Bamboo Caves

[Matty]

Hi guys,
I was just wondering if I could get everyone's experiences using bamboo caves?
I've noticed with my bristlenose that they will always these over any other caves and are tough to get out of them when you need to.

 

[foti]

I had 4 and the more they get used the faster they brake down I've never had anything breed in them as I use them for female peps th hide and I'm not sure if my Abn had ever bred in them ?
They take some time to sink
Other than that
Good to look at

 

[Matty]

Hi Foti,
The trick to get them to sink is you use fresh bamboo (eg stuff thats still green), I sourced a whole heap recently, and i put them to soak and they just went straight to the bottom of the tub. Still soaking in there, wondering if there could be any negatives about using fresh bamboo?

 

[foti]

Do they have sap?

 

[beencees]

My LG6 whiptails always loved to breed in them and certain L's were fond of them also

 

[Brengun]

Not so great on fish which actually eat wood as they will gnaw out the ends of them but great for other sorts.
If ever in doubt about a bit of bamboo, just boil it. Seems to settle it down a bit as they can slurry stuff off under water.

 

[Matty]

I haven't noticed any sap coming out of them Foti, but time will tell.
Good tip Brengun, I always boil any wood I have before placing it in a fish tank.
Has anyone noticed if certain L's or bns prefer these over the clay ones for example?

 

[Brengun]

Its all up to the individual male. I have one zeb male only likes bamboo and another who likes a D cave. I have a L066 male who only likes the slate caves.
One of my vampires only likes the bamboo ones and the other likes a D cave.

 

[foti]

Thought best add some pics
Just took them now!
1 is in my l333 tank

All the rest are in pep tank
2 is showing some wear its much thinner

3 back is eaten out

4 what is left of it

Most damage happened when I had my 18cm albino sailfin plec hiding, trying to hide in it!
Not sure if they are wood eaters but it chomp away to fit!

 

[foti]

Variety is good

 

[back to basics]

Gibbiceps eat timber
I use bamboo in most of my tanks
The bigger the Pleco the easier it is to accomodate a log size using bamboo rather than trying to get specific clay or slate logs
All my panaques breed in these
they chew them out over time, even fry have a chew on the bamboo
once the end is chewed out, I leave the old log in the tank as its still food
Just put a new one in its place
I cut the bamboo green
Boil it, soak it, bleach it, using chlorene
Flush it, now its good to go
I do many at a time, a bath tub full
Great food for panaques and ancistrus

 

[bigbird]

fresh bamboo is not good in my view as bamboo has some weird liquid in it. I always used to cut mineand let it dry for 6 months then soak in water or even cut in half and glue on a piece of slate. so far no success in breeding in the bamboo caves. cheers jk :thumbup:

 

[beencees]

Yeah i agree with you bigbird. I don't like to use green timber of any sort and prefer to age it a bit.

 

[foti]

Just wanted to say trees , branches , leave all fall in water it can't be that bad
As long as there is no sap and good filtration regular water changes
As people above said that they had done it and all was well ?

I would rather use dry timber still!