FishProfiles.com Message Forums

2 of my 4 Blue Rams spawned recently.

I'm not sure when they did because I am not at my dad's house every day, which is where the tank is. But they may have spawned yesterday.

I came over today to find 2 of the Rams diligently gaurding a rock I used to weight down a piece of driftwood. Upon further inspection I saw little white spheres (partly because I was wondering why the female was just sitting there beating her pectoral fins fiercly towards the edge of the rock) There is about a nickle-sized circle of eggs, and I believe there are more on the lower part of the rock as the Rams will frequent that spot, looking like they are fanning.

There are 10 Cory Cats and 2 other Blue Rams in the tank.

So my question is, when will the eggs hatch and what should I do? Will the other fish eat the eggs or do you think that the Rams could hold them off? I'm going to leave one tank light on, or a light in the room on overnight to ensure they can see the eggs to protect them. Moving the eggs to another tank is not an option, I had no idea my Rams would spawn only 1 and a half weeks after getting them so I have no back up tanks even unpacked from our move yet. If and when the eggs hatch, what would be a good thing to feed them? Could I grind up my current food or should I buy Hikari first bites (I have heard that they are good for Ram fry). I do not have access to live food.

This is their first spawn so they may eat the eggs, but so far it seems good.


Last edited by Tetra Fan at 15-Dec-2005 17:49

Congratulations. It will generally take a pair upwards of three spawns to get it right.
I wouldn't worry too much if the eggs disappear as they will probably lay again soon.

You said that the eggs were white. Are they yellow/orange or white? If they are white it means that they are not fertilised and will fungus and disappear. Good eggs are yellow/orange colour.

If you really want to raise the fry you will need a separate tank. Even if the eggs do hatch, the parents will only be able to guard them for so long before they become cory/ram food.

Good luck.

Yeah, most are white but I don't have any good angles to look at the eggs so I guess I will just have to wait.

Well, seems like I may have to wait to actually raise fry as there is no way to set up an extra tank right now, but it's good to know the Rams like my water

Thanks

I think there's a good chance that the other rams and possibly the cories will eat any fish that hatch from the eggs. Though German rams are good parents, they aren't as fierce as many other cichlids (kribs, convicts, blue acaras, etc.) and will have trouble guarding a spawn in a confined community tank. I don't know if I'd leave any extra lights on at night either; though it may help the fish see, the parents do need rest and I don't think there's a need to disrupt the normal photoperiod. It might make it tougher for you to get to sleep as well.

I definitely agree in that another tank for just the fry would be needed. They'll be safe from predators there, and can be directly fed without interference from other fish. I think that the Hikari food should be fine for the young rams, as well as infusoria. Good job with the spawning.

Last edited by sirbooks at 15-Dec-2005 21:18

---

And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

Congratulations, but i don't think that alot of fry will survive, due to the other fish in the same tank. Try to get another tank, at least for the fry.
Hikari first bites will be fine for Rams, but next time prepair some Infusoria & Microworms.



http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/s8xi5heh/my_photos
http://www.geocities.com/s8xi5heh/classic_blue.html
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/buzaqq/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/corydoras/
Member of the Malta Aquarist Society - 1970.
http://www.maltaaquarist.com

I've had spawning rams kill otocinclus and guppies before . They can be quite protective.

In any case, try not to, uh, "view" them as much as you're hankering to. I've found microgeos to be more skittish in regards to eating up the eggs than many other dwarves.

Well they did eat the eggs this spawn. Hopefully next time I will have another tank to move the eggs to.

As for viewing them, I did keep my distance...my couch is positioned perpendicular to the tank a few feet away and I can lay down and watch them. I wasn't even at my dad's house the day they ate them, so I think they may ahve gotten nervous.

Maybe next time

Cool. Good luck with them. Rams aren't exactly the easiest cichlids to spawn, so it's apparent that they're quite happy in their new home.