Female stuck in cave?

If it isn't to late, and you're desperately looking for some advice, hopefully someone can help you out.

Post Reply
User avatar
khblock
Obsessed!!
Posts: 150
Joined: Mon Jan 16, 2006 4:40 am
Location: Columbus, GA USA
Contact:

Female stuck in cave?

Post by khblock »

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?
http://www.blockstyle.com
http://www.bestfriends.com
http://worldwildlifefund.org
http://www.oceanconservancy.org
dave
Obsessed!!
Posts: 328
Joined: Mon Nov 21, 2005 6:58 pm
Location: liverpool

Hi

Post by dave »

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
User avatar
jerms55555
Obsessed!!
Posts: 360
Joined: Wed Dec 22, 2004 6:50 pm
Location: Los Angeles

Post by jerms55555 »

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!
User avatar
khblock
Obsessed!!
Posts: 150
Joined: Mon Jan 16, 2006 4:40 am
Location: Columbus, GA USA
Contact:

Post by khblock »

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

I know I will not be able to find another female. I've been trying and offered to pay good money too. :cry:
http://www.blockstyle.com
http://www.bestfriends.com
http://worldwildlifefund.org
http://www.oceanconservancy.org
User avatar
zebrastorey
Obsessed!!
Posts: 205
Joined: Wed Nov 16, 2005 11:27 pm
Location: Northamptonshire UK

Post by zebrastorey »

I am so sorry for your loss khblock :cry:
Did you get her out of the cave or did you find her outside of it?
User avatar
khblock
Obsessed!!
Posts: 150
Joined: Mon Jan 16, 2006 4:40 am
Location: Columbus, GA USA
Contact:

Post by khblock »

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.
http://www.blockstyle.com
http://www.bestfriends.com
http://worldwildlifefund.org
http://www.oceanconservancy.org
User avatar
jerms55555
Obsessed!!
Posts: 360
Joined: Wed Dec 22, 2004 6:50 pm
Location: Los Angeles

Post by jerms55555 »

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!
User avatar
khblock
Obsessed!!
Posts: 150
Joined: Mon Jan 16, 2006 4:40 am
Location: Columbus, GA USA
Contact:

Post by khblock »

This was my only female. :cry:

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.
http://www.blockstyle.com
http://www.bestfriends.com
http://worldwildlifefund.org
http://www.oceanconservancy.org
User avatar
inia
Groupie
Posts: 64
Joined: Thu Oct 06, 2005 3:06 pm
Location: Finland
Contact:

Post by inia »

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.
User avatar
khblock
Obsessed!!
Posts: 150
Joined: Mon Jan 16, 2006 4:40 am
Location: Columbus, GA USA
Contact:

Post by khblock »

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. :cry: :cry:

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.
http://www.blockstyle.com
http://www.bestfriends.com
http://worldwildlifefund.org
http://www.oceanconservancy.org
User avatar
Plastic Mac
Mentally Certified!
Posts: 725
Joined: Mon Aug 08, 2005 12:23 pm
Location: Hertfordshire, UK

Post by Plastic Mac »

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

I hope your find another female soon.

Plastic Mac
User avatar
Rob
Hypan-guru!
Posts: 1568
Joined: Sun Sep 19, 2004 11:50 am
Location: Southwest Scotland
Contact:

Post by Rob »

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
The perfect white lie..."Of course I didn't pay that much for the fish honey"
User avatar
khblock
Obsessed!!
Posts: 150
Joined: Mon Jan 16, 2006 4:40 am
Location: Columbus, GA USA
Contact:

Post by khblock »

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 . :cry: ). They are too small to sex.

Thanks Rob for your concern.
http://www.blockstyle.com
http://www.bestfriends.com
http://worldwildlifefund.org
http://www.oceanconservancy.org
User avatar
madmoroccan
Obsessed!!
Posts: 323
Joined: Thu Feb 16, 2006 6:21 pm
Location: Hertfordshire, UK

Post by madmoroccan »

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...
[img]http://www.geocities.com/madmoroccan/zebcam.jpg[/img]
Post Reply