Questions About Blue Rams

[killudead]

I have 3 blue rams.

1 large one I know if female. She lays eggs.
All of these pics are borrowed, but look exactly like my fish.
1 with a big pink spot on the lower half of her body.

1 that I cannot figure out the sex as of yet.

anyway, my issue is, last sunday, the large one laid some eggs.
Her and the ram with the pink spot would take turns guarding the area for intruders.
Now, monday comes and all the eggs are gone. However, the large ram is hiding in the back right next to the area where the eggs were. She is taking turns with the same ram (pink spot) now guarding that area.
The other ram seems to be pushed away from the area where those 2 are. They all used to pal around together before this.
So I am wondering, Lets say the other 2 are female. Would they kick the other one out of the area to raise the young, if was a male?
I am going to get some video and post it up, but ran out of disc's earlier this week.

I really need to get the sexing of the rams down.
I can say that the odd ram out looks just like this.

But according to the article I should have all females.

 

[killudead]

I have a quick update. I have confirmed that their are indeed little babies swimming on the gravel. I saw the big ram pick them up and spit them out in another location. But all the while, they were moving around. So that is pretty neat. I see how they are more like larve (sp) than baby fish.

 

[kcharley]

I have a quick update. I have confirmed that their are indeed little babies swimming on the gravel. I saw the big ram pick them up and spit them out in another location. But all the while, they were moving around. So that is pretty neat. I see how they are more like larve (sp) than baby fish.

Congrats on the spawning. Pretty Cool!

I'm no expert but I think those pics are one female and two males. The female is the one with the pink belly plus the dorsal and anl fins are rounded. Did you actually see the large one lay the eggs? Maybe my understanding is wrong?

Again, congrats on the spawning. Hope you have good luck raising them.

Greg

 

[killudead]

Thank you. I did nothing to encourage it either.
Well, since last nights post, they have moved to the front right corner of tank.
You should see all the babies. OMG, at least 30 or so.
I did not see the big one lay the eggs.
Thinking about what you wrote. So I have may have 2 males and 1 female. the female and 1 male are very young and not nearly as big as the first one mentioned. However, i did not see who actually laid the eggs. I just assumed that it was the big one, because I have seen her in that area the whole time.
But now I think I have one large male, 1 small male and the female.
Now that I stop and think some more. I guess I could say the one ram I am not sure about it male, i saw him "courting" the one with the pink spot. But they always fight, butting heads and chasing each other around. Then the big one will come in and chase the small male away. I hope that they live long enough to grow and become adults. should I let them be or try to remove them and put the babies in their own tank?

 

[Joller]

what other fish are in the tank? and how big is the tank?

 

[killudead]

75 gallon community tank
neon tetra
phantom tetra
rummy nose tetra
female betta
2 platys
1 glo fish

 

[killudead]

I have another update. All the babies were doing great, then last night they all disappeared.
Not real sure why. but the 2 rams are no longer hiding. Unless this is some part of the process.

Now for next time, i am thinking of grabbing the eggs before they hatch and put them into another aquarium i have. Or should I wait and let them hatch first?

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

I have another update. All the babies were doing great, then last night they all disappeared.
Not real sure why. but the 2 rams are no longer hiding. Unless this is some part of the process.

Now for next time, i am thinking of grabbing the eggs before they hatch and put them into another aquarium i have. Or should I wait and let them hatch first?

The batch of fry were probably eaten. Possibly by the parents but might have also been by other fish in the tank. It can take a bit of practice before parents get everything right, a lot of people don't have much success on their first spawn from various Cichlids and growing them past wrigglers! Congrats on that! I would probably leave the eggs in for the next half dozen spawns. If they do not have it by then (as sometimes they just never learn) you can always pull the eggs at that point.

 

[killudead]

Ok, she is at again. This is batch no 4 in a 4 week time frame. She laid a batch last night on a rock in the back of tank, they should be hatching anytime now. i went to grab a snail that was within 6 inches and they freaked and attacked my hand. That was something new. Normally, i can just put my hand in the tank and cup them with no issue. Dont even really need the net. I would never move them without, but you catch my drift.
Anyway, I got a small tank up and running for them, should I catch them or leave them be. Also, how can i make sure they are being fed. I was crushing up flake food for them. Or will they find food by themselves?

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

Ok, she is at again. This is batch no 4 in a 4 week time frame. She laid a batch last night on a rock in the back of tank, they should be hatching anytime now. i went to grab a snail that was within 6 inches and they freaked and attacked my hand. That was something new. Normally, i can just put my hand in the tank and cup them with no issue. Dont even really need the net. I would never move them without, but you catch my drift.
Anyway, I got a small tank up and running for them, should I catch them or leave them be. Also, how can i make sure they are being fed. I was crushing up flake food for them. Or will they find food by themselves?

Yes, the parents are going to be very protective of their fry. You only need to move the eggs, and at this point just move them on the object their on into the new tank. Feed them frozen baby brine shrimp, or crushed flake. There are quite a few baby food products on the market.

 

[yvez9]

baby brine shrimp might be too big though?
you ahve a few days after they hatch before feeding them as they'll feed on the yolk sac. I would search the internet for feeding baby rams. Infusoria is pretty easy and is there when plants are present, or you can culture your own.

I've had a guppy fry survive on infusoria and grow by himself in a tank for 3 months (that's when the last adult guppy died anyway) until I noticed he was even there. Never fed him as I only had shrimp in there feeding off the algea.

 

[killudead]

that is good to know, thank you.
I came home today and all the eggs are gone, no sign of fry of any kind. They are not guarding the area anymore either. I came home on lunch and the eggs were there. 5 hours later, all gone. hmmm...... lunch/dinner?
I would think that if they do have babies that they would not leave the area at all. So I assume no babies. I think next time they lay eggs, I am removing the eggs asap.

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

that is good to know, thank you.
I came home today and all the eggs are gone, no sign of fry of any kind. They are not guarding the area anymore either. I came home on lunch and the eggs were there. 5 hours later, all gone. hmmm...... lunch/dinner?
I would think that if they do have babies that they would not leave the area at all. So I assume no babies. I think next time they lay eggs, I am removing the eggs asap.

Definitley got eaten again. I agree, if you want to raise the next batch take them out. Infusoria will work but BB brine should be fine too. There are also quite a few well rounded fry formulas on the market, and grinding flake in a coffee grinder will work too.