Loaches Online Forum

I've recently begun to rearrange the decorations, plants, rocks, etc that are in my tanl, as well as add and take out soem things.

Would putting in one of those every-day terra-cotta flower pots in my tanl for my bottom feeders and loaches to hide in hurt?

Also, I'd like to know what you guys use for aquarium decor. Anything you recommend?

I'm using lots of flat stones piled up to make caves and such.

I also have two plastic rock formations that have a large hole in the back and a small hole in the front. Those are my clowns favorite sleeping areas. They are very realistic looking. I found them in the reptile section of my pet store, and I was told they are non-toxic. I'll soon have to remove them, though, since the small hole may soon be too small. I don't want anyone to get stuck.

Also, for $1.69, I bought a coconut at the grocery store. My husband cut it in half, and we scraped out the meat. Then I boiled the two halves over and over in many changes of water. They sank right to the bottom and make great caves.

Suggested reading: http://www.loaches.com/care/the-loach-almanac

Terra cotta pots are supposed to be fine, just make sure they are washed, etc. Mine grew a bunch of algae, but it wasn't ugly, it made the pot look more natural. you can also get java moss to grow on clay pots.

You can do loads of things with either terracota flower pots or even just plastic pots:

These are fairly large terracota pots for my Clowns to use


I also have these which are a mix of terracota and plastic pot's



and even the small terracota pots that come with live aquarium plants can be used


and probably the easiest of all is section's of 2" and 4" diameter plastic pipe either sat it the gravel or stuck to the side of the tank with a sucker


all of these pots and pipes are now covered in moss and algae and really blend in to their surroundings

Sweet! I'm going to get one or two of them to replace a few of my space-taking plants. My clowns and dojos need more places to hide, so those may help.

Thankies!

I learned it the hard way
I had this fake plastic driftwood:


The clowns managed to squeeze their way into the decoration via that hole on the bottom left.
I was hysterical! It was real hard for me to get them out of the decor (they like it because it's snug & dark I guess).

ps: don't worry, this is an old pic (notice there are no loaches). But I used the same decoration.

edit--fixed the img link for you. shari

Those darned things will stick themselves anywhere, I guess.