Cotton eating tiger barbs

[knotty47]

hi,

Has anyone got a solution for my tiger barbs? I have a 20 gallon tank, which is planted with 3 java ferns and a large piece of bogwood covered in java moss. Now the tank is quite new , 3 months old and every time i tie the java ferns on to my bogwood, my tiger barbs come and eat the cotton! within a week they are all floating loose again.

I know fishing wire is the obvious solution, but I was hoping that I could find a way of using the very inexpensive cotton. I was also wondering if elastic rubber bands are any use? Any advice greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[djlen]

Rubber bands are all I've ever used for Java Fern or Anubia. It's ugly to look at, but is only needed for a couple of weeks IME.

Len

[Roan Art]

You sure the barbs are eating it? Cotton dissolves very quickly in a tank. I tried it with very thick beading cotton and the thread didn't last a couple of weeks. If you are using thinner stuff, it probably won't last a week.

Rubber bands, beading wire, fishing wire -- those work better.

Roan

[knotty47]

I think there eating it, they are constantly nibbling at the root hairs, the java moss and i think the cotton.

So i've been out since posting, spent 45 minutes in staples annoying the shop assistant. They were very helpful in the end, after i'd asked if they had any dark coloured bands. After 30 minutes sifting through catalogues, the woman just gave me six off of her rubber band ball. She didn't say, but her face said "never darken my doorstep again". So it's all go with the rubber band idea.

Thanks for all your help

[star_rider]

I just use zip ties..you can get them in colors