Did You Make Your Coconut Cave(S)?

[GuppyGoddess]

Today I went to Petsmart and found coconut caves in the reptile section. They were treated with chemicals and cannot be used in fish tanks. . .so my guess is I have to make one, right?

If anyone has done this, how did you make the edges smooth? Or is the whole thing really difficult? I've purchased coconuts in the past and always use a hammer to open it and it's been a PITB.

Thanks for any tips

 

[Night61]

i have but i have been two nervous to actually put in in the tank or cut out a little door for it, because my history with power tools have been sketchy at best. knowing my luck my betta would get his cave, but i would be three fingers short of what i started with.

oh by the way this is the link i used, i got about half way though.

diy cave

 

[fry_forever!]

Well, I'm pretty young, so I get my Dad to do it, or at least help me. So far I've (we've) made 6 caves (out of 3 coconuts). Here is a good way to do it:

http/aquatopiaforum.com/index.php?showtopic=583

As for the power tools... I'm not quite sure what you could do about that... It is quite a bit dangerous, but that's the easiest way to do it.

It is much better to make one though, because you will be paying a ton less.

Good luck!

-f_f!

 

[kizno1]

there really easy to make ive made about 20 ive got to make anouther 2 tomorrow. but im used to sawing and filting because i do resistant materials and engeneering. just saw it in half use a knife or somewthink to strip out the inside, sand or file it down i use an electric sander and them chop a little about 1" by 1" if its for a betta and then all you have to do is boil it and add it to the tank.

 

[Night61]

there really easy to make ive made about 20 ive got to make anouther 2 tomorrow. but im used to sawing and filting because i do resistant materials and engeneering. just saw it in half use a knife or somewthink to strip out the inside, sand or file it down i use an electric sander and them chop a little about 1" by 1" if its for a betta and then all you have to do is boil it and add it to the tank.

i can't even roller blade without injuring myself. there is a reason i have been nicknamed crash by my friends.

 

[kizno1]

lol tbh i normally fall over when ever i try aswell.

 

[ellena]

I've made my own. I did one using a whole cocnut, just drilled 3 holes in it with a spade drill bit and spent an age scraping all the flesh out. Sanded the holes and the outside-it's fab
I've also done half shell ones which weren't so successful-I can't recommend using a chisel Let's just say the entrance has an sort of abstract look to it!

 

[GuppyGoddess]

there really easy to make ive made about 20 ive got to make anouther 2 tomorrow. but im used to sawing and filting because i do resistant materials and engeneering. just saw it in half use a knife or somewthink to strip out the inside, sand or file it down i use an electric sander and them chop a little about 1" by 1" if its for a betta and then all you have to do is boil it and add it to the tank.

Okay, thanks for the advice everyone. I'm going to go ahead and try making two caves. Have my husband do one and I'll do the other. Since I am not use to power tools, my DHs probably will look more "professional." lol

 

[Dan-CR4]

i just did my first one today, cost me 68p about a $1. heres what i did....

1. drill a hole at the end of the cocunut and empty the juice/milk?.
2. then i got my dremel and cut it down the side both sides then used a screwdriver to spereate the 2 halfs.
3. scraped out the cocunut from its shell.
4. I then used a sanding bit for the dremel and smoothed up the dges but there they was not sharp anyway but its smoother now.
5. then got a sharp knife at an angle and shaved all the hair off it.
6. then boiled it for 20 minutes.
7. then cut off the door/hole/entrance whatever u call it.
8. going to sit in in a bucket of water for 48 hours.

hopefully it will be ready for the tank then. Job Done