Cockatoo pair making whoopie

[jollysue]

When I came in this morning the Lady was lemon aide yellow with no dark stripes showing. The Gent was very dark with his bright orange fins. She had her nose up to his face rubbing on him. He was just leading her around. Next thing he was very dark peering out of a drift wood cave looking just a bit menacing. A few moments later she had her little lemon ade head out of a hole in the drift wood with him right by. She was shivering and shaking all over.

I haven't a clue what to do next.

I think I'll wait awhile to rearrange the driftwood.

Edit: We had an unexpected summer storm last night. Temps cooled down for the first time in a couple of months from triple digits. It cooled at least 20 degrees. Think that had some impact?

 

[jollysue]

She just came and got him and took him back to the cave a second(?) time. She fawns on him. She reminds me of a submissive dog.

 

[Griz]

Congrats!

Mating behaviour in Apistos is a real treat to watch. It's certainly possible that the temperature change triggered them. I would leave the tank decor alone, keep up with water changes and enjoy. Good luck and I hope all goes well with your pair.

 

[pnyklr3]

Some girls will go completely yellow, and others will be velvety black. They could be laying eggs, or just going through the motions right now.

I have also read that you can "trigger" a cockatoo to spawn by adding cooler water to the tank during a water change. It is supposed to simulate the "rainy season." I'm sure Peter will be in here to say if that's right or not!

 

[jollysue]

Thanks for your good words, wishes, and interest.

I can't really see if she's in the cave she took him to a couple of times. He is busy patroling the tank and checking out his other two girls. My new young BN are very busy cleaning everything and frequently the driftwood. One BN has worked on her cave a couple of times, but I haven't seen any response from her or him. He is visible tonight, but she hasn't been out as yet.

Do I just let things take their course or do I plan an intervention at some time? The tank is large and lots of decor. I don't know if I could do much.

Of course the temp is fairly constant because of the air conditioning. I thought changes in barametric pressure could affect them. It affects me. (Although not in the same way. )

 

[Griz]

I'm going to assume that we're talking about the 100gal in your profile? Raising fry in a community tank will be difficult. However, attempting to remove them could prove just as tough. You would need a tank set up for them in advance anyway. You really have to ask if you want to raise up the fry or not and if so you will need a seperate tank for that. Cockatoos are fairly easy to breed if you are so inclined. The mating, nesting and rearing of the young is fascinating to watch. If you do successfully remove the fry you would miss out observing the female care for the young. I have a community tank with a trio of cockatoos myself and have decided to let nature take it's course in there - meaning that if the tankmates don't get the eggs, they eventually pick off the fry. I have heard of fry surviving in a community tank so although it's unlikely, it IS possible. My advice is to leave things alone and enjoy - even though you know what the eventual outcome is likely to be and read up on breeding cockatoos and see if it's something you want to try.

 

[pnyklr3]

I also let nature take its course in my tank. If your female is guarding eggs, she will not let anything close to her cave. She will stay inside, or poke her head out to survey. I had a clown loach search for leftovers a little too close to a cave, and the female darted out, either nipped or just rammed him, and the loach took off. She was out and back in very quickly. She didn't even stray far from the entrance to eat (I had to let food drop towards her way for her to eat at all).

It will probably take your female a couple of tries to get it right. Many are "bad mothers" at first and eat the eggs or wrigglers.

 

[jollysue]

Yes, at this point I had pretty much decided to let nature take it's course from the beginning, or I wouldn't have them in a community tank. Still I want to give them every chance.

She has come out a couple of times to chase usually the other females. This morning she is no where to be seen, not even her nose sticking out. I'm not overly optimistic. She doesn't seem to react when the peppers or the Bn come around. Even when the glolights have been around picking food off the driftwood she doesn't seem to notice.

But I'm glad they won't give up if they don't succeed this time. And that they will be on a learning curve. I figure some fry in life make it. So survival of the...well you know. My idea is to have a few colonies of cockatoos and sparklers and honeys mixed in the community tank. It's just a bonus if there are some offspring of anything at this point.

But I have found the cockatoos interesting from the day they came home on the recommendation of the lfs as an interesting addition to a community tank. When I finish some of the projects I already have going, then we'll see if I want to take the breeding thing seriously.

To be honest I've thought more in lines of breeding the Orange BN if there is a pair, because I haven't seen any of them at the lfs.

I've raised many litters of cats and dogs. I've seen the good the bad and the ugly mother.

 

[lucky62]

Me 4 , nature takes it's course , depending on what other fish live in the lower areas , and how many there are , fry have a chance at survival .