CK hiding spot

[bcfd144]

Have a 10+" CK in one of my 250g tanks.
I use to have a flat rock up against the glass for him to get under and hide but was startng having trouble with some of my rays pushing it over and he was starting to out grow it..
anyway, I went out to look for a piece of ABS pipe (wanted something black) to put into the tank but all I could find was a 5' pieve 4" round and they wanted 31.00 for it. So that was out of the question. Didnt want to cut it down to make a good cave for him and spend 31.00 bucks on it.
So I found this small trash can. Was perfect size, and I cut the bottom out of it. Makes a nice lookng cave for him.
Now usually if for any reason in the past his cave was messed with, it might be a half a day before he would go back into it.
Well I have had this new cave set up for 3 days and he will not go into it. Shows intrest but never goes in.
Any ideas on how to get him to feel comfortable and go in so he knows its for him..

 

[bassguy]

Is it bright green or pink? Mine doesn't like bright colors.

 

[bcfd144]

No, his cave is black. dark and perfect. He just wont go in it.

 

[libayn]

mine had always lived in PVC pipe but when i moved him to a larger cave ( plastic mail box with both ends cut out) he would poke his head in then would never go in it.had to take the tank brush and not push but move it closer so he lined up with it then i touched his tail.he flew in it and i put the brush at the far end so he stayed in it for 2 or 3 min to feel safe.now he goes in it as much as he did with the pvc pipe.

 

[bcfd144]

mine had always lived in PVC pipe but when i moved him to a larger cave ( plastic mail box with both ends cut out) he would poke his head in then would never go in it.had to take the tank brush and not push but move it closer so he lined up with it then i touched his tail.he flew in it and i put the brush at the far end so he stayed in it for 2 or 3 min to feel safe.now he goes in it as much as he did with the pvc pipe.

K, thanks for the tip.

 

[bcfd144]

he is in there now. Has been for the last 5 min. So think that worked. I hate messing with them by scaring them to do something, exp since I have a Aro in there also, but sometimes you have to do what you have to do.
thanks again

 

[libayn]

glad it worked but i agree i hated to do it also.

 

[benzjamin13]

Well...at least it knows that it's safe to go in there now

 

[bcfd144]

Ys, he is doing good in it now. Guess I had to force him in there for him to know it was his safe place. And the black trash can I used is perfect size and was cheaper than buying ABS pipe..