Breeding Rams

[Toothless]

Hi
I'm in the process off setting up a tank to breed electric Blue Orange head rams however I'm currently waiting on the female coming into stock at the lfs. I do have a female red devil ram and I was wandering if that could breed with my male electric Blue?
I've never tried breeding fish before so any advice welcome.
Ta

 

[ReddSamurai]

sorry i have no idea what a red devil ram is, just tried googling and it came up mostly with very large cichlids and flowerhorns which i would say is a big no no, with rams from what i heard its not as simple as putting a male a female in together as they will sometimes not get on with each other.

 

[fm1978]

Technically, they should all breed together...I believe.
 
They are simply colour morphs of the common ram cichlid - microgeophagus ramirezi (Electric Blue, German Blue, Red Devil)
 
However, in practice, they have to 'pair up' and that may not always happen with just a single male and single female. Add to that the fact that they can be quite difficult to look after, never mind breeding them.
 
What is your current setup and water params, how are you cycling etc?

 

[Toothless]

Hi. Ta for replies. Both strains of the ram are relatively new (1st German import in last few months). They are currently in my established 260lt with 6 denisonii barbs, a bunch of green laser corys, l128,l200, 3xl129 and 20 black neons. I know that sounds crammed but I have 2 externals and 1 internal turning water over more than 15 times and hour. Amonia, nitrite 0 and nitrate 5. Tds 200ish which I know is too high so will slowly introduce ro to get it to 100ish.
I've just set up a 60litre for an attempt at breeding, moving the internal in to it so won't need cycling as it's been running 4 months or so.
Been reading up on ethics of cross breeding and not sure how I feel. Most people say it's a big no no. What's your thoughts? If I don't go for the rams I'll try the corys in there I think.

 

[ReddSamurai]

its a big tank in my opinion so i don't have a problem with what you have done.
im not entirely sure on cross breeding either, but im going to try breed my pair of blue rams over the next few months once i get another tank.
can exchange tips etc as it goes

 

[Toothless]

So decided I'm going to wait for the other blue to start breeding... Well that was the plan yesterday but I already have fry in the breeding tank! I have a infestation of hydra in the main tank and read mollies would eat eat (I'm not a mollie fan) so went out and bought a few and put them in the tank I intend breeding in as quarantine, came back from work today.... Loads of mollies! Bugger. Still need to sort the hydra so will move over in a couple of weeks, I'm sure the barbs will put an end to any more breeding.
Still could breed the corys but fancy the challenge of the rams. Let me know how you get on with yours.