Cutting Flower Pots (terracotta) for breeding caves

[emartin]

How would I go about cutting flower pots for use as breeding caves in a species tank?

What kind of saw, knife, or general technique should I use to get them cut the way I want?

I wasn't sure where to post this though...wasn't sure if Equipment and Supplies, Aquarium Decor, or DIY section would've been appropriate so I posted this here.

Let me know what you guys know works for the job...

~Ed

[kaj41354]

2 things - I have always soaked the pots in water for a day before cutting. Then used a fine tooth (no kerf) blade in my table saw with just enough of the blade above to cut through. Or if you are cutting holes - use the holes saws (you will wear the teeth out pretty quick

[emartin]

I don't have a table saw though. Anything else I can do?

I want to do cuts like these:
http://toadscastle.net/marduk/pics/flowerpot1.jpg
And
http://toadscastle.net/marduk/pics/flowerpot2.jpg

[fischfan13]

One of the possibilities is to use an Angle Grinder.
http://i.s.shopwiki.com/i/data/0x0/8/608/133/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5oYXJkd2FyZXN0b3JlLmNvbS9tZWRpYS9wcm 9kdWN0LzEwMDYxMl9mcm9udDIwMC5qcGc===.jpg
At the cost of $70 and up for a decent one you would be much better off to let the professionals sell you a few of their own caves...
http://store.southcentralcichlids.com/servlet/-strse-Caves/Categories

[AlishanAS]

Or just use a hammer.LOL

My thinking is that it's a flower pot. Not exactly a natural breeding cave so if it's a bit messy who cares as long as the fish can get in and out.

[Afreakin]

Drill a hole with a cheap bit and then chip away at it with a screw driver.
And wha-La there you have it.

[CJC]

I've always started by drilling a hole with a cheap bit as AFreakin said, you can throw the bit out when your done because it will be no good. I guess you could try and sharpen it. Than I've taken a blade and kept scraping the walls of the hole until I got the size I wanted. It takes time.

If you want what you drew, drill a hole and score the pot using a file or something like that. Now you can take a hammer and crack the pot. The scores need to be fairly deep or the pot will just crack, not where you want it to.

[phillyofish]

you can use a dremmel. I have used it several times with success, I have made many holes.

[foamerdave]

A glass cutter would work well or a hack saw with this blade http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&productId=100172050&N=10000003+10034001
you will be sawing for a long time tough

If you go with the drill bit and or saw blade, do this under ruing water. It will keep the bit/blade cool and won't trash them as fast

[emartin]

I almost bought a dremel but instead just got a new hack saw and it worked. The saw I bought came with three blades, two that had super small teeth that worked okay but took forever and a blade for cutting branches with huge teeth. Surprisingly the one with the huge teeth actually cut a lot faster (though difficult) and when I did get a rythm going it sliced through the terracotta like butter...

Anyway I have the pot caves in the tank now. Something I noticed is that the fish aren't really going it them at all. Could it be that they are only one-way caves (no rear exit) and they don't feel comfortable in them, or do they just need time to warm up to the new habitat?

~Ed

[AlishanAS]

Ed - what species of fish are we talking about?

[YoungAquaticPhotos]

I use a drill bit and the rest I do with tapping a screw driver. I have even used my wet saw cutting a "V" shape hole. That worked the best. Most of the time I just make the hole in the bottom bigger with a screw drive and place it up side down. My daffodils and crassus love this. All you see is their heads pooping up from the hole.

[cwnaturescapes]

u can use a wet saw for your straight cuts,,iv used a small ball pin hammer to make holes for breeding caves,if you tap the pot lightly with the round end it will chip small pieces off ,this is the best way to make holes,,plus the holes are not as rigid,witch makes them safer for the fish

[emartin]

Ed - what species of fish are we talking about?

Nyassachromis boadzulu.

Yesterday I saw a male and female go into them. I guess they just prefer the open water... That or they just need time to warm up to the flower pots...

[AMBUSHPREDATOR]

My mother in law makes them in any shape and size you want , and any color you want. She's made me artsy one's and 12" plus for front's and with or without bottoms. I draw a plan for them and she make's them. smalls are like $ 8 dollar's huge ones like 12-15.She can even make one with a bulletin board on top that say's JEFFTOPIA, But I think someone else beat me to it. http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii20/Bluewatr/IMG_2635.jpghttp://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii20/Bluewatr/IMG_2633.jpghttp://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii20/Bluewatr/IMG_2625.jpg

[RobFortWayne]

Nyassachromis boadzulu aren't these a mouth brooding fish?



Spawning would take place in the open tank ontop of the substrate with the female sucking the eggs back into her mouth. Eggs then tumbled in her mouth until free swimmers.
Just curious what purpose do you want the terra cotta Pots to serve?

[emartin]

Nyassachromis boadzulu aren't these a mouth brooding fish?

Spawning would take place in the open tank ontop of the substrate with the female sucking the eggs back into her mouth. Eggs then tumbled in her mouth until free swimmers.

Just curious what purpose do you want the terra cotta Pots to serve?

The purpose for the flower pots was for females to hide if they get bullied by the 3 males, especially for mouthbrooding females.

They're also used by my Ancistrus sp. Albino and my clown loaches.

~Ed

[RobFortWayne]

That was the only thing I could think of was to lessen the harassment issue.

I personally have NEVER gotten Mbuna Fry from any of my fish while Clown loaches where tank mates. Believe it or not but Clown Loaches love babies especially babies who like hiding on or in the substrate.

I haven't had luck with Ancistrus and Clown Loaches either as the clowns like to bully there way into the caves with the males.

My Clowns are about 6 inches now and still to this day my Male Ancistrus and 4 females have never had a sucessful brood without my aide. ( I usually steal daddy and his cave from the tank and place them in a QT tank )

Terra Cotta Pots cut in half laying on the surface make great Ancistrus and loach habitat. I have used this set up a few times.

I currently am using Whole terra cotta pots just littered across the substrate in a couple of my tanks ( Mbuna ) along with a couple nice pieces of Rock and or large decorations.

[pkut]

Go to Home Depot or your local hardware store and ask for a "carbide grit rod saw" to fit your hacksaw frame. This crosssectional shape of this blade is round and you can make it go in any direction while making your cut. This makes it very easy to saw any shape and size hole you would like to have in the edge of your flower pot. You can make quite a few cuts before it wears out.

[Bandsmanc92]

I've used various techniques, Depending on the size of the pot.
Large pots, i simply stuff the inside with a towel, hang part of the towel over the outside of the pot an tap gently until it breaks.
small pots, I use a common hole saw to score the hole, then i use a 1/4" chisel and hammer. angle the chisel at 45 degrees and chip the hole out.
For vertical or Horizontal cuts i use a grinder with cutting wheel to once again score the pot then chip with a chisel and hammer.

[Heyguy74]

If you want just a hole in the flower pot, use a masonary bit. I just bought one for 3 dollars. I used my cordless drill to drill the holes. 4 pots in a few minutes .You can also use a sawzall if you want to cut the pots in half.