German Blue Rams...

[annka5]

I bought a pair of German blue rams on Thurs last week. They're about 1" long, and are in a 260 litre tank with 6 discus and 18 cardinals. Water is very soft, pH 6.5.
The tank is planted (no CO2, lights aren't particularly bright, so just easy going plant varieties) but has no caves, tunnels, rocks, etc.
Yesterday evening the male started digging out "craters" in the sand substrate - probably around 3 or 4" across, he's made abot 3 or 4 before abandoning them. The pair both hang around the tank together, but the female doesn't seem hugely interested in these "craters".
I can't beleive they can be interested in breeding given that they've only just been introduced to the tank, and also, given their size. Any ideas...?
I don't particularly want to breed them.

 

[Gourami Lover88]

I have never kept german rams just bolivian, so Iam not an expert. But being 1in long I really doubt that their sex organs have even devolped. Digging in the sand is normal for most cichlids so its completely normal.

But if they do decied to spawn and you dont want to breed them, you would have to break up the pair, or continuly break up the spawn, since cardinals and discus arent really going to go after eggs if the parents are defending the eggs. And even when they hatch I doubt the fry will be eaten by the other fish. Unless your discus are more intersted in eating fry than mine.

 

[bleechme]

They may be tring to breed. Juveniles are know to breed at the age of 4 months old. It is very possible although they seem incredibly small. Are the breeding tubes coming out? and does the female have a big belly yet?

 

[annka5]

The female does have a big belly, or bigger than it was anyway. They sort of shuffle their fins around to dig these craters out of the sand substrate. However, nothing is happening egg-wise yet. They seem perfectly happy, so I don't suspect any disease, I gues I just need to wait and see...
I'm thinking of adding a small terracotta pot as a den for them, or am I better adding a flat stone, or just leaving well alone?