Caves for raphaels...details?

[knifegill]

I see my raphaels trying like hell to squeeze their entire selves into the tiniest crags in the driftwood. Does this mean they wouldn't use an upside-down bowl with a hole cut in it?

PVC pieces are apparently now more expensive than copper. It's highway robbery down at Lowe's. I told them they were charging too much but they didn't care. One employee even said, "They're recycled, so you know..." as if retailers ought to expect more profits from materials made of refuse.

So what kind of budget cave would work best for a raphael? A long, tube-like container or jar, or maybe an upside-down silverware insert? Has a raphael ever refused to use a cave?

 

[Freddie Mercury]

I use clay pots. I pay 99 cents for nice size pots. I break them in half and set them up in my tank. The fish absolutely love them.

 

[nes999]

how big is your cat. you might be able to get away with small pvc. the dont like to much of an open space. but on plus side my neighbor through out about 23ft of 3in pvc

 

[knifegill]

I wanted PVC. Too much $ since last year. I recall a piece of pipe costing two or three dollars last year, now they want six or seven! I got some dog-dish bowls for a dollar each and cut doors in them. They aren't using the one I put in there, though. They've also stopped jostling around as much, so I'm not as worried now. They were looking pretty irritated at each other for awhile, but have since claimed opposite sides of the driftwood.

 

[smpage]

I just use rocks. They're free.

 

[knifegill]

All of my rocks are already in use, but, yeah. I should probably just get some more slate from the landscaping store. They often just give me a piece since it's sold by the pound and I often take very thin pieces they can't use anyway.

 

[Thalan]

When I moved my driftwood and disturbed the Raphs hiding in it they went looking for a new spot and eventually settled on cramming into a piece of 2" pvc with my Sun Cat. So they will use pvc but only if they can barely move inside it I guess.