Hiding cories

[Miguel]

Ok here is the problem.

I have a large cave like plastic tree stump I bought at a LFS in my 55g tank. The caves are all connected with a hollow opening in the middle and a little tunnel going from the middle to one of the root structures. This tunnel ends with a cave opening on the bottom of the stump. This was intended for my dwarf cichlids. I now see that all my cories, Sterbai, Trilinus, Aneus, Swartzi, Agazzizi are swimming into the tree trunk down the tunnel and resting on the gravel completely covered my the stump. I have lost one Trilinus that got stuck and now my Sterbai and other Trilinus cories are going into this little trap. I lift the stump everyday when I come home from work and watch all of them fall and scatter.

Is there some way to plug the hole or should I find a new piece for the tank?

 

[cbosarge]

I had a similar problem with an aquarium ornament, and lost my favorite cory as a result. I used plastic needlepoint canvas to block the tunnel, instead of something solid, to allow water into the space (to keep it from floating). I attached it with aquarium sealant and let it cure before putting the ornament back in the tank. I used the smallest mesh I could find, just to make sure even my tiniest fish couldn’t pass through the holes. The cories and yoyo loaches weren’t happy about it, but they soon found other places to hide.

Cheryl

 

[Miguel]

Thanks I'll try it and see if it works out.