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I think my female is stuck in the back of the cave. Its been 13 days and she doesn't look so good. Very pale looking. What should I do?

I reckon if it can get in the cave it should be able to get out.

Is it a tight fit? What is the with of the cave? What is the width of the fish.

Also when mating they can lose some of the colour, the stripes come back after a few days after they have finished mating.

13 days seem a long time, is the male still going in the cave?

And finally are you sure it's a female, as I've only known males loooking after eggs or fry stay in the cave that long. Also if you have ever tried to remove a male to raise the young artificially you would think that it's stuck.

As a last resort if the cave is siliconed, with care you can dismantle it, prising open with a blunt knife. But really this is a last resort.

Dave

About 2- 3 years ago I had a huge driftwood in my tank and they would go inside for a couple of days and i wouldnt see them but after ahile i thought it was normal. Until a month went by and never saw one of them! I took the whole driftwood out and there it was...dead! I think it starved to death because it couldnt get out! IMO....if she looks bad and it looks like there is something prohibiting her from getting out I would try to get her out. Just be careful because they spread there fins against the walls of the cave if they dont want to get out and then you might make the situation even worse!

Thanks for the comments guys, but I have bad news. She is dead and I am really upset.

I know I will not be able to find another female. I've been trying and offered to pay good money too.

I am so sorry for your loss khblock
Did you get her out of the cave or did you find her outside of it?

She was inside the cave. I thought I would have a hard time getting her out and had a spoon ready but when I inverted the cave and shook it she came out in my hand.

I posted a request for a female in the Wants section, but I doubt I'll find anyone willing to sell one.

I am just sick about it.

Im very sorry!!! So maybe it wasnt stuck in the cave and died from other reasons. I have heard from others that sometimes the mating process can be brutal! Now is this the female that was breeding with your male? I ask because I noticed another female tried to get in the males cave and he chewed her tail off!! So maybe this is a secondary female trying to get in the action????

Once again, im sorry!

This was my only female.

I didn't see any injuries. She did look like she hadn't eaten in a while. I hadn't noticed anyone acting sick and I check on them everyday.

When a fish stucks in somewhere, it takes only few hours to die on stress. I lost one of my females couple of years ago, she was stucked between two rocks by her neck.

She was in the cave for 13 days I think. So I don't really know how long she was in was actually stuck. I really hate she died but I think what upsets me the most is I'm afraid she suffered.

I'm down to 2 babies, four males and no females. I'll continue to look for females. I can't bring myself the sell my males I still love this "sexy" little fish. Hopefully in a couple of years or so more zebras will be available and hopefully by then I will be able to pick up a female or two.

Thanks for the kind remarks and PMs.

Only just seen this thread. So sorry for your loss, it must be devestating.

I hope your find another female soon.

Plastic Mac

hi khblock

I'm sorry about the female, but by the sounds of things as others have suggested she my have been dead before you realised ,and in which case there was probably nothing you could do.

Due to the Physiology of the zebra, unlike many other fish, when they die they can retain their shape and colouration. They may go a little faint but for the first few days that's about it.

I hope you find another.

How confident are you that all remaining fish are males?

rob

How confident are you that all remaining fish are males?

Pretty much 99%. The males have a slightly pointer head, the pectotrial fins are hairy (thicker than my female was) and the pectotrial fins are straighter than the female's was and the fact they each have staked out a cave entrance. I know from science there are exceptions to the rule...that's why the 99%.

They are about 3 years old and it was pretty easy to sex them at this size when I checked them against the species page. Remember I still have two fry from my fist spawn (one died . ). They are too small to sex.

Thanks Rob for your concern.

Hi KH...

I am really sorry for your loss. I hope you find the female you're looking for.

Have you tried Aquabid? You might have some success...