When is a male too old?

[cdawson]

A what point is a male too old to spawn? M
My pair of cacatuoides has just STOPPED spawning abrubtly and I think it's because my male is too old. He looks like most pics of very old males do but I've only had him about 5 months. Although he is wild caught and definately max size.

 

[depthc]

I dont think that would be the case if they have just stopped. I believe they will still go at it. My pair have seemed to stop doing anything for some time but they are dancing tonight so maybe they just need to be conditioned a bit with various foods and water changes.

Andrew

 

[cdawson]

They already get that all of the time. It doesn't make any sense why they've stopped other than my male is too old. Since I don't know his exact age and he's been max size for a long time it's very possible.

 

[Mike Wise]

5 year old males have regularly spawned for me. I alway preferred using older male A. bitaeniata with younger females because older males (>3 years old) become lazy & don't distract the females as bad as younger ones. Sometimes a pair just needs a rest between broods. I find that the fish live longer (especially females) is they aren't allowed to continuously breed.

 

[cdawson]

5 year old males have regularly spawned for me. I alway preferred using older male A. bitaeniata with younger females because older males (>3 years old) become lazy & don't distract the females as bad as younger ones. Sometimes a pair just needs a rest between broods. I find that the fish live longer (especially females) is they aren't allowed to continuously breed.

I think I'll seperate them. She did just provide me with 4 large spawns.