ZebraPleco.com • The complete Hypancistrus zebra resource

I've heard from several people now that their males have had a female trapped in the cave for days - several times, but nothing comes from it.

This is also the way my Zebras have behaved for the last three months. I don't even get excitied anymore when I see my male have a female trapped in the cave, it's happened so many times now without it resulting in eggs that it's starting to get normal

So why does this happen? Anybody have any thoughts about this? They obiously want to, and try their best to make it happen, but it seems that extra little bit for success is missing.

What do you think?

Last 2 months my zebras behave like this also.
I don't know exactly the cause of it but i can guess that probably the female is not at the 'time' of breeding probably cause the eggs inside her are not fully matured in order to be layed.

Last year when i open the bellys of my two pregnant females (that died) i found a great ammount of ready-to-be-layed eggs but i also found some that where very little probably where there for the feature spawns.

As i can tell from my expirience on piranhas,the female has eggs inside her all the time but not mature eggs unless in case of breeding.

The conlusion from that is that it is probably not the 'right' time for the female.....