Loaches Online Forum

Hi all,

So, here's the thing.
I've got a Jewel Rio 300 with the corner all-in-1 filter box thingy.
Over time, baby common round snails have got into the filter and live a dark imprisoned life living off the gunk in the filters.

This is driving one of my Yoyos nuts He knows they are in there, but there's a 2 inch filter grill at the top of the box which they can't get through. As I say, one in particular has made getting in to the filter box his personal project, with occasional assistance from the smallest one. On one occasion, he even tried to jump in "over the top" only to be surprised that there was a lid on top. I didn't realise until about 2 minutes later, when he splashed back into the tank!

Anyway, every day he spends about 2 or 3 minutes biting at the grill bars, trying to get in.

Which got me thinking... I've got a ready supply of their fave snails from my small Betta tank.

Could we construct a "loach puzzle", a bit like the ones that the BBC made for the Squirrels (QED... a long long time ago)?

It would have to be -
Transparent
Easy to exit
Tricky to get into
Heavy enough to sink
Chemical and mineral neutral
Able to contain the snails

It would be minutes of fun every day, but it would have to be adapted regularly, they'd suss it out quickly enough if it couldn't be adapted. Different individual lockable panels or doors for example.

Fun for the fish, fun for owners, what more could you ask for?
I'm welcome to suggestions, I'm no design engineer. The Loach Cube... has a nice ring to it?!

Any ideas folks?


Cheers,

Wex

Sounds like a great project!

Just a thought:
You could build a maze out of plexiglass and (aquarium-grade) silicone-sealant, making sure the fish are able to turn in the paths.
By putting a removeble top on it you could 'save' a fish when it might get stuck or panic.
By putting gravel/sand on the bottom yoy could make it sink.

How to get it adapted, well like I said it was just a thought.....
I'm sure someone has an answer to that.

Good luck

I like the idea Francois suggested, you could make some of the walls removable so you can change the path to the snails.

I foresee the phrase, "Like a loach in a maze" crowding out the more mundane rat

Donna - LOL... yes, let's hope so!

Thanks for the feedback so far folks. I'm going to talk to a fella I know who likes an engineering challenge, see what we can come up with.

If anyone has further ideas, keep em coming.

how about those hamster habitat tubes? They'r clear, interchangeable like Lego and sink. But I think they're kinda spendy (costly) as well.

What a creative idea for your Yoyos! I love the concept of a "loach puzzle"; it sounds like it would provide endless entertainment for both the fish and their owners. It reminds me of the fun I had with a game called block breaker, where strategy and adaptability are key. I'm sure your Yoyos will appreciate the challenge just as much! Cheers!