Table expansion

[Joanne]

This is kind of a question for people who have done it before...

I have my table, I have a tub that I plan to sit on half the table as a second level.

I have a piece of wood and some carpet to make a ramp out of, but how do I affix the ramp to the side of the table?

I was thinking screw some rods into the side of the table and keep it propped that way? Currently the wood I'm planning on using is 7mm ply. Should I use something thicker like a decking board and then I can just screw it to the side of the table? All screw heads would be on the outside, but I drew a little diagram...

Also, here is his table currently:

and here are the supplies I have to make the second story...

https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/941407_10151388686401333_1886531550_n.jpg

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I think I may have answered my own question...

Just put everything together to see what it'll look like...

I don't think this ramp would be wide enough, so I think I'm going to use a piece of decking board instead. Then use willow twigs as a barrier to stop him falling off!

 

[WillTort2]

Are you planning on cutting an entrance into the plastic bin? If so, extend your ramp about 3" into the plastic to anchor that end and screw a small (1" x 1/2" x (the width of your ramp)) wood block to anchor the lower end of your ramp. The substrate in the upper level should be deep enough to be level with the upper part of the ramp.

This will allow you to slide the foot of the ramp out and then pull the top of the ramp out of the plastic bin for easy cleaning.

I would also advise a side for the upper part of the ramp to keep the "acrobat from demonstrating the flying face plant".

And make your ramp wide enough to allow your tort to turn around mid assent.

 

[gieseygirly]

I just used a cheap piece of plexi glass along the outside of my enclosure so mine couldn't "jump" over the edge from the ramp to the outside world. I used a 2x2 and screwed it to the other side of the ramp so he can't fall from the ramp into the lower level of the enclosure and get hurt that way either.

 

[Joanne]

Just having carpet tiles in the upper level to keep the weight down, so no substrate per say. We will have an overlap into it that straightens out.

I do have some plastic stuff that I could use instead of willow sticks if I struggle to affix them!

So the ramp needs to be the length of the tortoise plus a bit for growing room. COOL!

Thanks for the input

 

[Joanne]

FINISHED!

Plenty of places to go now, and the ramp doesn't take up that much floor space!

We lured him up with some dandelion and he got up fine. Then he went down on his own, very easily too.

One thing he did try which was weird was trying to eat the carpet tile... which was unexpected. It's such a tight loop that he didn't actually get any. I think he got it in the end that it's not food.

 

[Pokeymeg]

Very nice!

 

[jhongsen]

well I never imagine that we could have a second floor very nice

 

[Joanne]

thanks guys. He seems to use it, I put a strawberry top on there this morning and it has gone now! The carpet is good for the ramp. If it didn't have the carpet I don't think he would be able to get up there. Gives plenty of grip!

 

[WillTort2]

Looks good!

I see no reason to deny your tortoise 2nd story digging rights.

The Russian Tortoise motto is "Be A Good Digger"!

 

[Joanne]

He's actually a Hermann, so doesn't really dig. He has plenty of soil in the bottom if he ever feels the urge

 

[jhongsen]

how did he notice there's a strawberry on 2nd floor? that must be mean that he often check on 2nd floor , I think I'm going to build a 2nd floor as well on my project

 

[Joanne]

He was probably just exploring