The Best Docks for Turtles – A Review and Buying Guide

Even though they spend a huge chunk of their time is water, turtles need a place where they can relax. So, what platforms are best for them and why?

As much as turtles love water, it is important for them to take a break from it from time to time. A dry shell essentially stays healthy and also keeps from rotting and developing problems. A turtle dock essentially makes it possible for them to relax and bask under a heat source, allowing them to get dry and to warm up. We tried a couple platforms and reviewed our findings. 

The Best Platform for Turtles Comparison Table

Product Name	Platform Type	Material	Action
Penn-Plax Reptology Turtle Topper	Above tank	Plastic	Buy Here
Zoo Med Turtle Dock	In-tank	Faux rock	Buy Here
Oasis Turtle Ramp #64226	Above water	Non-porous acrylic	Buy Here
LaBrinx Designs Narrow Hanging Turtle Ramp	Above water	Clear acrylic	Buy Here
Penn-Plax Reptology Life Science Floating Turtle Pier	In-tank	Plastic	Buy Here
BigTron Turtle Platform	In-tank	Polyurethane foam	Buy Here

The Best Platform for Turtles Products Review

• Penn-Plax Reptology Turtle Topper – Made using plastic

This unique and innovative turtle platform is easily one of the most popular, and it does an excellent job at providing a resting and basking area for turtles. 

Key features

• Made using plastic 

• Installed above the turtle tank

• Docking ramp for easy climb

• Grill for easy heat access

One of the features that make this turtle topper one of the best in the market is that it is installed outside the tank as opposed to inside where it would take up loads of space. To give it optimal functionality, the manufacturers of this platform designed it to fit cleverly on top of the tank, so that it can be used for both large and small aquariums. To secure it properly in place, this topper is fitted with suction cups that allow it to be easily attached to the sides of the aquarium. The fact that it is made using plastic makes it an easy to clean topper.

To make it easy for the turtles to climb up the topper, a small ramp is installed at the bottom so that it dips into the water, making it easy for your turtles to climb up. The surface is made to be a bit rough, allowing the turtles to climb without slipping back into the water. This ramp is usually not completely submerged, allowing your turtle to rest while it is partially submerged in water. 

With such a device, it is essential that heat accessibility be superior. For this reason, the Penn-Plax Reptology Turtle Topper is fitted with a grill that allows the heat and light from your installed lamp to go through. This makes sure that all of them, no matter their position, can enjoy some heat and light with ease.

Turtles are naturally drawn to spaces that seem hidden, and this turtle platform makes an ideal ‘hiding’ space since they can swim beneath it and relax there. Being that this topper is built to ne installed above the water tank, it can easily fit into many tanks that are both large and small. All you would have to make sure is that the ramp is inside the water for easy and quick access. 

Pros

• Fits into many aquariums
• Easy to clean
• The ramp makes for an ideal resting place
• Has a grill that lets in light and heat

Cons

• Your turtle may be able to escape if the aquarium is placed close to a platform they could climb on to

Verdict

If you are looking for a platform that will leave loads of space for water in the aquarium and that will also have no trouble handling large turtles, this product will make an excellent acquisition for you. 

• Zoo Med Turtle Dock – Made using faux rock

This platform is best suited for aquariums with smaller turtles. It has a unique self-adjusting ability based on the level of the water in the tank. 

Key features

• Made using faux rock

• Ideal for small turtles

• Self-adjusts

• Has an underwater ramp

• Secured using suction cups

Even though it is built to be light, this platform is made using strong material that guarantees longevity eve after being used for a long time. Interestingly, the Zoo Med Turtle Dock is made to imitate environments where turtles live in the wild, and his gives them the feeling that they are in their natural habitat. This material is also pretty soft, making it ideal for turtles that like to chew on things.

For this reason, it is made from completely safe material that would not pose any health threats to the turtles and other reptiles in the tank. Even though this turtle dock is made to float in the water, sometimes the levels in the aquarium reduce as a result of evaporation. This is why it comes with a self-adjustment or self-leveling feature that allows it to change position based on the level of water in the tank. This way, it is always submerged to the right level for turtles’ easy access. 

To make it easy for the turtles to climb up the dock, the Zoo Med Turtle Dock comes with a ramp that is also built using the same faux rock material. The ramp is also partially submerged so that it allows turtles to rest while parts of their bodies are still partially submerged. 

Since aquarium sized differ, this product comes in three different sizes. Aside from the fit inside the tank, larger sizes also allow the dock enough capacity to handle turtles of many sizes. To make sure that it sticks properly onto the surface of the tank, each dock comes with 4 suction cups that work to secure it in place even when there are several turtles on it. 

Pros

• Made using faux rock

• Safe for turtles to chew on

• Comes with a ramp

• Has the ability to self-level

• Comes with many suction cups

Cons

• Takes up quite a bit of room in the tank. 

Verdict

The fact that this turtle dock is made to mimic the natural habitats of turtles comes as a nice advantage. Its self-leveling feature also makes sure you do not have to constantly worry about the levels of water in the aquarium. 

• Oasis Turtle Ramp #64226 – Made using non-porous acrylic

With is simple look and easy to mount features, this turtle dock makes an excellent addition to your turtle tank, especially if you like a minimalistic look. 

Key features

• Made using non-porous acrylic

• Installed above or inside tank

• Mounted using suction cups

• Fitted with rubber for easy grip

• Easy to mount and unmount

When it comes to looks, the Oasis Turtle Ramp comes with a look that is not too common where turtle docks are involved. It is built to resemble a conventional swimming pool diving board, but this does not stop it from performing its duty pretty well. 

The entire frame is made from non-porous acrylic that is clear, and that is pretty easy to clean. However, this material would pose a problem to the turtles as gripping it as they climb up would be virtually impossible. This is why the dock is fitted with rubber that makes gripping pretty easy for the turtles. 

For easy mounting, the Oasis Turtle Ramp #64226 comes with suction pumps that do an excellent job at gripping the wall of the aquarium so that it does not dislodge due to weight. Interestingly, this dock can be fitted inside or over the tank, especially because its ramp is pretty long, allowing turtles to climb up right from inside the water. 

Seeing as this platform is made using acrylic, it proves extremely easy to clean. This means you do not have to worry about extreme cleaning practices since the dirt loosens pretty fast. Aside from turtles, it also proves ideal for other aquatic reptiles and amphibians. Even though it is small, this dock comes with multiple surfaces where turtles can bask, and it can also hold a number at a time. 

Pros

• Has a simple design and look

• Easy to mount and unmount

• Easy to clean

• Comes with multiple platforms

Cons

• It is pretty small

Verdict

With its simple minimalistic look, this device proves ideal for persons who have a liking for simplistic environments. It also proves ideal for turtles since it is easy to climb up and can hold two or three at the same time depending on their size.

• LaBrinx Designs Narrow Hanging Turtle Ramp – Made using clear acrylic

Since this ramp can be mounted at least three ways, it proves quite versatile, especially if you are constantly changing the level of water. 

Key features

• Made using clear acrylic

• Can be mounted two different ways

• Easy to clean

• Can be installed in and out of tank

• Comes with friction grip tape

With many turtle docks in the market today, there is basically just one way to fit each, reducing versatility in a bog way. With the LaBrinx Designs Narrow Hanging Turtle Ramp, you are allowed a choice of two methods, making it easy for you to choose that which works best. It can be mounted on provided suction cups, or on the edge of the tank so that it hangs easily. 

Whichever way you decide to mount this turtle dock, your turtles will have access to the ramp that allows them to climb out of the water easily and on to the ramp to bas and dry their shells. Clear and smooth acrylic is pretty hard for turtles to walk over, and this is why the ramp on this dock is fitted with grip tape that keeps the turtles from slipping back into the water. 

The clear and smooth acrylic makes it an easy tool to clean, largely because dirt does not have a place to attach. This same material makes it an ideal dock for multiple reptile, amphibian and crustacean species such as frogs, crabs, tortoises and lizards. To take advantage of space, this dock comes with multiple levels so that many pets can enjoy basking at the same time.   

Pros

• Easy to install
• Comes with multiple levels
• Easy to clean
• Fitted with rubber strips for easy climbing
• Can be installed two different ways
• Ideal for multiple animal species

Cons

• It is a bit expensive

Verdict

Just like the previous model, this particular dock deviates from the norm where design is concerned. It has a minimalistic design, but it is able to carry several pets at the same time. 

• Penn-Plax Reptology Life Science Floating Turtle Pier – Made using plastic

With its unique design, this turtle platform provides a lot of space for multiple turtles to relax and bask when they need it. 

Key features

• Acts as a 2-in-1 pier and basking platform

• Rests on 4 pylons

• Made using plastic

• Has a natural look

• Ideal for 20+ gallon tanks

Unlike most turtle docks that are installed on the sides or above the tank, this particular model is installed inside the aquarium, on the floor of the tank. It is designed to sit o 4 pylons that each have a suction cup to make sure it does not slip out of place. 

One of its most outstanding features is the fact that it has a large flat platform that can be used for sleeping, basking and even eating. It is flat and level so that the turtles have a nice place to relax. However, because of its design, this turtle dock takes on a lot of space, and this is why it is recommended for tanks that have a capacity of 20 gallons and larger. Smaller tanks would essentially be covered by the entire platform. 

To make it easy for turtles to climb out of the water, this dock is fitted with a ramp that is made easy to climb up. The dock reaches beneath the water so that the turtle can climb up easily. You will find that the platform is fitted with a gravel bin so that it helps to counter the turtle’s weight as it goes up, keeping it from slipping back into the water.

To make it easy to clean, the Penn-Plax Reptology Life Science Floating Turtle Pier is made using plastic. this material discourages food and debris from attaching itself, making it pretty easy to clean. The material is also well decorated so that it looks natural, allowing the turtles to feel like they are in their natural habitat.

Pros

• Provides a large docking platform

• Sits on the floor of the aquarium

• Made using plastic that is stable and easy to clean

• Ideal for multiple species

Cons

• Takes up a lot of space

Verdict 

If you have many turtles in one large tank, this dock will prove an ideal acquisition because, aside from being big, it can also handle a good number of pets at the same time. 

• BigTron Turtle Platform – Made using polyurethane foam

Made to be an ideal docking platform that closely resembles the natural habitat of turtles, this item makes a great choice for people looking to maintain a natural aesthetic.

Key features

• Made using polyurethane foam

• Ideal for small turtles

• Mounted using suction cups

• Made to look natural

• Self-leveling 

One of the features on this docking platform for turtles that makes it unique is the fact that it is pretty light. When installed, it is mounted on the side of the aquarium using extremely strong suction cups that keep it glued in place. 

As water evaporates over time, this dock self-levels so that it is always floating above the water, making it easy for turtles to bask whenever they need to. Interestingly, it does not come with a ramp, but it is built in such a way as to hold the weight of the turtles as they climb. 

Seeing as it is a small dock, it is only recommended to be used in small aquariums that house turtles which are no bigger than 30cm in length. This also means that the turtles are not so heavy as to dismount the dock easily. 

Pros

• Made using polyurethane foam

• Easy to mount

• Has a natural look

• Self-leveling

Cons

• Not ideal for large aquariums and turtles

Verdict

For a natural look and easy to mount and dismount dock, this product proves pretty ideal. Be certain to have it mounted in a small tank that does not have heavy turtles. 

Getting the best docks for turtles – What to look out for

Ease of mounting

Ensure that the dock you choose is easy to mount and dismount, especially if you are one to frequently clean out the tank. 

Material 

Choose a material that is easy for the turtles to climb up, and that is also easy for you to clean. Also, choose a product that is also safe for your pets. 

Aquarium size

Be certain to choose a dock that is neither too large nor too small for your chosen aquarium. 

Verdict

Turtles are some of the least fussy animals to have as pets, but they also need a considerable amount of care. Basking is especially important to them, and this is why a good quality dock that has ample space and ramping is important. Make sure that you have a true picture of what your turtles might need, and be sure to select one that works in both yours and their favor. 

FAQS

Can my Brazilian turtle fit in the BigTron Turtle Platform?

Yes, it can. Adult Brazilian turtles grow to a maximum length of 30cm, meaning that they would fit comfortably. 

Does the LaBrinx Designs Narrow Hanging Turtle Ramp come with its own suction cups?

Yes, it does. They come as part of the package, and you will not have to buy them separately for installation.