Mangrove Root Cave Hide | Aquarium, Vivarium and Terrarium Decor

Ready to use, install or paint. Your piece is 3D printed in your chosen filament colour and supplied unpainted. Enjoy it as it is or paint it to create your own finish.

A flowing, organic centrepiece inspired by natural mangrove root systems. Its open structure and negative space add depth to an aquarium, terrarium or tabletop layout without overwhelming it.

Unlike dense stump-style hides, its raised, intertwined root arches let fish swim through freely while still offering several sheltered zones. It suits species that prefer partial cover rather than enclosed caves.

At a glance

• Sizes: two sizes, see below. Custom sizes on request.
• Material: PETG, made for aquariums and terrariums. Resists water, humidity and heat lamps.
• Floats: Printed PETG pieces can float because they contain air. For aquarium use, secure the base with aquarium-safe silicone or a suitable aquarium adhesive as described under “Good to know”.
• Safety: PETG is deemed safe for plants, fish, insects, reptiles and animals.
• Finish: unpainted, in the colour of your choice.
• Made to order: ships within 7 business days.
• Free shipping: free delivery to Canada, the US and select European countries. Duties and import fees to Canada and the US are prepaid by us.

Sizes

Dimensions are width x height.

• Size 1: 22 x 12 cm (8.7 x 4.7 in)
• Size 2: 22.9 x 22.9 cm (9.0 x 9.0 in)

Need a different size? Custom sizes are available. Contact us with the dimensions you want for a quote.

Details

• Open root architecture: interconnected arches for swimming through and exploring.
• Many entrances, which helps reduce territorial stress in fish.
• The open shape helps water circulate and keeps fish visible, while still leaving real hiding spaces.
• Wide base for stability that does not block too much substrate.
• Blends with plants, stones and driftwood. Especially good in planted tanks, where the roots work naturally with stem plants and epiphytes, and in Southeast Asian or riverbank-style aquascapes.
• A centrepiece in smaller tanks or an accent structure in larger aquariums and enclosures.

Where it works

Aquariums, planted tanks and aquascapes, terrariums, paludariums, and tabletop gaming.

Colours

First choose a finish (Basic, Matte, Marble, Sparkly/Galaxy/Metallic or Glow-in-the-Dark), then pick a colour from that finish. Sparkly/Galaxy/Metallic includes our Galaxy, Sparkly and Metallic colours. There are 89 PETG colours in total, and the colour charts at the end of the photos show each one. Want something that is not listed? Contact us and we will try to source it.

Quality and care

Printed slowly at high resolution with thick walls, so it is sturdier than most printed decor. Fine layer lines and small variations are normal and make each piece unique. PETG is non-toxic and easy to clean with soap or alcohol. Colours can look slightly different on screen.

Good to know

• Anchoring in an aquarium: Bond the base to a flat stone or acrylic sheet with aquarium-safe silicone, or with hot glue or cyanoacrylate superglue specifically suitable for aquarium use. Follow the adhesive manufacturer’s surface preparation and full curing instructions before placing it in the aquarium. Where the design allows, a few small holes through the underside into enclosed air pockets let water in and air out, reducing buoyancy.

• Measure the inside of your enclosure before ordering, and leave a little room for installation.
• Some photos show hand-painted examples. This piece ships unpainted.

Design licensed to Molten Modern by Crizzy Designs.