, an easy-to-work-with material [I have some, but limited tools & equipment and building skills]. Want it to look somewhat "natural" and blend in with the habitat. Would like it to deflect water from directly falling on the feeding stations, but water-proof isn't necessary. IOW, the cedar planks sitting there do the job, but aren't practical and, well, they look like cedar planks sitting there...
You can see what I have now -- not pretty or practical.
=====================================================================
Now, on to what I want to do:
The top drawing [below] is basically what the habitat looks like [in my mind's eye]. The RED TRIANGLES represent corners that are designated "feeding stations" for the turtles.
The 2nd drawing [below] and pics [above] show how I have it set up for the turts to eat -- the corners are gravel and I use a large ceramic tile [or, in the case of the boys, several laid out, side-by-side] to place the food on. When the turtles are through eating, it's easy to pick up the tiles and dispose of any uneaten food.
But, I want something to act as covers for these corners. Right now I have pieces of planking laid across the corners, but I would like for the "covers" to be more substantial as well as movable for easy access. Was thinking of making hinged covers [see next 2 drawings below].
By using hinged covers, I will have [and anyone else who cares for my babies when I'm away] easy access to the feeding tiles without having to contort my body into a couple of tight spaces [and Hubby has back issues, so....].
Any ideas for how to go about constructing these? What materials to use.....? Tips, considerations.....? Dimensions for "boy cover," about 24", and "girl cover," 16-18". Both corners are 90 degrees.
Want it to be durable, lightweight, an easy-to-work-with material [I have some, but limited tools & equipment and building skills]. Want it to look somewhat "natural" and blend in with the habitat. Would like it to deflect water from directly falling on the feeding stations, but water-proof isn't necessary. IOW, the cedar planks sitting there do the job, but aren't practical and, well, they look like cedar planks sitting there...
Lol 
