Black Widow Channoides

[Mudskipper]

I have a concern. I have this particular female channoides. She chose her first male a while back, they spawned. He looked like he was brooding, stopped eating and died in a few days. I put her back in the community tank and she chose another male. Last week, I separated them and they spawned. He stopped eating and today, he died. My other pairs are all self-paired in the community tank and now in tanks of their own. They seem to be doing well.

Am just worried that if I place her with another male, the same thing will happen.

Is this a case of three times lucky or once shame on her, twice shame on me? Should I take the risk? Can't really afford to lose any more.

[Jitticus]

I think it's a matter of coincidence. You might want to check your water parameters if the male keeps dying. Brooding places extra stress on the males, which in turn may make them more susceptible to fungal or bacterial infection in an otherwise healthy fish.

[Gggold]

Good luck, sad to know the males keep dying