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Retirement and forum shutdown (17 Jan 2022)

Hi,

John Howell who has managed the forum for years is getting on and wishes to retire from the role of managing it.
Over the years, he has managed the forum through good days and bad days and he has always been fair.
He has managed to bring his passion for fish keeping to the forum and keep it going for so long.

I wish to thank John for his hard work in keeping the forum going.

With John wishing to "retire" from the role of managing the forum and the forum receiving very little traffic, I think we must agree that forum has come to a natural conclusion and it's time to put it to rest.

I am proposing that the forum be made read-only from March 2022 onwards and that no new users or content be created. The website is still registered for several more years, so the content will still be accessible but no new topics or replies will be allowed.

If there is interest from the ITFS or other fish keeping clubs, we may redirect traffic to them or to a Facebook group but will not actively manage it.

I'd like to thank everyone over the years who helped with forum, posted a reply, started a new topic, ask a question and helped a newbie in fish keeping. And thank you to the sponsors who helped us along the away. Hopefully it made the hobby stronger.

I'd especially like to thank John Howell and Valerie Rousseau for all of their contributions, without them the forum would have never been has successful.

Thank you
Darragh Sherwin

DIY Breeding caves

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13 Feb 2013 12:59 - 13 Feb 2013 14:24 #1 by Deaglan (Deaglan)
Just wondering about the size of the entrance to breeding caves for dwarf cichlids? Had a go at making some from terracotta pots I got in Homebase cheap and just want to make sure they are suitable.
Also would it be better to have more than 1 entrance/exit?

260l South American Community tank
Last edit: 13 Feb 2013 14:24 by Deaglan (Deaglan).

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13 Feb 2013 13:08 #2 by sheag35 (Seamus Gillespie)
have the entrance about the same size as the dwarf cichlid, makes it easier for it to defend, i generally only have the one entrance/exit again to make it easier for the dwarf to defend.... with the terracotta pots you can either drill out a hole in the side just slightly bigger than the dwarf and place that in the tank or you can cut hole in the middle of the base of the pot, then cut the pot in half from top to bottom giving you 2 caves instead of one from the same pot.... these i usually silicone to a piece of slate.. hope this helps

Fishkeeping the Only way to get wet and wild

currently 25 tanks, and breeding is the aim of everything i keep
location:Limerick

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13 Feb 2013 13:57 - 13 Feb 2013 14:33 #3 by JohnH (John)
Replied by JohnH (John) on topic DIY Breeding caves
Deaglan,
I have found that, since most female Apistos are smaller than the males that is the size to aim for in making the 'doorway'.
It give the female some refuge as well.
Rather than mess around with terracotta flower pots (they nearly always crack when making the entrances - for me, anyway) I cut a coconut shell in half, drill a couple of 1/4" holes in each half - one above the other - then with a junior hacksaw blade join the two into a suitable sized entrance, neaten it up with a file and away you go, two caves and some nice coconut to munch on while the work is being done (plecos also enjoy nibbling on the 'meat' as well, but don't leave it in too long as it soon 'goes off').
Another ploy I have used is one I was shown by Daragh Owens. Get two terracotta 'saucers' and in one make a cut out (I find an angle grinder to be the best to cut them, sawing or filing soon blunts the tool being used) a small doorway in one - then glue the two together (face to face, as it were) with either silicone or, my preference, milliput.
Two more options to consider.
John

Location:
N. Tipp

We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl - year after year.


ITFS member.



It's a long way to Tipperary.
Last edit: 13 Feb 2013 14:33 by JohnH (John). Reason: Left out an 'n'

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13 Feb 2013 14:27 #4 by Deaglan (Deaglan)
Thanks lads.
As they say on Blue Peter (or used to anyway).....
Heres some I done earlier.


Worth a try @ 60c a pot.

260l South American Community tank

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13 Feb 2013 14:40 #5 by JohnH (John)
Replied by JohnH (John) on topic DIY Breeding caves
Grand Deaglan,
I do like to see enterprise in action.
I forgot to add in my last post (although it can perhaps be taken as read) you do definitely only want one entrance. Sometimes (and I've had this happen with some cave-breeding Apistos) the female will actually 'block off' the doorway with substrate and keep it 'shut' until she has been ready to bring out her brood to show to the world. I really do find them to be fascinating little fish.

John

Location:
N. Tipp

We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl - year after year.


ITFS member.



It's a long way to Tipperary.

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13 Feb 2013 14:51 #6 by Deaglan (Deaglan)
After doing these I read that if the pots are soaked they become softer and therefore easier to work with and it also lessens the chances of breaking/cracking.

Can't wait to get a some female Macmasteri to keep my fella's happy. I look forward to the displays and watching the behaviours. I find cichlids completely infatuating to watch.

On a side note I have tested the tank I'm going to use for the Nanochromis parilus after resealing it and theres NO LEAKS :woohoo: Just needs to be set up now. :evil:

260l South American Community tank

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13 Feb 2013 14:52 #7 by ricko10 (jamie)
Replied by ricko10 (jamie) on topic DIY Breeding caves
I'm with John on the coconut. By far IMO the chosen spot for many apistos. I also use the saucers but I don't glue 2 together. I just use 1 themed upside down, with a small notch cut out of one lip. The fish seem to enjoy digging it out underneath

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13 Feb 2013 14:55 #8 by Deaglan (Deaglan)
I have coconuts aswell just thought when I seen the pots I'd do some as an option for the fish. It will also be interesting to watch and see if there is any preference toward either.

260l South American Community tank

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13 Feb 2013 14:56 #9 by JohnH (John)
Replied by JohnH (John) on topic DIY Breeding caves

After doing these I read that if the pots are soaked they become softer and therefore easier to work with and it also lessens the chances of breaking/cracking.

Can't wait to get a some female Macmasteri to keep my fella's happy. I look forward to the displays and watching the behaviours. I find cichlids completely infatuating to watch.

On a side note I have tested the tank I'm going to use for the Nanochromis parilus after resealing it and theres NO LEAKS :woohoo: Just needs to be set up now. :evil:


No leaks - you're ready to go so.

Looking forward to hearing of your progress with the Nanos - keep us informed.

John

Location:
N. Tipp

We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl - year after year.


ITFS member.



It's a long way to Tipperary.

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13 Feb 2013 15:01 #10 by Deaglan (Deaglan)
Thanks John
Will do.
Have to get them first. Hopefully I'll have them around the 3rd of March as this is most likely when I'll be in Dublin next. Will add a thread when I get going with them
Heres hoping all goes well....

260l South American Community tank

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13 Feb 2013 18:57 #11 by bogman (Charles Coughlan)
Can you use coconut shells cut in half as a cave, one of the women in work is supposed to be keeping some for me?

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13 Feb 2013 19:37 #12 by JohnH (John)
Replied by JohnH (John) on topic DIY Breeding caves
I certainly use them all the time as caves - cut in half 'flat' they are also excellent as caves for Plecos as well.

John

Location:
N. Tipp

We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl - year after year.


ITFS member.



It's a long way to Tipperary.

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13 Feb 2013 20:58 #13 by newbejkjimk (damien kelly)
Guys hi '
Where do you get coconuts this time of the year?
jim

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13 Feb 2013 21:17 #14 by ck1 (chris)
Replied by ck1 (chris) on topic DIY Breeding caves
most aquatic retailers sell the half and full coconut caves for 2-4euro

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13 Feb 2013 23:04 #15 by JohnH (John)
Replied by JohnH (John) on topic DIY Breeding caves

Guys hi '
Where do you get coconuts this time of the year?
jim


Jim,
I always see them in my local Tesco, Lidl have them much of the time too.

John

Location:
N. Tipp

We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl - year after year.


ITFS member.



It's a long way to Tipperary.

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14 Feb 2013 01:09 #16 by newbejkjimk (damien kelly)
cheers john i only see them around halloween i'd like to give cutting them up myself i'll keep an eye out

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18 Feb 2013 15:27 - 18 Feb 2013 15:30 #17 by Deaglan (Deaglan)
Was back in Homebase yesterday and they had a 15% sale on everything! Picked up some more pots, also got 2 saucers and made this.



Entracne needs smoothing.

Looking forward to seeing what type of "caves" the fish favour. :huh:

260l South American Community tank
Last edit: 18 Feb 2013 15:30 by Deaglan (Deaglan). Reason: spelling

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