DIY Caves,

I think THIS is possibly the site.

Thank you very much!

I used a Dremel, was time consuming tho..electric grinder sounds the go, Wtch out for those fingers too...

Oops!

If makeing a cave is that tiresome, I'd better write to Santa Claus.

Bahaha I wish Santa gave me presents, I'm probably too naughty though.

Can you get terracotta pots from Bunnings? I just scoured the place and I couldn't find any that looked like the ones in the picture.

And would a terracotta cave be more preferable to a bn compared to a PVC cave? I've had 2 PVC caves for a couple of months and all the catfish would rather chillout under the sponge filter.

Hi Liam,a lot of bristlenoses don't like pvc.It maybe because they like darkness or because they prefer tight enclosed spaces.You would be better off either drilling a cave into some wood or buying a few bristlenose clay caves or something similar,the darker the better.They like to be in enclosed,dark places with a very small entrance hole,just big enough to fit through or slightly bigger.

Another good method I used was buying some pieces of bamboo and cut to length. I have been selling the left overs online and all mine were free

6 caves $25 shipped anywhere in the USA. All my Pleco's love them

Ugh I'm in Australia so I can't buy any The bamboo looks very similiar to the PVC and the insides of the PVC caves are almost pitch black (didn't think darkness would be a problem).
Do you need to treat bamboo caves? Boiling them or something?

I tried drilling holes in my driftwood as well, but it kind of went through to the other side >.>
Thanks xD

yes when I got them they were already naturally sun dried. I put in pot of boiling water for 5 mins to be safe then just put some stones in it for 24-48 hours till it stays under alone..as they sit in the tank they darken a lot going black after a few years. The pleco's also chew on them. The one in the picture was when it was new. maybe you can find someone who sells structural bamboo that is what I did..But it was a whole seller and had to buy a case 24 6' pieces

I have a whole lot of dead bamboo outside the front of my house, although the insides of it aren't completely hollow.
How did you cover the back of the bamboo cave?
I'll see if I can hollow it out and I'll try make a cave out of terracotta pots as well.
Thanks!

Unfortunately, bamboo has a far too exotic price in Hungary.

But I really fancy the idea of using bamboo, so I am considering issuing an appeal for some donations...

Price of bamboo in Romania is about 23 euros without VAT a stick off 3 m lenght and diameter 8-10 cm. But i saw something realy nice like hexagonal caves but this thing was a vase for flowers at about 2 USD and other at 1,3 USD but the cheaper one was red. Maybe when I get back from voyage, because I'm a seamen I will try to use this vases for breeding.
Cheers!!

Now you're a hell of an aquarist BigBrotherG

Let us know how the vase appealed to your BNs.
Wish you a safe return to port!