Rusty Sprinkler Posted January 17, 2023 Share Posted January 17, 2023 Anyone have some ideas for DIY pleco breeding caves ... pics ??? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guppysnail Posted January 17, 2023 Share Posted January 17, 2023 PVC pipe works also if you close the back 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nabokovfan87 Posted January 18, 2023 Share Posted January 18, 2023 On 1/17/2023 at 12:35 PM, Rusty Sprinkler said: Anyone have some ideas for DIY pleco breeding caves ... pics ??? Don't have a picture but I think @Chick-In-Of-TheSea has the picture and video. I either get a pleco cave or I use a pottery plant and then cut it to fit the substrate like this: I prefer the straight edge ones like this, they have them in a few sizes. Leave the base and you have a cave, cut it out and you have a tunnel for rams or cichlidshttps://www.homedepot.com/p/Pennington-10-in-Terra-Cotta-Clay-Flair-Pot-Cabo-100523388/314324784 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chick-In-Of-TheSea Posted January 18, 2023 Share Posted January 18, 2023 (edited) On 1/17/2023 at 8:41 PM, nabokovfan87 said: Don't have a picture but I think @Chick-In-Of-TheSea has the picture and video. I’ve done this and it is as easy as it looks! But I think plecos need their cave to be closed (one entry) and more like a tube. @TeeJay bought a pleco cave somewhere and I saw a photo of his pleco In it, so it was “approved” Edited January 18, 2023 by Chick-In-Of-TheSea Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeeJay Posted January 18, 2023 Share Posted January 18, 2023 On 1/17/2023 at 10:23 PM, Chick-In-Of-TheSea said: I’ve done this and it is as easy as it looks! But I think plecos need their cave to be closed (one entry) and more like a tube. @TeeJay bought a pleco cave somewhere and I saw a photo of his pleco In it, so it was “approved” Yes I have one pleco cave from the co op and one I got from Harry's shrimp store on Etsy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lefty o Posted January 18, 2023 Share Posted January 18, 2023 id say just about anything they can go in , and feel safe will work as a breeding cave. at least for me, my plecos dont seem too picky. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chick-In-Of-TheSea Posted January 18, 2023 Share Posted January 18, 2023 On 1/17/2023 at 10:29 PM, TeeJay said: Yes I have one pleco cave from the co op and one I got from Harry's shrimp store on Etsy I didn’t know co op had pleco caves. Cool 😎 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Burke Posted January 19, 2023 Share Posted January 19, 2023 I found this little terra cotta pot on Amazon a few years ago. It’s bubba’s favorite spawning cave. The hole is about 1 inch, and he has to squeeze into it. But I never want for a fresh batch of plecos! ! the adult in picture 2 is bubba, about 2 years ago. He’s bigger now…. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tolstoy21 Posted January 21, 2023 Share Posted January 21, 2023 The terracotta watering spikes work well. My plecos use them and spawn in them. If there is any bamboo growing near you, just cut some of that down. Each segment of bamboo is naturally closed off and forms the cave back, you just find some that is the appropriate diameter, harvest and cut it to size, then let it dry out. I have a TON of bamboo growing invasively in the lot next to my house. Each shoot is almost as tall as my house and some are as fat around as baseball bats. A heck of a lot of free pleco caves can be made out of that! 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saltinthedesert Posted February 14, 2023 Share Posted February 14, 2023 Made some recently that were occupied within 24 hours of placing in the tank. 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dtolb15 Posted February 21, 2023 Share Posted February 21, 2023 I started to make some out of clay, I rolled it out in sheets, wrapped around PVC pipe in wax paper with a tad of cooking spray. I was then able to press them down to a “D” cave. Downside, used the wrong clay.. tried to seal it with fusion spray sealant.. broke the 5 I made. Trying again soon, with the right clay! Overall the method worked great, just need the right products. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nabokovfan87 Posted February 21, 2023 Share Posted February 21, 2023 On 2/14/2023 at 10:47 AM, Saltinthedesert said: Made some recently that were occupied within 24 hours of placing in the tank. I need one of these for a RTBS! That's awesome you can make them. I'm going to have to get her some PVC or something if she's unhappy in the new setup. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabberjaw Posted February 21, 2023 Share Posted February 21, 2023 On 2/21/2023 at 1:08 AM, Dtolb15 said: I started to make some out of clay, I rolled it out in sheets, wrapped around PVC pipe in wax paper with a tad of cooking spray. I was then able to press them down to a “D” cave. Downside, used the wrong clay.. tried to seal it with fusion spray sealant.. broke the 5 I made. Trying again soon, with the right clay! Overall the method worked great, just need the right products. I was going to try this but don't have a way to fire it 😞 Did you take it someplace that has a kiln? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anewbie Posted February 21, 2023 Share Posted February 21, 2023 In the DIY cave; just take some slate or driftwood with a good shape and slant them on each other. I had one set of fish simply dig a hole under a large rock (I keep my substrate between 2 and 3 inches deep). I'm not into pots and pans any longer and prefer to just use rock and wood. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saltinthedesert Posted February 21, 2023 Share Posted February 21, 2023 On 2/20/2023 at 11:50 PM, Jabberjaw said: I was going to try this but don't have a way to fire it 😞 Did you take it someplace that has a kiln? Friend has a small ceramic studio in her backyard. 😬 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwcarlson Posted February 21, 2023 Share Posted February 21, 2023 On 1/21/2023 at 12:00 PM, tolstoy21 said: I have a TON of bamboo growing invasively in the lot next to my house. Each shoot is almost as tall as my house and some are as fat around as baseball bats. A heck of a lot of free pleco caves can be made out of that! Sounds like a business idea. 🙂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lennie Posted February 21, 2023 Share Posted February 21, 2023 My L199 barely uses its ceramic cave. Is it weird? He likes cave looking gaps created between driftwoods. Rabbit snails use its cave LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabberjaw Posted February 21, 2023 Share Posted February 21, 2023 On 2/21/2023 at 11:05 AM, Saltinthedesert said: Friend has a small ceramic studio in her backyard. 😬 Little jealous lol I'd love my own kiln. Thought about digging one but my dogs would just dig it up 🫤 lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cavdad45 Posted February 21, 2023 Share Posted February 21, 2023 I have a coconut cave and a Co-Op tube, but my male dug a cave under a gragon stone and produced fry 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dtolb15 Posted February 22, 2023 Share Posted February 22, 2023 On 2/21/2023 at 2:50 AM, Jabberjaw said: I was going to try this but don't have a way to fire it 😞 Did you take it someplace that has a kiln? No, I tried to get by with air dry clay and then spraying the sealant.. it was a mistake! Hahah!!! I do know a place I could take it but I hear it is expensive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabberjaw Posted February 22, 2023 Share Posted February 22, 2023 On 2/21/2023 at 7:22 PM, Dtolb15 said: No, I tried to get by with air dry clay and then spraying the sealant.. it was a mistake! Hahah!!! I do know a place I could take it but I hear it is expensive. dang, so the air dry clay won't work? 😞 good to know. Wonder if the oven bake stuff works. Anyone know? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PerceptivePesce Posted February 23, 2023 Share Posted February 23, 2023 @Saltinthedesert @Dtolb15 I've been checking out a local ceramic studio on FB. I want to make my own shrimp caves and grow moss on them. Hopefully I can visit their shop in the next few weeks, and get prices on kiln rental. @Jabberjaw I've been reading about the clay hobby. There are medium fire clays like terracotta, but it still requires a heat that you can't achieve with a home oven. You need a kiln to make clay structures that wont disintegrate in an aquarium. I know, I was sad to learn this too. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabberjaw Posted February 23, 2023 Share Posted February 23, 2023 On 2/23/2023 at 12:06 AM, PerceptivePesce said: @Saltinthedesert @Dtolb15 I've been checking out a local ceramic studio on FB. I want to make my own shrimp caves and grow moss on them. Hopefully I can visit their shop in the next few weeks, and get prices on kiln rental. There's a kiln about a half hour from me but the rental prices are above what I deem worth it. My boyfriend has a 3-d printer, so he just printed me some shrimp caves. I need to sand the edges, they're a little sharp and then I can put them in the aquariums that don't have rock piles for them to hide in. makes me sad though that I can't make my own clay caves. I think it'd be fun. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PerceptivePesce Posted February 23, 2023 Share Posted February 23, 2023 On 2/23/2023 at 12:38 AM, Jabberjaw said: There's a kiln about a half hour from me but the rental prices are above what I deem worth it. My boyfriend has a 3-d printer, so he just printed me some shrimp caves. I need to sand the edges, they're a little sharp and then I can put them in the aquariums that don't have rock piles for them to hide in. makes me sad though that I can't make my own clay caves. I think it'd be fun. Dang, I need a BF with a 3D printer, I only have a husband without a 3D printer. 😄 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockfisher Posted February 25, 2023 Share Posted February 25, 2023 (edited) On 1/17/2023 at 5:25 PM, Guppysnail said: PVC pipe works also if you close the back I have the best luck with these but I have but have been making my own from stone title. Like the expensive ones you see. They work a little better if you are breeding larger plecos. You can make them to size and it’s really simple. this is not mine. It’s a photo from eBay. I’m not home.mine are similar to this but not all are black as I get the broken stone titles and some are red, tan or grey. I try to make them so the female can get out but small enough the male can really hold in well. I just score the titles and place a wood dowel under it and push down hard and the break ptrettybtrue. Sho cares if they aren’t perfect. I use a small bead of black silicone on the sides but on the closed end I only silicone up two seams. I feel it lets a little flow in to help the male . Edited February 25, 2023 by rockfisher 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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