Female cockatoo Apisto question!

[silver dollars]

My female cockatoo apisto has turned yellow, and every time a fish swims by the cave that her and the male stay in, she puffs up her mouth like there is alot of air in it and chases them off. Is this a sign of them breeding???

 

[emilyelizabeth]

It certainly is a sign that she has chosen a nest site to guard. Now it's up to the male to do his thing. If you're lucky and your male doesn't eat your female (mine always seemed to do that... sigh) you might have some fry soon

 

[silver dollars]

Yay!!!! I can't wait for them to have eggs!!!

 

[silver dollars]

How long does it take for the eggs to hatch?

 

[GIS Guy]

Send me some wheened Apistos?

 

[emilyelizabeth]

I don't know how long it takes for them to hatch to be honest - my male definitely ate all my females before I ever got any babies. It was quite tragic too because he's was a stunning specimen.

I think 4-5 days is the hatching time once you have eggs, but the female will have to take care of them for a while after that. If she eats them this time, be patient. I have heard that they get to be better mothers over time.

 

[emilyelizabeth]

Here, I thought this was a good link:

http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/apistogramma_cacatuoides.php

 

[TheFool]

5 days approx depending on the temps. Sounds like you're on track - I would usually have the female disappear, then reappear with fry

 

[silver dollars]

She does spend most of her time either in the cave, by the cave, or chasing the other Apistos off. So hopefully she will have fry...