My New Rams Are Breeding Already!

[bordercollie05]

I just got them two days ago and must have gotten lucky and got a pair that liked each other because they're laying eggs as I speak. I'm so excited, I've been wanting these fish for a long time and finally got them. I think they're already my very favorite fish!

Here's a picture:

I've read a little bit about the fry etc and it sounds like mom and dad take care of it if they're doin it right. I don't have any fry food on hand, I just feed my guppies crushed flake. Is there anything I can do about this if they hatch? I'm assuming the first batch won't do well, but hopefully I'll have little rams in the future . Any tips you guys can think of offhand pertaining to raising the fry would be great.

Also, they're in a tank with an angelfish, some danios, and two mollies. I'm thinking I could divide the tank and leave the rams in 1/3 of the tank on one side with the other fish on the other side. Would doing this now upset the parents or eggs? Or should I just leave them alone and see what happens? I'm thinking of getting a ten/fifteen gallon just for the rams in the near future, but obviously can't do it this time.

Sorry for the rambly post, I'm just very excitied

Thanks!
Laura

 

[Athena]

Oh you lucky thing! LOL from that pic it looks like they are both laying eggs...is the female the one in front? Hard to tell cos they both seem to have a bit of a swollen pinkish tummy. Best check that you don't have two females there, though! Otherwise any eggs being laid are not going to be fertilized.

I think if you intend to raise the fry you will need to remove them to a fry net after 3-5 days as the parents do tend to eat the fry after that time (especially when they are first starting out). Their fry are going to be minutely tiny - and they will eat their egg sacks for the first day - after that you can feed them on the finely ground up flakes, like you said (easiest way will be to mix some with a bit of tank water then pour it in on top of where the fry are, as they will remain at substrate level and can't swim to surface for any food. You can also buy LIQUIFRY, which is what I use for about a week - it makes the water go a bit cloudy for a few minutes but soon clears.

Oh yes, one more thing to mention - you will notice your rams being very territorial at this stage, protecting the eggs - and even more so once the fry hatch. So your idea of a tank divider might be a good thing in order to save your other fish becoming stressed out by the rams charging at them every second of the day LOL.

Good luck and let us know how your fry get on once they hatch!

Athena

 

[bordercollie05]

Thanks Athena, thats very helpful! I'll put divider in today I think and get some liquifry tomorrow. I'm sure there's a male and female, but now that you mention it, it is hard to tell in the picture. I think it's just the lighting though, the female is the one in front (on the right). I could see the eggs coming out as she laid them. Every once in awhile the male would rub over the eggs, which I assume was when he was fertilizing them and I think that's what's going in the picture. I am new to rams though, so I could be wrong. Guess I'll know for sure if they hatch!

Laura

 

[Athena]

Yes, sounds about right, Laura. Also, once they are fertilized, the female will sit and fan the eggs usually and the male will chase off any fish that venture into their territory - so lots of chasing. Yes, putting that divider in will stop all of that stress, although don't make their section too small or that might end up upsetting the rams and make them ill. Watch for any signs of them going a darker colour, losing their bright blue spots or looking a bit charcoalish black. If you see any of that, you know they are unhappy.

Regards - Athena

 

[bordercollie05]

Thanks again! I put the divider in a few hours ago and they have half of the 29 gallon....about a foot wide and deep, like 18inches tall or so of a space. They seem content. The female is tending to the eggs very nicely, she keeps picking at them and the rocks around them. Guessing she's keeping them nice and clean. Occasionally the male takes a turn doing this. The other one patrols the area when not on egg duty.

I think the divider confused them at first, they swam up and down it, but they have forgotten about it now and hopefully at least a few eggs will hatch in a day or two

Laura

 

[bordercollie05]

Just wanted to give the update. The eggs didn't make it. The parents were doing great with them, but some of my zebra danios kept getting past my divider. It was not fastened very well as I didn't really have the best stuff on hand to secure it. The eggs I think hatched in the night even but I think the fry either got eaten by mom/dad or the danios....Maybe after christmas I'll set up a breeding tank for these guys and try to raise the babies right. I'm just happy to have a pair! Thanks again Athena for your help.

Laura