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we have got 2 females and 2 males and have had them in this set up for about 1yr, the 2 males cave all the time and the females are more active but there has not been any sign of breeding as yet. Can you see anything wrong with the set up or could it be the number of fish we have got that is wrong?

water temp 29-30
ph -6.5

4 hrs of light given daily, the tank is situated in the front room where there is natural light, is this a problem?

maybe add in fine gravel and more diftwood and a powerhead for more waterflow

The floor of the xingu is primerily made up of rounded rocks, crevises and a sandy substrate, allowing Hypancistrus zebra to travel throughout it's territory under cover from preditors.

Fewer slate caves and some rocks and wood instead might help.

How old/big are the fish and have you done anything re dry/rainy seasons for them to try and trigger spawning?

This set up works for Me.

hi looks like the slate caves are to big!!
the round caves not to bad
the male needs to be able to block the entrance
from the pic looks like 1 male in the slate cave with the smallest entrance
i would down size the caves and have rocks between them to to brake the areas up a bit !!
just my opinion .

Hi guys, I would tend to agree with Mikey boy but then it works for zeb-plecos-fxu so that proves no sicence
Patience is whats needed, I am still waiting for fish to breed years on, it all depends on the fish & again no sicence.
In my large tank nearly a yr & half on I have had a few trappings but no spawns.
Your fish are all mature enough & should be well conditioned to breed, I have been lucky enougth to have some of mine breed in the living room with a boistrous 4 yr old running round & that dosen't bother them!, so I don't think that is a problem.
Have you tried to trigger them as TTA suggested?
Good luck