Cave/Tunnel system for my fish

Petcrazyson · Oct 13, 2022

So I originally posted this in the DIY thread, but figured I should just post it here aswell, since I can’t seem to find some eel related threads. So in my tank I’m planning to have a Jawfish, and I want to make a mansion for him. Now the cave is going to be made out of PVC pipe that is spread across half the tank. I think I have an idea but I need some inspiration. Anyone out there who has made a considerably large cave or tunnel work, doesn’t have to be big really, for their fish? I would love for you all to share some pictures and ideas. Here is a sketch of the plan I have in mind, mind the sloppiness

. You can see the opening of the tunnel system which is the last hole. (So the little black scribbled part is not part of the sketch, which is why it’s scribbled). In the top left corner you will see a little pvc pipe that will pressed up against the glass, to see the fish when he’s in that area. The zig zagged part is pipe work I’m not set on yet, but could be. Again thank you. All suggestions are welcome!

i cant think · Oct 13, 2022

Petcrazyson said:
So I originally posted this in the DIY thread, but figured I should just post it here aswell, since I can’t seem to find some eel related threads. So in my tank I’m planning to have a Jawfish, and I want to make a mansion for him. Now the cave is going to be made out of PVC pipe that is spread across half the tank. I think I have an idea but I need some inspiration. Anyone out there who has made a considerably large cave or tunnel work, doesn’t have to be big really, for their fish? I would love for you all to share some pictures and ideas. Here is a sketch of the plan I have in mind, mind the sloppiness . You can see the opening of the tunnel system which is the last hole. (So the little black scribbled part is not part of the sketch, which is why it’s scribbled). In the top left corner you will see a little pvc pipe that will pressed up against the glass, to see the fish when he’s in that area. The zig zagged part is pipe work I’m not set on yet, but could be. Again thank you. All suggestions are welcome!

Looks to me like a perfect thing, I would leave both ends open (Maybe have a couple different exits with some rubble around the main ones. So, under the rock scape you could have some naturally carved out caves fortified by the jawfish himself. Yes this may not be extremely good but you’d want to see some of the natural instincts actually occur I’m sure. This is the best way to do so and I find that if given rubble they then to fortify the walls with that.

Sleepingtiger · Oct 13, 2022

i seen a guy with a under rock work system for his eels

pvc is so ugly. you need to cover it with rock permanently

Petcrazyson · Oct 13, 2022

Sleepingtiger said:
i seen a guy with a under rock work system for his eels

pvc is so ugly. you need to cover it with rock permanently

The pvc will be covered by sand. It wont be noticeable unless someone tries to burrow deep in the sand and uncover some of it

Petcrazyson · Oct 13, 2022

i cant think said:
Looks to me like a perfect thing, I would leave both ends open (Maybe have a couple different exits with some rubble around the main ones. So, under the rock scape you could have some naturally carved out caves fortified by the jawfish himself. Yes this may not be extremely good but you’d want to see some of the natural instincts actually occur I’m sure. This is the best way to do so and I find that if given rubble they then to fortify the walls with that.

You mean add some little rocks inside the tunnels? Especially where the underground viewing point will be?

i cant think · Oct 14, 2022

Petcrazyson said:
You mean add some little rocks inside the tunnels? Especially where the underground viewing point will be?

Add some rubble both around all exits as well as in the PVC.
But also make some exits that will be under the sand so he can make his own tunnels as well as use this tunnel.

trevorhiller · Oct 14, 2022

Have you seen these?

Tropic Eden Morroca Cocoworm Fish Home Tube - XL

Tropic Eden Morroca Cocoworm Fish Home Tube - Sm, Med, L, XL The perfect addition for any tank to create extra areas for fish and critters to hide and swim in! These nice and natural looking cocoworm tubes have always been highly sought after by fish, shrimps and critters in coral reef...

premiumaquatics.com

I got two of the them with my order of Tropic Eden dry rock and they are pretty cool. I just stuck them in my rockwork, but you could easily get a bunch and make tunnels throughout your scape.

They look a little more natural than PVC although they actually are corrugated plastic piping inside under the textured exterior.

Petcrazyson · Oct 14, 2022

i cant think said:
Add some rubble both around all exits as well as in the PVC.
But also make some exits that will be under the sand so he can make his own tunnels as well as use this tunnel.

Ok so I made a change:

I’ve made the cave/tunnel system smaller. The entrance is also a bit smaller, and then it leads to a bigger cave area, which leads to a roundabout. So I get more natural behavior, should I add sand to the areas that are highlighted so the jawfish feels it’s making it’s home bigger? I’m also adding like you said some rubble in the bigger area and some rubble at the door. What do you think?

Petcrazyson · Oct 14, 2022

I’ll take that thumbs up as a yes lol

Petcrazyson · Oct 14, 2022

i cant think said:
Add some rubble both around all exits as well as in the PVC.
But also make some exits that will be under the sand so he can make his own tunnels as well as use this tunnel.

Is there any other thing you would do if this project was yours?

ISpeakForTheSeas · Oct 14, 2022

Looks pretty good to me personally (here's a picture of a cast of a Pearly Jawfish burrow to give you something to compare to):

A - burrow opening
B - burrow entryway tunnel
C - burrow roof
D - main chamber of burrow
E - tunnel coming off of the main chamber
F - bottom of the burrow and basically its own chamber inside the burrow (it's mostly partitioned between D and F, so it's not a very "open floorplan" so to speak)
Picture from the following article: