Wolfenrook’s Fishy Journal

Shrimp Shacks

After seeing a number of images of half a coconut shell used to make a gave for aquarium use, Gadget and myself decide to save ourselves some money and make our own.

What you need

1. A coconut (each nut makes 2 caves suitable for small fish or shrimp).
2. A saw (a coping saw or junior hacksaw would be most suitable)
3. Something to make 2 holes in the coconut (to drain the milk, we used a corkscrew put you could use a hole punch or drill just as easily, or even just a hammer and nail.).
4. Something to scrape out the meat of the nut.

Making The Cave

1. Make 2 holes in the coconut, the is easiest to do in 2 of the 3 ‘eyes’ on one end of the coconut.
2. Place the coconut, holes down, over a glass, cup or bowl to collect the fluid from inside the coconut.
3. Now cut the coconut in half along the equator of the nut.
4. Scoop out all of the flesh, and set it aside for whatever use you wish to put it to.
5. Cut or carve a door of the chosen size into the flat base side of each coconut half.
6. Boil the coconut halves a few times as this helps to remove the tanins in the nut that will otherwise stain your water.

We did a little bit more to our caves, sanding the edges smooth, and on one I engraved the words Shrimp Shack.

We’re planning to attach plants to our caves, probably java moss.  They should make ideal homes for our shrimp.

Wol