Built for breeders: Twenty caves to set up a full breeding rack or colony tank in one go. Give every male his own defensible tube, maximise the number of viable spawning sites, and keep territorial conflict low across a high-density system — the way a working pleco farm runs its racks. A breeding tool, not decor. This is the classic straight-tube cave — a tight, enclosed tunnel with a bark-like texture that reads like the rock and root crevices cave-spawning plecos claim in the wild. The tube shape does real work. A male backs in and blocks the entrance with his own body, where he can guard the clutch and steer a steady flow of water over the eggs. That defensible, body-tight fit is what convinces a male to commit to a cave and spawn — and it's why we use this exact style on our own breeding systems. Sizing and species Choose the size by the body of your fish: Small (14 × 4.3 × 4.3 cm) — Hypancistrus and Peckoltia, and other plecos growing to around 10 cm: Zebra (L046), L134, L136, L236, L173, L174 Medium (13.5 × 5 × 4.5 cm) — bristlenose (Ancistrus) such as L181, L183, L144, and similar-bodied fish up to ~10 cm Large (20 × 6.5 × 6 cm) — larger, mature plecos that need more room Note: A male should be able to nearly fill the entrance — that snug fit matters more than extra space. How to use Rinse before adding to the tank. Set it on the substrate, or bury it slightly so it sits stable, in a low-flow, shaded spot where plecos feel secure. For breeding, give each male his own cave and space them apart so fish can hold separate territories. Details Material: high-temperature fired clay Available sizes: Small, Medium, Large (single or set of 4) Safety Inert, non-toxic ceramic. Safe for freshwater aquariums, including fish, shrimp, and other invertebrates. Tested and used daily on the Plecoceramics farm.
