Male Cacatuoides Keep Dieing?

[NathanPrince]

Hey guys, been attempting to breed these little guys for a few months now and have 2 really nice girls but I've gone through 3 males in as many months, only lasting a couple weeks at a time and they are from a reputable LFS and a gold strain from a breeder on here (who I got my 2 very nice strong females from I may add)

Now they all die of the same symptoms too, they are very healthy and strong when I get them, I feed them a varied healthy diet and change my water frequently (always testing the same day and the day after changes) but after say 2 or 3 weeks they hide in a cave or similar for around 3-4days not eating or even coming out then when they finally show their faces they are really skinny and weak looking I remove them and put them in QT and try to target feed them crushed up flakes and bloodworm but they dont eat it and would usually die within 24 hours?

Why is this happening as I'd really like to breed these guys as they are beautiful fish but I don't wanna sacrafice anymore males til I know whats happening.

Thanks

 

[KkAaNnEe]

They may possibly being bullied by the females? Have you tried removing the two females, putting new male in and rescaping, then adding the two females back

 

[BigbruiserAl]

Ph of the tank please? Do the 2 females have their breeding colours on? and tank size ?

 

[NathanPrince]

First 2 males were in on their own, no females. Cant quite remember the PH, will check tomorrow for you! Females have only shown breeding colours once for about 2 days and its a Rio 125 tank, heavily planted with around 6-7 little cave areas plus extra hiding spaces with wood etc.

 

[NathanPrince]

My PH is between 7.0 and 7.6, is that normal? I noticed on a care sheet it says between 6.5 and 8.0 so im bang in the middle aren't I?

Using alder cones but don't mind adding leaf litter or peat or whatevers needed to lower/raise it if needed.

 

[BigbruiserAl]

I not known them to breed above 7-7.2 ph, not saying it cant be done ofc. Of my limited breeding these guys i cant stress how harem's have never are a good starting point. 1 on 1 is t best for these guys.

 

[NathanPrince]

Hmm Maybe I could do something to get it a little lower? I really wanna breed these little guys.

See I was gonna do that but everywhere I read about breeding said to use a Trio, I don't wanna get rid of either of my females though because they are both lovely little fish lol, may take one out and put in my other tank just to see how a 1 on 1 pair get on?

Cheers

 

[BigbruiserAl]

Hmm Maybe I could do something to get it a little lower? I really wanna breed these little guys.

See I was gonna do that but everywhere I read about breeding said to use a Trio, I don't wanna get rid of either of my females though because they are both lovely little fish lol, may take one out and put in my other tank just to see how a 1 on 1 pair get on?

Cheers

well i have gone through about 200 odd of these guys and have lost 2 females and 1 male to harems all separate times. The females will fight to death and no matter how many holes/caves or line of sights i broke they would find each other and fight. The one male lost was due to both females simply having enough of him pestering them after the eggs hatched and beat him to death. Never lost any fish 1 on 1 or even in my 250L where i had 30+ cacs in a species tank

 

[NathanPrince]

May get 2 males and have a pair in each of my Rio's then and try that. I never saw my males get bullied though but they stll died, could it just be bad luck coming in 3's?