What do you use for a cave?

I am, at best, challenged when it comes to interior design, even with
aquariums. Lately, I've been culling out the plastics and replacing them
with naturals.

I'd like to also replace a Raphael Striped catfish that I lost a while ago,
and they like to hide during the day. I had a set of plastic rocks, (Still
do, actually, just not in the tank now) but what could I find that looks
more natural?

A

"Angrie.Woman" wrote in message
...

I am, at best, challenged when it comes to interior design, even with
aquariums. Lately, I've been culling out the plastics and replacing them
with naturals.

I'd like to also replace a Raphael Striped catfish that I lost a while
ago,
and they like to hide during the day. I had a set of plastic rocks,
(Still
do, actually, just not in the tank now) but what could I find that looks
more natural?

A


Good on you with the plants!!! - I'm sure Oz will agree :-) - have almost
finished the cull on the plastic myself but put them in the fry tank along
with some live - looks pretty for now....

My pl*co is very shy and likes to hide out....he lives in a piece of
driftwood and has hollowed it out further....if you shop around you should
be able to find some with natural holes...but it does lower your pH and I
don't know how much of any issue that is for you. If you don't want to go
with the driftwood there are some good replicas available on the market over
here (UK) so I guess the same might apply to you. If you want to go rocks
why not shop around for two/three real rocks and create your own cave? I'm
having great fun at the rearranging the rocks for my soon to be Malawi Tank
trying to get the best caves out of them....keeps me occupied during the
cycling :-). Only thing that worries me is that visitors to the house keep
asking if it is "an art statement" as there are no fish yet - lol

Gill

Try using something like approved for aquariums epoxy putty and use
that to connect some real rocks together to form a cave. The epoxy
putty can be completely done "drying" under water after a hour
depending on the kind you use. Later!

"Angrie.Woman" wrote in message
...

I am, at best, challenged when it comes to interior design, even
with aquariums. Lately, I've been culling out the plastics and
replacing them with naturals.

I'd like to also replace a Raphael Striped catfish that I lost a
while ago, and they like to hide during the day. I had a set of
plastic rocks, (Still do, actually, just not in the tank now) but
what could I find that looks more natural?

A


Get a clay pot at the garden store. Be sure it isn't painted or
treated. Use a utility knife to score it along the line where you
want it to break. I usually score it lightly and just whack it, the
uneven break looks more natural.

On Fri, 04 Mar 2005 22:21:18 GMT, "Angrie.Woman"
wrote:


I am, at best, challenged when it comes to interior design, even with
aquariums. Lately, I've been culling out the plastics and replacing them
with naturals.

I'd like to also replace a Raphael Striped catfish that I lost a while ago,
and they like to hide during the day. I had a set of plastic rocks, (Still
do, actually, just not in the tank now) but what could I find that looks
more natural?

A


I have one fantastic ceramic ornament in a 10 gallon tank. It appears
to be an old wheel house. It has lots of room inside and lots of
exits. My 2 Clown Loaches are in it lots of the time. I actually bid
on eBay for the tank because of the ornament.

I rely on natural plants in my other 4 tanks. The tanks have heavy
"low light" plants and the fish duck in to the bottom of the plants.
Some times it looks like the tanks have been evacuated by all the
fish.

Can't provide more natural cover than live plants!

dick

"Dick" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 04 Mar 2005 22:21:18 GMT, "Angrie.Woman"
wrote:



Can't provide more natural cover than live plants!

I don't disagree, but those particular fishes love their caves. I'd feel
like a bad fish Mommy if he didn't have one. I've had two Raphaels, both
lasted between 8-9 years, I lost my last one when I moved across country - I
think the stress was just too much for the old guy.

I like the clay pot idea a lot. I think I might be able to conceal it quite
well.

Thanks you guys!

A

AW, I made some clay pot caves for my spawning cichlid pairs. I
think they were 3" pots. I tapped them with a hammer on the side, near
the rim, until a crack had formed. Then I tapped the other side
opposite the crack to form a similar crack. With two cracks opposite
each other, running from the rim to the base, I pulled the halves
apart. It broke the pot into two pieces, one with the entire bottom
intact and the other a smaller "half" without the bottom. The half
with the bottom I buried so the bottom drain hole was the only
entrance. The other smaller half I layed quite flat, to form a
shallow, wide mouthed cave.

The cichlids spawned under the bog wood.


steve

"steve" wrote in message
ups.com...
AW, I made some clay pot caves for my spawning cichlid pairs. I
think they were 3" pots. I tapped them with a hammer on the side, near
the rim, until a crack had formed. Then I tapped the other side
opposite the crack to form a similar crack. With two cracks opposite
each other, running from the rim to the base, I pulled the halves
apart. It broke the pot into two pieces, one with the entire bottom
intact and the other a smaller "half" without the bottom. The half
with the bottom I buried so the bottom drain hole was the only
entrance. The other smaller half I layed quite flat, to form a
shallow, wide mouthed cave.

The cichlids spawned under the bog wood.


steve


LOL. For the last spawning I tried to influence, I positioned 3 clay
pots in different locations. Each had plenty of cover and were very
secure for defending, but each offered a single line of sight so that I
could watch the progress of the eggs. They burrowed under a pot and laid
their eggs on the underside where I couldn't see anything.
--
www.NetMax.tk

On Sat, 05 Mar 2005 16:48:07 GMT, "Angrie.Woman"
wrote:


"Dick" wrote in message
.. .
On Fri, 04 Mar 2005 22:21:18 GMT, "Angrie.Woman"
wrote:



Can't provide more natural cover than live plants!

I don't disagree, but those particular fishes love their caves. I'd feel
like a bad fish Mommy if he didn't have one. I've had two Raphaels, both
lasted between 8-9 years, I lost my last one when I moved across country - I
think the stress was just too much for the old guy.

I like the clay pot idea a lot. I think I might be able to conceal it quite
well.

Thanks you guys!

A

I have built caves using rocks and drift wood.

dick

i built caves using 3/4 of a PVC piping, coated it in aquarium safe silicone
and rolled it in gravel. Looks really good
"Dick" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 05 Mar 2005 16:48:07 GMT, "Angrie.Woman"
wrote:


"Dick" wrote in message
. ..
On Fri, 04 Mar 2005 22:21:18 GMT, "Angrie.Woman"
wrote:



Can't provide more natural cover than live plants!

I don't disagree, but those particular fishes love their caves. I'd feel
like a bad fish Mommy if he didn't have one. I've had two Raphaels, both
lasted between 8-9 years, I lost my last one when I moved across country -
I
think the stress was just too much for the old guy.

I like the clay pot idea a lot. I think I might be able to conceal it
quite
well.

Thanks you guys!

A

I have built caves using rocks and drift wood.

dick