The Six Best Betta Fish Caves

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Many betta fish health conditions are caused by the effects of stress. To help your betta cope with potentially stressful situations, it’s extremely important to provide your fishy friend with plenty of hiding places in your tank setup.

Adding live plants to the tank environment is a great way of providing shelter for your fish, primarily giving them a place to hide away and rest. Furthermore, the algae that grow on them can also provide a food source for your betta’s tankmates. But the best way to offer a hiding place for your betta is to put a specially designed betta cave in the habitat.

The Top Six Best Betta Fish Caves

In this guide, we take a look at six of the most popular betta fish caves that you’ll find on the market today. We’ve also included feedback from Amazon buyer reviews of each product so that you can see what other betta owners have to say about these products.

To read more and place your order, simply click on the in-text links that we’ve included for you!

Saim Ceramic Jar

The Sai Ceramic Jar gets our vote as the best betta fish cave ornament on the market at the moment.

The jar is made from a ceramic material that is safe and non-toxic, so it won’t pollute your aquarium water. The jar has two holes that are big enough to allow your betta to swim through, and there are no sharp edges inside that could cause injury to your fish.

The design of the jar also adds a realistic “sunken treasure” look to your tank setup without looking plasticky and fake.

What we like:

• Excellent quality product
• Made from a safe, non-toxic ceramic material
• No sharp edges, so safe for your betta

Room for improvement:

Surprisingly, there were no negative reviews on Amazon for this product! However, buyers weren’t so keen on the grey version of the jar, reporting that the paint tended to flake off; no such problems were reported with the terracotta-colored version.

SunGrow Coco Hut for Aquatic Pets

The SunGrow Coco Hut is a betta cave that’s made from a natural coconut shell, making it perfect for your betta setup if you like to keep the look natural and realistic.

The cave measures just 3 inches tall, so it won’t take up too much space in a smaller tank. The opening of the shell is 5 inches across, easily allowing your betta and his tankmates to swim through it comfortably.

Made from an all-natural coconut shell, the cave is non-toxic and completely safe for your fish. The entrance to the cave is large enough to prevent your betta from getting stuck or becoming trapped inside. Also, there are no sharp edges on the cave that could potentially cause an injury.

What we like:

• All-natural product
• Non-toxic
• Smooth edges

Room for improvement:

• The Cave can float to the surface unless firmly wedged in the substrate.
• Some coconut shells have a small hole in the top that your betta could get stuck in. However, you can plug the hole or enlarge it if you prefer.
• Some customers complained of variable quality.

Hygger Betta Log Resin Hollow Tree Trunk

The Hygger Betta Log Resin Hollow Tree Trunk is a natural-looking, hand-painted aquarium ornament that’s made of resin.

The cave is very detailed and realistic. It would probably best compliment an aquarium environment that has a natural vibe. The ornament measures 5.3 x 4 x 2.7 inches and has several holes, all of which are wide enough for a betta fish to pass through safely.

The resin material that’s used to make the betta fish cave is non-toxic, won’t degrade in your tank, and can easily be cleaned by washing it through some tank water when you carry out your weekly water change.

What we like:

• Non-toxic
• Large entry holes won’t trap your betta
• Looks natural and makes an attractive feature in the tank

Room for improvement:

• Some users have complained that the ornament has sharp edges inside that could cause injury. However, you can file these away using a piece of coarse sandpaper.

Bone White Ceramic Aquarium Decoration

This Bone White Ceramic Aquarium Decoration makes a super-safe hideout for your betta and other tankmates too.

The ornament is a natural bone white color that’s created by using a ceramic material, rather than paint. Representing superb value for money, you get two betta caves as a pack. The product is supplied from within the US, so delivery is super-fast.

Each cave measures 3.8 inches long and 2.6 inches deep, so the hideout doesn’t take up much space in your tank. In addition, the entrance holes allow a betta fish to swim through them with ease.

The material that is used to make these natural-looking tank ornaments is non-toxic, food-grade ceramic, so it’s completely safe for your fish. The hideaways are stackable, too, enabling you to create an interesting aquascape in your betta’s habitat.

What we like:

• Natural-looking ornament
• Non-toxic and completely fish-friendly
• Comes in a two-pack, so excellent value for money
• No sharp edges that could injure your fish

Room for improvement:

• The proportions could be a little more generous to accommodate larger fish
• The outside of the ornament is quite rough, making it tricky to clean

Zoo Med Floating Betta Log

The Zoo Med Floating Betta Log is specially designed for betta fish. The log floats at the top of the water, so it’s a super-convenient hiding place for your upper-water-dwelling fishy friend. There’s also a feeding hole in the top of the hideout that enables your betta fish to enjoy his food unmolested by curious tankmates.

The log is generously proportioned, and there’s plenty of room inside it for a betta to build a bubble nest and raise a brood of fry in a safe, cocooned environment.

What we like:

• Natural-looking log design
• Floats at the top of the water in the betta’s preferred tank position
• Plenty of room for your fish, and no danger of him becoming trapped
• Smooth surfaces

Room for improvement:

• The log tends to float away if your filtration system generates a strong current. You can prevent that from happening by threading a piece of nylon thread through the log and securing it to the tank floor with a heavy stone.

Some users complained that the paint on the exterior of the log flaked off over time, leaving an oily residue on the surface of the water.

SpongeBob’s Pineapple House

SpongeBob’s Pineapple House is a cool tank ornament for anyone who’s a fan of the hit Nickelodeon show, SpongeBob!

The pineapple-shaped ornament is made from non-toxic resin and is tested as safe for aquarium use. The base is sturdy, so you won’t need to worry that the hideout will float away once you’ve put it in the tank.

The hideout is approximately 5 inches high, so it won’t take up too much space in your betta’s tank. The ornament is easy to clean; simply rinse it in tank water when you are cleaning out your aquarium.

What we like:

• Quirky design adds a touch of fun to your setup
• Made from non-toxic, durable resin

Room for improvement:

• Some users have complained that the holes are very small.
• The colors fade away over time, although the “distressed” look is popular with some betta owners.
• Some people have found a few sharp edges inside the pineapple hideout.

Why Does Your Betta Fish Need A Cave?

Well, there are several reasons. Betta fish are a freshwater species that is native to southeast Asia. There are 73 varieties of betta fish, but it’s the Betta splendens variety that enthusiasts keep as pets.

The first reason is that betta splendens come from the Mekong and Chao Phraya river basins in Thailand, where they live in pools of shallow, stagnant water, rice paddies, flood plains, and marshy areas. In these habitats, there are plenty of underwater tree roots, rocks, holes, and plants where the fish can take shelter to escape predators.

Betta fish in captivity are vulnerable to stress. A stressed-out betta is not a healthy betta, and your fishy friend may be susceptible to several serious health conditions if he doesn’t feel secure and safe in his home. Stress can be caused by aggressive tankmates, unsuitable water conditions, and incorrect feeding.

One highly effective way of preventing your betta from being affected by stress is to provide him with a cave in which he can hide away and feel safe.

Caves mimic what would be present in the betta’s natural habitat, and providing your fish with a suitable cave decoration is a sure-fire way of reducing stress and keeping him healthy.

Also, bettas dislike strong currents and water flow, and a secluded cave provides your fish with a sheltered, tranquil place to rest.

What To Look For When Choosing A Betta Fish Cave

So, your betta fish tank would definitely benefit from the addition of a cave or hideaway for your pet. But with so many designs to choose from, what features should you look out for, and what should you avoid?

Style

The style of the cave that you choose depends on your personal taste and on the design of your betta tank setup. Most people tend to go for something that looks natural and fits in well against a backdrop of living plants, driftwood, rocks, etc.

Safety

The most important things to look for when choosing a betta fish cave are sharp edges or rough areas that could injure your fish or even tear off his scales. An injured fish will become stressed and will almost certainly fall prey to harmful bacteria and disease that could ultimately kill him.

Run your finger around the inside of the cave to make sure that it is perfectly smooth. Sometimes, resin or ceramic ornaments have a few sharp edges as a result of the manufacturing process. You can remove the danger by filing away the sharp bits, using a file or some sandpaper.

Size of entry holes

Secondly, check the measurements of the ornament to be sure that the holes are large enough for your betta to fit through comfortably.

There have been many incidents of betta fish getting wedged inside ornaments and suffocating because they couldn’t make it up to the surface to breathe. The entry and exit holes in any betta hideout should measure at least 3 inches in diameter, preferably more.

Paint

Finally, it’s best to avoid caves that are finished with paint. Many times, especially with cheap ornaments that are mass-produced in China, the paint quickly flakes off, leaving potentially toxic waste in your betta’s tank.

Prepare and Test Your Betta Fish Cave

Before you add any ornaments to your aquarium, always wash it under warm, running water to remove any dust and residual chemicals that could harm your fish.

It’s also a good idea to put the ornament in a bowl of clean tap water and leave it there overnight. That way, you can check to make sure that there is no oily film on the water surface. If that is the case, do not put the cave into your betta setup!

DIY Betta Fish Caves

Not wanting to spend extra money at the pet store? We’ve got some easy DIY projects for you to create a cozy cave home for your fish friend.

Terracotta pots

Some people like to create their own betta caves by using terracotta plant pots. Now, although these might look natural and certainly do make an attractive ornament, terracotta pots are not safe to use in fish tanks.

There are many horror stories of betta fish trying to swim out of the small water hole in the bottom of a terracotta pot, only to become trapped in it. Owning to the manufacturing process, the edges of the water hole are extremely rough and sharp, and could potentially tear off your fish’s scales and rip his fins and tail.

That said, you could make the hole larger by using a drill to widen it, and then file away the edges, but we do recommend that you buy a purpose-made betta cave instead.

Old crockery

It’s also not advisable to add pieces of old crockery to the tank, either. Sometimes, the paint used to decorate such items is toxic to fish and could cause carnage in your tank if the paint leached chemicals into the water.

Driftwood, rocks, etc

Although it might seem like a good idea to create a hideout for your betta from pieces of driftwood or rocks that you have found in the natural environment, you must be very careful that you’re not introducing harmful pathogens into your tank.

Also, some rocks degrade underwater, potentially allowing unwanted salts and minerals to get into the tank water, upsetting the pH level, and compromising water quality. The same applies to pieces of natural wood, which could contain oils and sap that could harm your fish.

In Summary

Betta fish love to have somewhere safe where they can hide from other fish, escape the filter current, and just generally chill out. Be sure to check your betta fish cave for sharp edges that could cause injury to your fishy friend, and use only purpose-made tank ornaments, rather than natural items that could contain harmful chemicals or harbor bacteria.

We advise you to choose one of the hideouts that we’ve reviewed in this guide; betta safe than sorry!

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