Cacatuoides monogamous

[apisto_shores]

Are cacatuoides monogamous? I have a pair that have breed in a ten gallon
and I removed the male to my 125 gal that is heavily planted with a different
cacatuoides female and among 3 other different apisto pairs and since I have
put him in this tank I have not seen him. He is the largest fish in the tank,
so I don't think it would be due to aggression. This is the first successful
breeding pair I have had, is this normal behaviour for the male. I'm concerned.

 

[Mike Wise]

Just because he is the largest apisto doesn't mean that will be able to establish a territory quickly. The other apistos probably already have the tank divided among themselves. It may take some time for the cacatuoides male to establish a territory & start breeding. For a polygamous species they are not especially aggressive.