Fish cave tunnel system

Petcrazyson · Oct 13, 2022

So in my tank I’m planning to have a Jawfish. Now IMO my sand bed would be relatively fine for one, but I want to make it a home how it could be in the wild. In other words, I’m planning on making 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!

kingoftheHiLLpeople · Oct 13, 2022

That drawing is hilarious but understood hahaha. Id reach out to eel keepers on here - hopefully theyll help more than i. @lion king?

yanetterer · Oct 13, 2022

Nothing that elaborate, but here is an old thread that might be of interest: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/diy-goby-cave.255179/

lion king · Oct 13, 2022

Not sure why my name was mentioned here, but I will put in my 2cents. I think you will just be asking for a ditritus dump. Chances are they will never use it, pvc is not sand, so the nature thing doesn't really work. While I have used pvc , I'm not the biggest fan, many times people find their eels don't even use them. Just make sure to provide a deep enough sandbed and make sure the foundation of your rocks go all the way to bottom of the tank, so there are no collapses.

kingoftheHiLLpeople · Oct 13, 2022

lion king said:
Not sure why my name was mentioned here, but I will put in my 2cents. I think you will just be asking for a ditritus dump. Chances are they will never use it, pvc is not sand, so the nature thing doesn't really work. While I have used pvc , I'm not the biggest fan, many times people find their eels don't even use them. Just make sure to provide a deep enough sandbed and make sure the foundation of your rocks go all the way to bottom of the tank, so there are no collapses.

You were mentioned for the advice you just gave? Simple

Slocke · Oct 13, 2022

My eels and engineer gobies love the PVC in my tank and have almost completely stopped burying themselves despite the fine sand. One issue is they do become dirty. My engineer gobies are great little housekeepers though which has been nice for me though maybe useless for you.

Spare time · Oct 13, 2022

Keep in mind that every other burrowing creature will want to enter. So if you have bristleworms, you may create an underground speak-easy worm hangout.

vetteguy53081 · Oct 13, 2022

A bit extreme but cute. They are more interested in sand dwellling and a cave with a deep bowl of sand would be more enticing to this fish

Slocke · Oct 13, 2022

So not including the piping in the walls that's 12ft of piping in 3 burrows systems with 10 entrances.

lion king · Oct 13, 2022

Slocke said:
So not including the piping in the walls that's 12ft of piping in 3 burrows systems with 10 entrances.

Your setup is unique, and unique in it's use. BUT you have to expand on all the logistics. 1st,you expanded your network along the way, your 1st application was simple. Then you had one eel use the simple network, then you added another eel and they learned form the 1st. Then you expanded your network with multiple eels and engineers gobies, a totally different set of variables. To start with an elaborate network for one goby, they may use or not, either way you will end with ditritus dump and maybe unmanageable nitrates. Or you might just end up with a dead goby buried in an underground pvc network and an ammonia spike and end up tearing down your tank to remove it. If it's something of real interest, start simple and expand.

Slocke · Oct 13, 2022

I do agree with nutrient issues.
I don't know jawfish but as far as I understand they need a pretty massive tunnel system so its either piping or 6+ inches of sandbed. Either way you may have a detritus issue. My experience is that an animal will happily take something rather than build it themselves if possible.
I don't know whether jawfish keep clean burrows or not but I wouldn't surprised if they do (like my engineers and definitely not like my eels).

As for your design I'd suggest researching jawfish tunnels. Are they just one tube or are they more complicated.

lion king · Oct 13, 2022

Slocke said:
I do agree with nutrient issues.
I don't know jawfish but as far as I understand they need a pretty massive tunnel system so its either piping or 6+ inches of sandbed. Either way you may have a detritus issue. My experience is that an animal will happily take something rather than build it themselves if possible.
I don't know whether jawfish keep clean burrows or not but I wouldn't surprised if they do (like my engineers and definitely not like my eels).

As for your design I'd suggest researching jawfish tunnels. Are they just one tube or are they more complicated.

I've known many through the years provide pvc layouts for their eels and not use them.

Petcrazyson · Oct 14, 2022

lion king said:
Your setup is unique, and unique in it's use. BUT you have to expand on all the logistics. 1st,you expanded your network along the way, your 1st application was simple. Then you had one eel use the simple network, then you added another eel and they learned form the 1st. Then you expanded your network with multiple eels and engineers gobies, a totally different set of variables. To start with an elaborate network for one goby, they may use or not, either way you will end with ditritus dump and maybe unmanageable nitrates. Or you might just end up with a dead goby buried in an underground pvc network and an ammonia spike and end up tearing down your tank to remove it. If it's something of real interest, start simple and expand.

First off thank you for you thoughts. Ok so about what you said about nitrates and a poop dump. PVC or not, doesn’t ANY burrow that is homed by a fish or eel ALWAYS HAVE poop and detritus? Sure it will hold some nasties, but although fish aren‘t the smartest or the cleanest of animals, every animal has an instinct of its own to keep itself and it’s home clean. Now this is for a Jawfish. Even if I don’t do the pipes and let it burrow in it’s own home, if it were to die wouldn’t I still have the same problem but in the sand? I do think of making the pipe network smaller.

Petcrazyson · Oct 14, 2022

Slocke said:
I do agree with nutrient issues.
I don't know jawfish but as far as I understand they need a pretty massive tunnel system so its either piping or 6+ inches of sandbed. Either way you may have a detritus issue. My experience is that an animal will happily take something rather than build it themselves if possible.
I don't know whether jawfish keep clean burrows or not but I wouldn't surprised if they do (like my engineers and definitely not like my eels).

As for your design I'd suggest researching jawfish tunnels. Are they just one tube or are they more complicated.

I like your idea. I’ll research on how extensive their homes are and come back with more knowledge and a plan.

Petcrazyson · Oct 14, 2022

So I found this website that talks a little about the Pearly Jawfish and it’s home. I have the “important” stuff circled in red

Petcrazyson · Oct 14, 2022

So it says that it has a tunnel that leads to a chamber. Now I don’t know how big that chamber was, so I’ll be cutting down on the size of the pipe work.