Cave size for mbunas

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GermanDude

GermanDude

Plecostomus
MFK Member
Dec 30, 2014
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Berlin
Hi, what is a safe diameter at holey rocks?
I don't want the fish to get stuck.

I am thinking of yellow labs and powder blue cichlids, maybe a male dragon blood.
 
Poor fish, don't they suffer when i squeeze them through small holes?
What is the maximum height of yellow labs or even dragon bloods, 1.5 inches?
 
GermanDude said:
Poor fish, don't they suffer when i squeeze them through small holes?
What is the maximum height of yellow labs or even dragon bloods, 1.5 inches?
Click to expand...
Blood dragons are open water swimmers only the yellow lab will use the caves. They dont suffer they can build there territories around rocks and in the substrate if the fish cant fit they will just not go in the cave. i recommend just stacking rocks and build your own caves.
 
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Oh, was just kidding about me squeezing the fish through small holes.
I've orderd kind of holey rock replica, made of sandstone.
It weighs less than ordinary ones and doesn't affect hardness or pH at all.
It should arrive within this week.
But it looks like some holes might be on the smaller side and I thought about widening them with a file or grinding paper, to be sure no fish can get stuck.
What is a safe diameter?
 
GermanDude said:
Oh, was just kidding about me squeezing the fish through small holes.
I've orderd kind of holey rock replica, made of sandstone.
It weighs less than ordinary ones and doesn't affect hardness or pH at all.
It should arrive within this week.
But it looks like some holes might be on the smaller side and I thought about widening them with a file or grinding paper, to be sure no fish can get stuck.
What is a safe diameter?
Click to expand...
Id say around 2-3inch it doesn’t matter do not sweat about it they will be fine if they can not fit in the hole they will not try and squeeze into them.
 
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Thanks Anthony, I am all new to mbuna and want to prevent dangerous decoration.
I know they are clever enough normally, but have read that things may be different if they are being chased.
I had a kitten once, that used to hide under a wardrobe.
When it grew, one day it did not fit in there anymore, but she tried really hard, until she realized it was hopeless.
But she was in no hurry
I will keep 2 inches in mind.
 
Thanks again,

i really like the blue, but they have so much black too.
I prefer solid blue and bright yellow.
Saulosis look nice too, but they are just a little too small.
 
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