Cockatoo Cichlid Dead!

[Le Sorcier]

I bought a pair recently and the male never settled. He died after a few weeks but the female has been fine.

A couple of months later I got a new male for the tank. Within days the female had died!!

WOuld it be a coincidence or could the male have killed her?

Thanks

 

[spectrum]

Can we have water parameters and tank size please?
Cockatoo Cichlids are only usually aggressive IMO when two males are together in a smallish tank (Less than 40g will usually result in aggression)

 

[Le Sorcier]

180l tank

 

[spectrum]

Do you know Ammonia/Nitrite/Nitrate
What is the pH of your tank. Apistogramma Cacatuoides like a low pH (Below 6)

 

[Le Sorcier]

The ph could be a problem. Mine is around 7. Would a bottle of "ph up" be any good?

My Ammonia etc is nil

 

[Wills]

Ph of 7 is fine but you dont want it to go any higher usually apistos like lower ph but 7 should be okay. If the male has tried it on with the female and she has rejected him a fight could have started and he over powered her.... Any other fish in the tank that could have been an issue in it?

 

[Le Sorcier]

Sorry I meant to say "ph down".

I have Boesmani, Blue and Dwarf Neon Rainbows, Black Ruby Barbs, Corys, Khulis, Polka Dot Loach and Plecs in there?

 

[Le Sorcier]

bump

 

[Wills]

I wouldnt use the ph chemicals they can sometimes go a bit haywire from what I hear it could also affect the fish if there is a sudden drop in ph but Im guessing you knew to stage it down gradually... You could consider using peat filtration but you have fish in there that need harder water like the rainbows.

Im going to guess that it was the male, apistos are often best kept in trios or harems with 1 male between multiple females to avoid what has happened here, if you want to keep females again try bringing 3 to the tank and seeing how that goes I think that should work fine however due to you having so many bottom dwellers you might have to thin the females to 2 later on once the male has picked his favorites so to say...

 

[Le Sorcier]

ok, my local shop has 2 females.

Maybe I should go for them?

 

[saz326]

If you do decide to get the 2 new females then I suggest you introduce some new caves or temporary hiding places for them to retreat into if the male gets boysterous. Plenty of plants to break up line of sight are also a good idea so that the chased fish gets a chance to dissappear out of sight and out of mind for a while.

I actually used small ceramic cups (espresso cups with handles) when I introduced my last new cichlids to provide habitat that no other fish had already claimed territory in. The cups were removed around 4 days later when I performed a gravel clean and moved rocks around to change the tank layout. All the fish then had to set up new territories so the new guys got a chance to choose somewhere for themselves.

 

[Le Sorcier]

Thanks.

I'm planning a decor change soon. I already have a big cave and a ceramic pot (like a bird box).

Should be ok?