{"product_id":"aquarium-co-op-apisto-cave","title":"Aquarium Co-Op Apisto Cave","description":"\u003cdiv style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif;color:#1a1a1a;max-width:860px;line-height:1.7;\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"background:#E8F5E9;border-left:4px solid #1B5E20;padding:10px 14px;margin:0 0 14px;font-size:0.95em;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSold in-store only.\u003c\/strong\u003e Not available for online purchase.\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eAquarium Co-Op Apisto Cave\u003c\/strong\u003e is a kiln-fired ceramic breeding cave shaped by people who actually breed dwarf cichlids. The entrance is sized and angled so an \u003cem\u003eApistogramma\u003c\/em\u003e female can claim the interior, fan her eggs in privacy, and defend a single small doorway, which is exactly how these fish want to spawn. The natural clay color disappears into substrate and hardscape, and the dense ceramic sinks, stays put, and never affects water chemistry. It is just as popular with shell-dwelling and ram cichlids, small plecos, kuhli loaches, and any betta that wants a den. Browse the rest of our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/collections\/fresh-water\"\u003efreshwater livestock and supplies\u003c\/a\u003e to stock the tank around it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #1B5E20;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eFeatures\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePurpose-built for dwarf cichlids:\u003c\/strong\u003e small, defensible entrance and a dark interior that triggers natural breeding behavior in apistos and rams.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAquarium-safe ceramic:\u003c\/strong\u003e kiln-fired, inert, and fully submersible; no paint, no leaching, no water chemistry changes.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNaturally camouflaged:\u003c\/strong\u003e earthy clay tone that blends with sand, gravel, and botanicals instead of shouting \"decoration.\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHeavy enough to stay put:\u003c\/strong\u003e sinks immediately and holds position even with diggers rearranging the substrate around it.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEasy to clean:\u003c\/strong\u003e smooth interior rinses out with a squeeze of a turkey baster or a quick swish at water-change time.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #1B5E20;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ctable style=\"border-collapse:collapse;width:100%;max-width:640px;\"\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #A5D6A7;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBrand\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #A5D6A7;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eAquarium Co-Op\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #A5D6A7;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProduct\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #A5D6A7;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eApisto Cave\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #A5D6A7;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMaterial\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #A5D6A7;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eKiln-fired aquarium-safe ceramic\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #A5D6A7;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBest for\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #A5D6A7;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eApistogramma, rams, shell dwellers, small plecos, bettas\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #A5D6A7;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater type\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #A5D6A7;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eFreshwater\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #A5D6A7;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlacement\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #A5D6A7;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eOn the substrate, entrance facing open water or plants\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #A5D6A7;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAvailability\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"border:1px solid #A5D6A7;padding:6px 10px;\"\u003eIn-store only\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #1B5E20;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eWho Lives Here?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePair it with the dwarf cichlids it was named for, we regularly stock \u003cem\u003eApistogramma\u003c\/em\u003e varieties in store, or give one to a \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/bushynose-pleco-ancistrus-freshwater\"\u003eBushynose Pleco\u003c\/a\u003e as a daytime hideout and potential spawning site. Scatter a few around a bottom-dweller tank with \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/galapagos-cholla-wood-branches-6-inch-3-pack-shrimp-pleco\"\u003echolla wood\u003c\/a\u003e and botanicals and every cave will have a tenant by the weekend.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:14px 0 4px;font-size:1.05em;font-weight:600;line-height:1.25;border-left:4px solid #1B5E20;padding-left:8px;\"\u003eFAQ\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy is this in-store only?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAquarium Co-Op products are sold exclusively in person at our shop. Come by and grab one off the shelf; we always keep their gear stocked.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill a breeding pair actually use it?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eVery often, yes. Apisto females naturally seek tight, dark cavities with one guardable entrance. Place the cave near cover, keep the pair well fed, and check for a fanning female a few weeks later.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes it fit a betta?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMost bettas fit comfortably and love it as a den. As with any cave, make sure your particular fish can turn around inside; oversized halfmoon males may prefer to drape on top instead.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDo I need more than one?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFor a single pair, one is fine. In tanks with multiple bottom dwellers, extra caves spread out the territory and cut down on squabbling.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Aquarium Co-Op","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48117619949787,"sku":"29088","price":8.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0767\/5209\/3403\/files\/Aquarium_Co-Op_Apisto_Cave.png?v=1785486168","url":"https:\/\/squeakysaquatics.com\/products\/aquarium-co-op-apisto-cave","provider":"Squeaky's Aquatics","version":"1.0","type":"link"}