Hiding place, need dark??
Hiding place, need dark??
I am finally taking the plunge and getting my first pleco!!!! Soon as BNs become 'available' locally. My question concerns a proper hiding place for one. I made a nice cave out of a water bottle, silicone and gravel. Simple and cheap! But, it is not really dark inside. Clear plastic and silicone, with a light colored gravel. Will this be suitable? Or does a BN need a dark place to feel secure? Thanks in advance for any input!!!!
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Janne
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First time I heard about anyone using a plastic bottle, Loricariid's prefer dark places that for sure and making caves of stones or dark pipes is better. When it comes to BN...they breed in all kind of places but plastic transparent bottles maybe not are their first choice. Use a clay pot and they will breed as crazy.
Janne
Janne
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MatsP
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Now, I'm a self-confessed cheap-skate - low cost is good, for free is even better, but I think going for a clear drinks bottle is a bit too far... 
I agree with Janne, try to get some stones to pile up (or even a flat piece of stone on top of the gravel (preferrably with a couple of smaller stones to prevent it fram caving in if the male gets too enthusiastic when diggin the cave).
On the other hand, if you have a garden-centre which sells terracotta pots and saucers nearby, try them to see if they have any broken bits... One of my local ones have a big bin with a sign saying "Broken pots, free of charge", which I go look at every time I visit, to see if I can find any "nice" pieces... And all to my favourite price: free!
Particularly useful is big chunks of 4-6" terracotta saucers (the ones you use UNDER plant-pots). Since they have a "lip", they don't "cave in" when the fish is digging the cave out... Even if you have to pay for one, they shouldn't be expensive - here they are about 50p to a pound, which translates to about 1-2 euro or US dollars...
Of course, drinks bottles that are opaque (not transparent) would work just fine - perhaps even dark couloured ones, but stuff like a green Sprite-bottle is probably too transparent.
I hope this helps.
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Mats
I agree with Janne, try to get some stones to pile up (or even a flat piece of stone on top of the gravel (preferrably with a couple of smaller stones to prevent it fram caving in if the male gets too enthusiastic when diggin the cave).
On the other hand, if you have a garden-centre which sells terracotta pots and saucers nearby, try them to see if they have any broken bits... One of my local ones have a big bin with a sign saying "Broken pots, free of charge", which I go look at every time I visit, to see if I can find any "nice" pieces... And all to my favourite price: free!
Particularly useful is big chunks of 4-6" terracotta saucers (the ones you use UNDER plant-pots). Since they have a "lip", they don't "cave in" when the fish is digging the cave out... Even if you have to pay for one, they shouldn't be expensive - here they are about 50p to a pound, which translates to about 1-2 euro or US dollars...
Of course, drinks bottles that are opaque (not transparent) would work just fine - perhaps even dark couloured ones, but stuff like a green Sprite-bottle is probably too transparent.
I hope this helps.
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Mats
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LimaShovel
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I got a terracotta plant pot and broke it in half and my rhino pleco loves it.
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