Ap. trifasciata

[Apisto Mike]

I have 3 female trifasciatas in with one male in a 20 gallon. For the past few days now the females have been courting the male constantly but he will not breed with them. The most I have seen was the male going into the flowerpot of the #1 dominant female with her and pretty much just flutter some fins for a coupleof seconds. This is starting to frustrate me as I am having no problems with getting my cacatuoides and eunotus to breed, plus the female tri's are just throwing themselves on the male. Is there anything I can do to straighten out my male or is he a dud? The tank is a 20 standard, some floating plants, java moss, ludwigia. Diet is Daphnia, Blood Worms, Brine Shrimp, and Mysis Shrimp. Temp is around 77*f, pH approx. 6.4.

Also I was wondering if there is any info on the breeding of Ap. eremnopyge as I am planning on getting a couple pairs. Thanks.

 

[depthc]

Your male may still be young. It will take time for him to spawn properly each time.

You say he just fluttered his fins a little bit well from what ive witnessed this is all it takes to fertalize the eggs. Keep an eye on them and if the female has been in the cave for a few days most likely the eggs have been fertalized.

So just give him some time before you pronounce him a 'dud'. Good luck.

Andrew

 

[Apisto Mike]

The male from what I understand is in between a yr and a yr and half old. As I said for the past three days now, the females have been harassing him constantly to breed. And still I have not seen any females lay eggs. nor have I seen eggs inside of flowerpots. The only reason I am concerend at all; is it seems that with my eunotus, cacatuoides, and iniridae, all the females have to do is display once and the males are inside the flowerpot spawning with them. Even young males.

 

[Apistt_ed]

The male trifasciata can be very aggressive when it comes to spawning and females who aren't ready to spawn. In your case, he's just not showing interest at all. If he is between a year and a half old, then he is more than "mature" enough to spawn. my trifasciatas spawn at about just under 8 months in some males. What might be happening is that the pressures of one male with your three females could be overwhelming for him. I would say isolate one of the females away from the tank to see how he reacts to the lone 2 females. In a 20 long, I would separate it so the two remaining females are on the opposite sides from each other. It might seem that if the male is constantly being courted by these females all at the same time, he might get ahead of himself like some of mine do in the community tanks I set up for just specific species that I have. Once you notice that the females are bulging with eggs and are near spawning, do a water change with slightly colder water, and R/O is best for this IMO. The sudden drop in a few degrees should stimulate him to be interested enough for the male to spawn with the female that is " more ripe." Also, with just two females, the one that is being paid attention to at the moment will also drive the other female out of the immediate spawning site and then the male should be all attentitive to the ready female. Trifasciatas aren't the most difficult of apistos to spawn and hopefully they'd do their thing for you. Good luck. keep us posted... good luck. john

 

[Apisto Mike]

All the females are ripe to the point of looking like they are about to explode. Only two of the females are actively courting the male, as they keep the third female well away from him. I will give the coldwater water change a try to see if that is his viagra, if not have to find something else. Or maybe I will have to find a home fo him in San Francisco.

 

[Apisto Mike]

He finally proved he was a stud and not a dud, one female is guarding frshly laid eggs, a couple hrs old, and the male is already courting female #2.

 

[Cichlid Junkie]

It sounds like he found his grove!

 

[Apistt_ed]

congrats! Let us know how those eggs turn out also!

 

[Apisto Mike]

I will keep you guys updated. So far only one female has layed a clutch. I was able to spot them looking down into the flowerpot from above. I an see probably 15-20 eggs, all ovoid and a white color ( I hope they aren't fungused) I am really happy now though since my eunotus have just spawned again.