DIY Coconut breeding caves

[msjinkzd]

I was too cheap to purchase coconut huts for my new apisto breeding groups so I decided to make my own. Coconuts were on special at the grocery store for $1.50 so it was not a risk of much money.

First I got together the tools I thought I would need.
-large C clamp
-drill
-small bit and large bit
-mallet
-chisel
-butter knife
-glass (for the coconut milk, mmmmmmm)
-pot of boiling water
-moss
-super glue

and most importantly the coconut!
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First I used the small drill bit to drill a small hole (where i was anticipating putting the larger hole later) to drain the coconut milk.
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I clamped the coconut in the c-clamp to hold it still and I then took my chisel and mallet and gently (and sometimes not so gently) made a groove around the perimeter of the coconut where I wanted it to seperate. This didn't really work that well, lol. I then gave it a few hard smacks with the mallet and chisel to break it in half. You can see it did not come out very even.

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Next I used a butter knife to remove the coconut to save for later.
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Next I used a drill bit to try and drilll a hole about the diameter of the pad of my thumb. One worked great, the other shattered....I am going to try and make it work anyway. You want the hole big enough for the female to go in and be able to comfortably defend her space once she has eggs. Too large and she will not be able to defend from the male properly and will not utilize the space.
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I then boiled the coconut briefly to remove some tannins.
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Next I took some superglue and some peacock moss and glued the moss on the top. This is optional but suits my aesthetic and adds another spot for infusoria to grow for when there are fry.
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Then I put them in the tank, embedding them in the sand a little bit as the female apistos like to excavate.
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From start to finish the whole project took me about 20 minutes, well worth the time I think.

[Rbishop]

Great project and very cost effective to boot!

[bluerat]

wicked job rach :)

[msjinkzd]

already occupied, lol
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[cockroach]

Looking snazzy Jinkzd.

[CWO4GUNNER]

Oh my what a brilliant idea so simple and yet so perfect. Where did you find them this time of year?

[msjinkzd]

they were just in my grocery store :)

[odinthejd]

Nice DIY project!

[LifelessForm]

Aren't you just lil Ms. MacGyver!

[Rbishop]

ummm...that's HawkGyver......

[kreesdqban]

very nice! Could this also work as a pleco cave, or would they knock it around? You just dug the cave into the ground a little right? You didn't actually anchor it in?

[tekonus]

I made one of these a while back, myself. It's easy and the fish love em!
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=1368&pictureid=13153

[msjinkzd]

very nice! Could this also work as a pleco cave, or would they knock it around? You just dug the cave into the ground a little right? You didn't actually anchor it in?

Right, it should be fine for them. Tekonus' is more suitable for plecos with the wider opening.


I made one of these a while back, myself. It's easy and the fish love em!
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=1368&pictureid=13153

Its important for apistos to have a small opening for her to guard her eggs then wigglers. That is very nice as well for a different application!

[dundadundun]

nice diy. if i may make a suggestion. if you have a rotary cutting tool like a rotozip it should make it easier to make your initial cut and your holes where and how you want them. dremels have bits you can buy that do the same thing also.

at any rate... a lot of folks are interested in this. i couldn't believe it when i saw this...

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:clap::clap::clap:

[msjinkzd]

it came with a prescored line so I didn't need to use a power saw. It literally took me seconds to crack it open. If I buyone that is not pre-scored I would use a dremel, grinder, or band saw.

[BioHazard]

Looks great! Too bad coconut is NASTY....:crazy:

[FINJOY]

HI, WHAT BRAND SUPER CLUE DID YOU USE THAT IS FISH SAFE??

[msjinkzd]

i just used the gel "original" super glue. Fraggers use superglue all the time. Its also good for anchoring rhizome plants (as long as you are sure of where you are putting them)

[neoprodigy]

i need a 4' coconut cave... for my fish ;)

[msjinkzd]

that would be one big coconut!

[Michwol42795]

They look great!

[koldsoup]

Nice cave! Gotta try this myself :)

[petluvr]

That looks GREAT I may have to try this for a few of my BN's.

[BioHazard]

Who is in that second photo, who has already claimed a hut? Is that one of the wild cacs?

[msjinkzd]

both huts have been claimed, one in the wild cac tank and one in the triple red tank :)

[RodInCALIFORNIA]

mmm that just gave me the urge to make a fresh coconut cream pie today ! off to the store i am headed.....

[CWO4GUNNER]

Wow maybe your onto something, making coconut breeder huts for sale!

[ESOXLUCIOUSS]

cool, really cool, i love the moss idea too and using superglue.. nice

[svf]

I need a BN. Actually 2. And maybe some ember tetras. Maybe I can come up to FINALLY see the fabled fishroom of MsJ!
I can PayPal you or bring you cash - whichever works for you.

Woot!

[msjinkzd]

whatever works for yoU! Can't wait for you to come over!!

[Star_Rider]

Nicely done rach

hmmm. maybe you should in clude them as your inventory.

custom coconut caves by Msjinkzd



:clap:

[tyler79durdan]

I love how you just have peacock moss laying around :)

"Oh hold on, i'll just muster up some moss for the top of this thing" lol

Great project... I will borrow it soon!

-Aaron

[msjinkzd]

yea, lol. You know, I have so much moss that I get in on trade. I never label WHAT came in or WHERE I put it. I can tell flame moss clearly, but i am a hot mess when it comes to moss ID otherwise. I just use what looks nice and sell it all at the same java price with the explanation, I know its at least moss!

[Piranha86]

Would that work for Dario dario?

[msjinkzd]

it works for most fish that like a place to call home. I have all kinds of critters that enjoy them. My plecos, catfish, apistos, shrimp,s nails, etc all enjoy them. I just like how they look with the moss and its nice to have an easily movable piece of scape.

[dixienut]

dario dario are egg scatterers,.. they spawn in plants and then the male gaurds the area,.. but they like to have a dark place to hide now and then,.. mine are hiding under a piece of wood,.. but thats just because i don't have my huts yet,..:rolleyes:

[DAVIDFBT]

I made one of these but I used a giant meat cleaver to score it along the edges and then I just whacked it about 4 or 5 times to cut it cleanly in half.

[Piranha86]

dario dario are egg scatterers,.. they spawn in plants and then the male gaurds the area,.. but they like to have a dark place to hide now and then,.. mine are hiding under a piece of wood,.. but thats just because i don't have my huts yet,..:rolleyes:


Oh, I was under the impression that they bred like dwarf cichlids, in caves. If the male (or female) does guard it, they're considered egg depositors.

[Piranha86]

I'm in the process right now. I found that if you boil it before you gouge the meat out it comes out very fast. Just pry it from the wood.