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I have five Juvi Rams in a 15 Gallon heavily planted aquarium with five neons, and 5 small ghost shrimp. After being in this new environment for 2 days a pair formed. Then next day I found this pair guarding a clutch of about 150 very small eggs. They were doing an excellent job, and I woke up in the middle of the night to see if they were still guarding which they were!! So day two roles along and about half of the eggs are gone, they were all laid on a large amazon sword leaf, and some actually fell into the center of the plant, what a relief! So day three, today roles along and when I arrived home from school there were no eggs on the plants, but the female of the pair is guarding under the plant? I have yet to see any wrigglers


My questions are-Being young rams, and probably the first time this pair got together, will they try again and be more successful? This was a little dissapointing, but not really because I only had these awsome fish for 3 days before they spawned, so I am still excited. My second question is, do you think any of the many missing eggs will hatch and I might find a fry in some javamoss or something near the plant?
Well thanks in advance,
Billy

The eggs might have gotten fungus and been cast off by the rams or they might have all fallen down. You could have some fry but they'd have better luck if you gave them a flat rock or decoration to spawn on. Then the eggs wouldn't get lost. Just be sure the rams aren't getting too agressive toward the others. I've seen a mated pair kill off 8 other rams in a 20g tank over night. Keep the nitrates down and water consistent and they should spawn again. Rams can be sensitive to water quality but otherwise are fairly easy to spawn.

Sometimes young parents don't quite know how to do things correctly, and they'll probably try again to breed....and will most likely gain better maternal and paternal guarding skills.

I've got a fever... and the only prescription... is more cowbell!

Well, you were right, they spawned again, on thursday in the same location. This morning (Friday) the eggs were still there, and being guarded. This afternoon (still Friday) the eggs are gone, yet the leaf is being guarded.

There are 2 nice pieces of slate for eggs to be laid on, and there are also 2 nice pieces of driftwood.

Here are my options/ideas:
1.) Remove parents to a 10 gallon, planted w/ a sponge filter, then remove parents after eggs hatch back to 15 gal.
2.) Remove other rams, not neons to a 10 gallon, planted w/ a powerfilter.
3.) Any other ideas/suggestions

I would move a piece of slate under the plant or move the breeding pair to a 10g. They will probably get it right with some practice but the plant just doesn't sound like the greatest spawning site.

Well, after much dispair.. I have found the culprits, and they were not the parents. They happened to be the innocent looking neons. I witnessed their cruel act that took a mere 30 seconds to eat about 45 eggs. They now have been a part of relocation opperation to a 5 gal minibow.

umm if they are first time breeders i would give them a chance.. maybe 3 more breedings.. then it should be good to go

plus the ghost shrimp could have eaten the eggs too