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Potential good sign!
Posted: Fri Oct 29, 2004 8:40 am
by Barbie
My subdominant male that was so badly mauled when I removed the fry from my big male has been recuperating in a 20 gallon long that I had quarantined a pair of L333 in. Last week I decided to go through the 3 "spare" grow out zebras and discovered that the largest of them was what I thought was female. I added her to the tank, and she's been just casually hanging out, eating and not really plumping up much, but still obviously healthy.
This evening she's in the cave with the male! I seriously doubt they're doing anything, no way I could get that lucky, but at least I take it as a sign that she IS female! He'd been hanging out at the cave door in invitation, but I was almost afraid to hope when I couldn't find her in the tank. I'll keep everyone updated if they do more than flirt 
Barbie
Posted: Fri Oct 29, 2004 9:37 am
by zeberdy
Barbie...just getting mine in a cave together would be a dream come true
I think the cave size may be a problem so do you have any measurements that you can give me in inches...Like I have said before I seem to have it right for the queens but the Zebs is another story.
Posted: Fri Oct 29, 2004 9:56 am
by Rob
Nice Barbie
You never know, you may have found a match made in heaven!! You might just be lucky.
(Zeberdy, as a general rule, for fully grown zebras I make my caves as
1" High, 2" wide and 4" long. These are all internal measurements.)
good luck guys
Posted: Fri Oct 29, 2004 9:58 am
by zeberdy
Thanks Rob
I'm off to get my tile cutter out and will have caves by the end of the day!
Posted: Fri Oct 29, 2004 2:46 pm
by Barbie
My caves are 1.5" wide, just over an inch tall, and 6 inches long, inside dimensions. I actually had strips cut in one inch, 1.25 inches, 1.5 inches and 2, all in 6 inch lengths and I made 8 caves in different shapes, cured them and let the zebras tell me which ones they like
There is a kid at fishaholics that asked me how I wanted caves shaped if he was to fire some in a pottery class, and danged if his design doesn't look perfect, with a nicely fitting back door and everything! I'll tell you how they work after I get a few
Barbie
Posted: Fri Oct 29, 2004 5:03 pm
by zeberdy
Thanks Barbie..I made a couple to robs size earlier today..are yours the internal sizes? If so I will make some at your sizes as well and see which they choose.
Thanks to both of you for the info and from the measurements you have both given my caves were way too big.
Posted: Sat Oct 30, 2004 5:33 am
by Barbie
Yep, inside dimensions 
The female is still in the cave with the male this evening, but he's backing towards the door, so who knows if they're going to do anything!
Barbie
Posted: Sun Oct 31, 2004 2:04 am
by Matrix99
That sounds like more babies to me !!!
Good Luck !!!!
Posted: Sun Oct 31, 2004 6:19 am
by Barbie
Nope, durnit, he kicked her out today with no production! Oh well, he's also hanging out at the door now, like he'd like her to come visit again, so maybe it was just a test drive and they'll get serious at some point
Barbie
Posted: Sun Nov 07, 2004 6:36 pm
by Barbie
They went back into the cave the 1st of November, and have been in there all this time. Is there a possibility that he'd do her harm rather than let her go? Has anyone had experience with males just plain not letting the females out?
Barbie
Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2004 11:25 am
by Rob
Hi Barbie
I've had a problem with the male not letting the female out for some time. He kept one of them in for 7 days, before letting her escape, without spaning. She was a little skinny, but no harm done.
If you are worried about her, I've found a 20% water change, reducing the temp by 2-3 degrees seems to get her out.
good luck
rob
Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2004 4:27 pm
by Barbie
LOL Great minds. I tried that yesterday. She's still in there though. I actually used RO water and dropped the temp 6 degrees in the tank. I'm not sure she's mature enough to spawn anyway, but he's insistent on her staying in that cave til she puts out! I may go ahead and swipe him a female from the big colony. It's obvious he'd love to be a father at this point.
Barbie
Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2004 9:47 pm
by fishboy20
Sounds like they are trying to spawn. Maybe those more mature females will show that other female how it is done. Hope they spawn for ya! I know I am hopefuly mine do again very soon.
Posted: Sun Nov 14, 2004 8:08 am
by Barbie
Well he let her out for a day, and now she's back in there, so obviously she wasn't hating the idea TOO badly. On another note, the original spawning male is back in the cave with a new girlfriend, so keep your fingers crossed!
Barbie
Posted: Sun Dec 05, 2004 6:30 pm
by Barbie
Just as an update, this is the picture of the subdominant male and his woman friend. They appear to have taken up cohabitation, and she has no intention of leaving his cave. Dang fish. I just recently was told that there was a successful spawn where the female never left the cave at all, but I can see under these two and haven't seen any tails appear at least. My L260 females will fight to get back IN with the males quite often and hang out just behind him if he'll allow it (only one will), but they've never been the fish at the back of the cave.
On a side note, the dominant males spawn resulted in 14 fry this time. That's a pretty good jump from his last one of 10, and the 5 and 7 he managed the first couple times. Hopefully he can keep it up.
Barbie