What does everyone think about Terra Cotta pots?

[knifegill]

I don't know the difference between real and fake terra cotta. How can I tell?

Would a really thick piece of terra cotta act like seachem matrix and grow anaerobes inside it?

 

[mshill90]

Let me get this straight though, the ones at Home Depot aren't safe?

Because i notice when I break them up, there is some black spects in the orange? what is the black stuff?

I don't know if it's not fish safe, but I know it's NOT terra Cotta. Terra Cotta is a type of clay that is orange in color- no black specs or any other color variation. Now, if you want real original Terra Cotta (From France) it's brown in color, and the pots will say (From France) but they are hard to find.

It also doesn't cut the same.

It may be safe...

 

[littlewangzfan]

I bought mine at the Home Depot. Cut it in half to make it appear buried in substrate but didn't notice any black stuff on it. Been in my 90 gal for 7 months now without any problems. Hope this helps.

 

[NCStateFisher]

just added my first one from home depot in my 45 a couple weeks ago, no issues but time will tell i guess, as many people as have these in their tanks i highly doubt they all got real terracota pots

 

[Chrisplosion]

They make awesome hiding holes for Blood Parrots or any fish for that matter. My fish would be sick or dead if they weren't safe because they have been in my tanks for about a year now.

 

[pshtex]

i think they are functional at best. to me they are ugly however they are cheap and get the job done, at least until i find a much better natural rock

 

[Jrob]

the terra cotta pots i got at home depot with the black specks in it worked for me.. i didnt even cut mine...i bought little ones...and littler ones...glued them together and made like a 2 story house for one of my buddies...and another friend asked for some random decor...so i bought a bigger one..threw it up in the air, and it shattered on the concrete...Voila...shattered 'terra cotta' that is fish safe...

 

[AOmonsta]

I use them in all my tanks.

 

[knifegill]

Don't use them with raphael cats. The terra cotta will grind their spines off. True.

 

[Crispy]

I've used them 20+ years with no complaints (even with raph cats). I would stay away from anything 'glazed' though.

my large fronts like to breed in 'strawberry pots', awesome for larger cichlids and they look decent in natural looking setups.