Just a little question....

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jenBLKAROWANA

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jun 22, 2005
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Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Ok....I just bought 5 kribs, and I was told to get little "houses" for them to lay their eggs in. I read an artical about them and what to do, and they suggested getting coconut domes. I have gotten them, but how are going to sink? They feel so light, and they are really "dirty". Do I boil them?
Any suggestions would be great!

Jen ;)
 
It is a sandy bottom.....I will rinse them off though, I may just saok them a little bit too.

Jen ;)
 
Howdy,

Coconuts are a great addition. I generally scrape the fibers off with a sharp knife, and boil the shell just in case. Make sure that all the coconut meat is removed., and that you don't trap too much air in the shell when you put it in your tank

This is from the German aquarium book "Aquarienpraxis kurz gefasst" by Hans Frey, anno 1960s. I just love old aquarium books :) In many ways, we should go back to the roots of our hobby.


HarleyK
 
Well, last night when I got home, I boiled them a little bit to make sure there were no bad things on them, I did buy them already cut and cleaned...They were by T-REX (coconut dome homes for reptiles) And then I put them in my tank! Boy my Kribs really like them....I also left the fibers on them, I think it looks cool!

I was also wondering if I could get some kind of plant to grow on them....

Jen ;)
 
i would leave the fibres on so the roots can attach to them.
 
rust9000 said:
i would leave the fibres on so the roots can attach to them.
Click to expand...

Howdy,

The fibers will rot off eventually. I guess that's why it is recommended to remove them right away.

I had java fern grow on mine, I just squeezed a rhizome it into one of the three holes in the nut, where the milk is drained out. I have no clue what "commercially available" shells" look like, i.e. where they're cut. I did the same with Anubia nana, it worked fine as well. If there're no holes, I'd use fishing line.

HarleyK
 
Oh...There are holes in them....They look like they were cut in half, cleaned, and then a little "door" is cut out of the front. BUT....The top of the coconut half does have the little "eyes" on it, and one goes all the way through....I could stick the roots in there? Would they eventually grow too much inside and force the fish out? (i know that sounds dumb)

Jen ;)
 
With my experience with Java fern the roots don't get so big. I dont think there's a risk of them filling the "cave". But there's no need to put the roots on the inside, attach the fern to the nut on the outside. To attach it there is several methods, like rubber bands, fishing line or just some rocks to hold in in place until it grows on.

More species that can attach is dwarf Anubias and java moss.
 
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