My German Blue Ram just lay egg!

[jeffteo]

Sound like an idea but might not be a good one. You might need to do more WC due to the lower volume of water to keep the water quality high for the Ram.

[chris168]

Hi there, Sorry to hear the lost of the fries. It would be great to shift just the the pair into the 1 ft tank for them to spawn. They will feel much secure without any other fishy inside and it is easier for you to look after the fries too... Will be looking forward to hear your good news again ! Cheers!

[Aquanoob]

Just checking is it a must to put dither fish together with the ram as the purpose is to "to reduce innate timidity in some species of cichlids" (From Wikipedia)? I am currently using endler to be the dither fish now as they are fast and small and I don't think the ram parent can match their speed.

[jeremiahtan]

Hi guys,

sorry to hijack this thread, was thinking that since we are on the topic of rams spawning I can ask my question here as well.

I just came back from Taipei and saw that my pair of my Electric Blue Rams has laid eggs. However, when I switched on the light they seemed panicky and the female went to eat her eggs.

Is it because of the lights that the female is eating the eggs or something else?

Shown here are the eggs, cheers!

Eggs(1).JPG

Eggs(2).JPG

BTW, the reason why you are seeing two different pictures of my EBR females is because, last night I saw that my first pair had laid eggs but I went to switch on the light to admire them but in the morning the eggs were gone. So I went gym in the afternoon and to my surprise, another pair laid eggs during noon and now, this pair is eating theirs up too. Double misery I would say, can someone teach me why these fellas r eating their eggs

[Aquanoob]

I think it is due to stress and shock that they encountered. Do you have other fish in the same tank?

[jeffteo]

My Electric Blue spawned on the soil last night but the parents was overwhelmed by the one and only German Blue which is almost double their size. First time I see the father charge at the German Blue and ending is they back off when I was approaching and the German Blue went to attack the eggs. Tried to fish it out but not an easy task and there are many other fish in the tank. So ended up I use those plastic pots for plants to cover over the eggs. Luckily the eggs are laid near a high flow area so should not turn moldy. Just trying my luck only as I know the survival rate of the spawn in a comm tank is very low. Just let nature take its course ba...
Thinking of it, seems like we might be the cause of the parents eating of abandoning their eggs.

[Aquanoob]

I think our presence is one of the stress factor that the ram encountered. When my ram spawn 2 weeks ago, I can spend hours staring at the eggs then then the fries together with the parent. They are aware of our presence as our head is so big. I think the other tank mates are also a factor as they need to chase away any intruders and they also take very few break in guarding the fries and egg, tiredness is a stress too.

[PKB]

Don't keep sitting in front of the tank and stare at the eggs. Just just it a quick check once or twice everyday to check if the eggs are still there or is there any fries. Don't adust their surrounding. Just leave them alone and they will know what to do.

1 ) Once the fries are free swimming, siphon them out. (Use the small air tube)
2 ) Use back the main tank water to fill up the grown up tank that you are going to keep your fries.
3 ) Put in some moss
4 ) Add in an air pump with air stone but don't full blast the pump, just gentle aernation will do.
5 ) Feed them BBS and change water every 1-2 days. I suck out the water using the small air tube and and fill it back with the main tank water again.
Try to clear as many uneaten/dead BBS, debri or dead fries when you do water change.

Enjoy the process.

[Aquanoob]

This is my current situation with the ram. I shifted the 2 ram into a 1 feet tank with 2 endlers as dither fish so that they can breed again after the failed previous attempt. But I noticed the the male ram seems to dislike the female suddenly. He will chase the female for long period although there is no over-aggression from what i see. Is he trying to get the female to breed or is he trying to be the alpha-male and dominate the tank by himself?
By the way, the 2 ram show no aggression to the 2 endlers at all.

[jeffteo]

This is my current situation with the ram. I shifted the 2 ram into a 1 feet tank with 2 endlers as dither fish so that they can breed again after the failed previous attempt. But I noticed the the male ram seems to dislike the female suddenly. He will chase the female for long period although there is no over-aggression from what i see. Is he trying to get the female to breed or is he trying to be the alpha-male and dominate the tank by himself?
By the way, the 2 ram show no aggression to the 2 endlers at all.

Same thing happen my pair also. It seems like the male is "blaming" the female for loosing the eggs and chasing her around. But most of the time they are still swimming together.

[Aquanoob]

I am thinking of getting another female ram to add into the tank but will it disrupt the couple's breeding plan and make the situation worse and unbalance? Or the male will have one more female to choose from although I read before that they will stick to their couple?

[jeremiahtan]

I am thinking of getting another female ram to add into the tank but will it disrupt the couple's breeding plan and make the situation worse and unbalance? Or the male will have one more female to choose from although I read before that they will stick to their couple?

Yes, I heard that they stick with the same mate.

Do you think its possible to take out all the eggs and transfer it to another tank? Will the eggs still hatch? My EBR ate up the last batch and now they have laid another set of eggs.

[PKB]

Yes, I heard that they stick with the same mate.

Do you think its possible to take out all the eggs and transfer it to another tank? Will the eggs still hatch? My EBR ate up the last batch and now they have laid another set of eggs.

No, they do not stick to the same mate. My 2 pair of ram have just exchange partner and spawned. Leave the eggs with the parent ram, they will fan the eggs and eat up all the non fertilize & spoil eggs to keep the good eggs healthy. Siphon out the fry only after they are free swimming.

[jeremiahtan]

No, they do not stick to the same mate. My 2 pair of ram have just exchange partner and spawned. Leave the eggs with the parent ram, they will fan the eggs and eat up all the non fertilize & spoil eggs to keep the good eggs healthy. Siphon out the fry only after they are free swimming.

Okay thanks PKB, in addition I should not feed bloodworms too close to the spawning site right? As the parents may feel threaten and eat the eggs?

[PKB]

Okay thanks PKB, in addition I should not feed bloodworms too close to the spawning site right? As the parents may feel threaten and eat the eggs?

Just leave them alone and they will take care of the eggs. Too many outside activities in the tank and they will eat the eggs. Just drop the food into the tank, the pair will take turn to forage for food. Enjoy the process

[jeremiahtan]

Thanks PKB, now I start to think its the endlers in the tank that causes stress to the EBR parents. Before I could feed them today, I found that all the EBR eggs are gone. Seriously, I dont know what is wrong.... I didnt sit by the aquarium or switch on the lights. Sigh sigh sigh....

[PKB]

Thanks PKB, now I start to think its the endlers in the tank that causes stress to the EBR parents. Before I could feed them today, I found that all the EBR eggs are gone. Seriously, I dont know what is wrong.... I didnt sit by the aquarium or switch on the lights. Sigh sigh sigh....

First time spawning?

[jeremiahtan]

First time spawning?

It is either their first or second time spawning, does that play a role?

[PKB]

It is either their first or second time spawning, does that play a role?

The 2nd or 3rd spawn will have higher success rate. By the way, don't feel to sad that your ram have eaten the eggs now, they will spawn again is less than a month time.

[Aquanoob]

I have also taken out the 2 endler dither fish in my 1ft tank as well, now the whole tank only the 2 ram together. The male is not chasing the female anymore and the female is showing very pinkish spot again. crossing my finger...