Good Cave Dwellers?

**DrNic** · 02-09-2009, 08:47 PM

What kind of fish make good cave dwellers? I added a terracotta cave to one of my tanks that I was hoping my upside-down catfish would use. Unfortunately he NEVER uses the thing and instead just hides his head under an anubius leaf and thinks he's hidden. Not exactly the smartest fish in the tank. Anyhow, I'm looking to try to find some good cave dwelling fish that would be able to use the cave. I was thinking German Blue or Yellow Rams but are there any other suggestions? The tank already has 2 angelfish and the upside-down cat in it.

**NickFish** · 02-09-2009, 08:54 PM

Rams aren't really cave dwellers.

Check out apistogramma cacatuoides. There isn't any dwarf cichlids that spend all their time in caves if that's what you're looking for, but apistos definitely spend some of their time in there, and he would definitely appreciated it. Especially if you mix some female in there. Add a male, a couple of females and other 2 or 3 pops and you could breed them. Your tank is kind of small to raise the fry though, you would have to seperate them....

**Jellygirl** · 02-09-2009, 09:14 PM

Good luck with your choice. I have kept apistogrammas, they are very interesting, but need soft water conditions of pH7 or below. Not sure what you have, but they will adore a nice terracotta pot lol.

Jellygirl

**toddnbecka** · 02-09-2009, 10:02 PM

Maybe a small catfish like the bumblebee catfish that prefers to hide by day? Or a few Hara hara (or a similar species.)

**doug z** · 02-09-2009, 10:25 PM

My bristlenose loves to hide in the driftwood cave I have, even more than my apistogramma cacatuoides (dwarf cockatoos), who usually just stick to the cover of the tennelus..

My panda corys like to sleep in there, too..