Coconut Shells...

[big mick]

Ive seen half coconut shells used as little caves in my local fish shop....they sell them for a small fortune but they do look great so since its hardly rocket science I decided to try it myself.

Ive been boiling them and there is a alot of brown colour coming from them, just wondered if anyone had done this before and had any advice?

 

[consp]

The only time i've ever done them was for a frog tank and they wern't submerged.

If I were you I'd leave them in the boiling water for a day. The next day I'd rinse them in kettle water again and then onmce they've cooled I'd add them to the tank even if they were still leaking a bit of tannin. Your filter should get rid of it in no time spesh with carbon in there.

Hope this helps.

 

[jimbooo]

i juat made 4 a week ago. the brown colour only comes out when yo boil the shell.

i boiled mine for 30 mins them soaked in cold water for 2 hours. try to get as much of the rough stuff off the outside as possible. i found scraping with a knife the easiest way.

since submerging i've had no problems at all.

 

[big mick]

Thats magic cheers, my local shop sells a half shell with a bit of java moss on for £10.......what a rip off, you can make them for 40p each!

Thanks again.

 

[akudewan]

Wow, thats a neat idea!!

 

[big mick]

They look great.....you could have a little 'coconut village' for corries etc

 

[windsor-aquatic]

I've used them for many years as breeding "caves" for dwarf chiclids. I cut out a doorway with a small hacksaw for the pair of fish to have access, and I've found them to be very successful (I just buy the coconut and hacksaw it in half, then remove the nut part).

 

[xautomaticflowersx]

Awwww @ the 'cory village' idea. Adorable! Plus when you DIY it as a bonus you get tastey fresh coconut for yourself as well

 

[akudewan]

I put in a coconut cave in my 6 gal today. The betta fell in love with it, and the corys love it too.

The corys were brushing the little hairs on the shell for hours. There were these small little bubbles on the shell, and they were popping them with their moustache...maybe they just had to do it, like we just have to pop the bubbles of a bubble-wrap

And the betta got a little possessive about it. My cave!! Get away from there you filthy, dirt-eating catfish!! Fun to watch

Oh, and the little girl living next door loved it too.

 

[Soaup]

I just made a few they look great, thanks for the idea.

 

[benzonar]

Jimboo,

Are you covering yours in Riccia or leaving them "naturale"?

 

[Soaup]

I have seen that People have fixed Java moss to them, Any ideas on how to do that has anyone done or seen this?