Preparing tiny clay pots for use in tanks?

[CatWomanDiana]

Someone had a photo that showed some clay pots on the bottom of the tank for the fish to hide in.  I was at Michael's for other things, and found these tiny little pots - a bit under 2" diameter outside, about 1.5" tall, and thought they would be good for my girls.  If they work I'll get a slightly bigger one for the smallest boy - the two biggest ones have their own hiding spots already.

So - other than soaking them in a bit of clean tank water (I use the bottled spring water), with a drop of NovAqua, is there anything I should do with them first?  Besides taking off the sticky bar-code tag, that is.  Soak in hot water first?  Leave in the NovAqua solution for some X period of time?

I don't use gravel, but I have some of the shiny "lump" stones that I figure I can use to keep them from rolling around - do I need to plug up the hole in the bottom?

dg

[ruthcatrin]

I highly recommend plugging the hole, I know it doesn't seem very big, but I've had bettas get stuck in them when I forgot to make sure a couple got plugged.  If you have any aquarium silicone that'll plug the hole quite nicely, though it'll take another 24 hrs (or till it stops smelling! which ever is longer) before its safe to put in the tank.

[CatWomanDiana]

I highly recommend plugging the hole, I know it doesn't seem very big, but I've had bettas get stuck in them when I forgot to make sure a couple got plugged.  If you have any aquarium silicone that'll plug the hole quite nicely, though it'll take another 24 hrs (or till it stops smelling! which ever is longer) before its safe to put in the tank.

Thanks!  I do - will take them home this weekend and glue them shut!

[hakkobetta]

Sometimes terracotta will bubble when you put it in a tank, but it's nothing to worry about, just air bubbles escaping from the pot. My sororities loved their clay pots.

[CatWomanDiana]

Sometimes terracotta will bubble when you put it in a tank, but it's nothing to worry about, just air bubbles escaping from the pot. My sororities loved their clay pots.

That was one of the reasons I thought I'd soak them a bit first - but I'll use the aquarium cement first.  Figure I'll put it on like a "bobbin", a bit extra over the bottom outside and inside, so even if it comes off, the plug will still be in.

Uhhh - do bettas nibble on loose things like that?  I haven't seen them nibbling on any of the plants, so I'm guessing not - but my cats all would!

dg

[ruthcatrin]

mine haven't, though that may not mean much!

[wendyjo]

You can glue a small pebble over the hole.

[CatWomanDiana]

You can glue a small pebble over the hole.

DRAT!  Should have checked for an answer here first - I've got a lot of aquarium gravel that is just sitting around.

The aquarium goop seems to be working - it's 15 years old, so I'm not sure I'd use it on the actual aquarium, but works fine for something that doesn't care if it leaks.  Taking the pots in tomorrow.  I did microwave them in filtered water a couple of times  - both to be sure that the barcode lable was off, and that any collected crud was sterilized, at least.

dg