Penn-Plax Turtle Topper Mod: Expanding Basking Platform for Any Tank Size

This article details a simple yet effective modification to the Penn-Plax Turtle Topper, a popular basking platform for turtles. Many turtle owners find the standard topper too small for their growing reptiles or larger aquariums. This limitation often forces owners to seek expensive alternatives or compromise on their turtle's essential basking needs. This modification addresses this problem by providing a step-by-step guide to expanding the basking platform to fit virtually any sized tank. The project utilizes readily available materials and basic woodworking skills, making it an accessible and affordable upgrade for turtle keepers of all experience levels.The modification involves constructing a custom wooden frame that seamlessly integrates with the original Penn-Plax topper, significantly increasing its usable surface area. This expansion is crucial for turtles, who require ample horizontal space for comfortable basking and proper thermoregulation. The addition of an egg crate cover enhances safety by preventing escapes and also improves ventilation. The guide provides comprehensive instructions, including material lists, detailed construction steps, and helpful tips for a perfect fit, ensuring a successful and visually appealing upgrade to your turtle's habitat.

Pros And Cons

Read more: 5-Star Reptile Basking Platform with Hiding Spot

The Problem with Standard Turtle Toppers

Many commercially available turtle toppers, like the Penn-Plax Turtle Topper, are designed for smaller tanks. This limits their usability for owners of larger aquariums often needed to accommodate growing turtles.

Turtles, unlike fish, require more horizontal space than vertical. They need a wide basking area to mimic their natural pond environment, allowing for comfortable basking and proper thermoregulation.

The standard Penn-Plax topper's limited size makes it impractical for larger turtles or tanks, creating a need for modification or alternative solutions.

Introducing the Turtle Topper Mod

This modification allows you to adapt the Penn-Plax Turtle Topper (or similar models) to fit virtually any size aquarium.

The mod involves building a custom wooden frame that extends the basking platform's dimensions. This frame securely attaches to the original topper and seamlessly integrates with the tank.

The addition of an egg crate cover prevents escapes and provides extra ventilation and access points for feeding or tank maintenance.

Live Test and Observations

The modified topper was successfully installed on a 75-gallon aquarium housing two slider turtles.

While the topper accommodated smaller turtles well, the larger residents found the basking area somewhat cramped. However, the mod successfully expanded the platform’s usability.

Additional decorations enhanced the setup, providing more basking options for the turtles. The egg crate cover on the 75-gallon tank needed adjustment for a perfect fit.

Building the Turtle Topper Mod: A Step-by-Step Guide

Begin by measuring your aquarium to determine the required frame dimensions for your turtle topper.

Gather materials: Poplar board, white wood board, wood lath, wood screws, finishing nails, wood glue, black spray paint, and basic woodworking tools.

Construct the frame: Cut the white wood board into four pieces to form the frame. Attach these pieces to the original turtle topper base, carefully cutting away portions of the existing lip to ensure a flat fit.

Completing the Mod

Add side and front trim pieces using poplar board and wood lath to fill gaps and improve aesthetics. Secure these pieces with wood glue and finishing nails.

Create an egg crate cover for the open side of the tank to prevent escapes. Cut and shape the egg crate to ensure a snug fit, and carefully sand down any sharp edges.

Paint all wooden components with black spray paint for a consistent look. Once dry, reassemble the entire structure, ensuring a secure fit on the aquarium.

Conclusion: Is the Mod Worth It?

The Penn-Plax Turtle Topper mod is a viable solution for expanding the basking area, making it suitable for larger tanks and turtles.

The ease of construction and readily available materials make this a relatively inexpensive upgrade. While some trial and error might be involved (especially when dealing with the egg crate), the final result is a functional and visually appealing basking dock.

The mod successfully addresses the limitations of the original product, offering a more versatile and customizable basking platform for your turtle.