Breeding Caves

So, I've now got 3 BN's, 2 females about 4" long and a male who's just over 5".

The caves I currently have are all a little too small I think, (about 4")

I can't seem to find slate anywhere around here so I can't make my own caves, the only slate I can get hold of is the slate chippings from B&Q.

If I silicone that stuff into a cave, would it do it's job or would I best go with a normal slate cave?

Hiya

Caves don't have to be made of slate. We have them made from upturned plant pots, and some from plastic tubing, it was left over from fitting the air ring. Of course they also like to spawn in natural caves such as in bogwood.

However, they do generally like them to be narrow as it is easier to firstly trap the female for spawning, and then easier to defend whilst fanning eggs, and then caring for the wrigglers.

HTH

Angi

Hiya Adam, here in Aust we have a lot of breeders who use the Terra Cotta Pot method.

HOW?

For standard Bristlenose Caves

- What we generally do is to get a small flower pot and cut it in half [length ways] with a diamong cutting blade or other suitable masonary tool.

- The two halves are then joined together with aquarium grade silicone. [Silastic]

- Once this has dried, they are then attached to a suitable size peice of glass, once again using Silastic.

Things to be careful of:

- Ensure the pot has a good bond [via the silicone]

- The small hole at the rear of the cave is blocked with silicone.

For peppermint Catfishes etc.

- Get a saucer from a suitable flower pot

- Cut a small opening into the edge of the saucer.

- Attach the saucer to a suitable sized peice of glass.

Things to be careful of:

- As Above

We find these are great as they enable you to view if the pair have actually spawned, or how the fry are developing etc.

Here are some pictures [Care of Mooo http://i38.tin ]















CHEERS

Thanks both!

Going to try a couple of different methods, plantpots, slate chippings and PVC pipe.

I have used so many different things to breed BN in i have lost count. even an old water bottle wedged under some rocks worked for me when i was younger

And on top of that, you may find that if the conditions are right, they will spawn in the oddest places. if you have heaps of rocks and wood in there they will eventuallu find a place.

Doug wrote:

I have used so many different things to breed BN in i have lost count. even an old water bottle wedged under some rocks worked for me when i was younger

And on top of that, you may find that if the conditions are right, they will spawn in the oddest places. if you have heaps of rocks and wood in there they will eventuallu find a place.

Good call Doug.

Yep they will find somewhere to meet the call of Mother Nature given time!

I am also testing some bamboo tubes, they seem to like them too [Probably because they can eat it, which is good as they are one of the best sources of Potassium in the natural world, the Potassium levels in your fishes diet is a trigger for spawning via physical conditioning in conjunction with a suitable diet and WC]

CHEERS

sicklids wrote:

I am also testing some bamboo tubes, they seem to like them too [Probably because they can eat it, which is good as they are one of the best sources of Potassium in the natural world, the Potassium levels in your fishes diet is a trigger for spawning via physical conditioning in conjunction with a suitable diet and WC]

CHEERS

right, im off to get some bamboo!

The bamboo is also good for other L#s too as this shot shows from my mate's tank!



CHEERS

Definitely getting some Bamboo...if I can find some.

so where would we find some bamboo? im interested in finding out because i wouldnt mind trying them on my L104s

I am hoping to get another shipment soon and then it will take a couple of weeks to cure them so I will post when they are available.

YAY! oh that would be great if you could get them in. just something else for me to try that could spark my L104s to breed for me

sicklids wrote:

I am hoping to get another shipment soon and then it will take a couple of weeks to cure them so I will post when they are available.

When you do get some in, let me know please!!!