What Are My Gbrs Doing?

[mancin]

I have 4 GBRs (1 M, 3 F) in hopes if getting a pair. For the past several hours, a couple of them have been hanging out in the front corner of the tank digging up the sand. I did a quick google on this and it seems they may be getting ready to lay some eggs. I thought they laid eggs on a flat surface, and there's a nice flat rock not more than 6 inches away The Rams are using their bodies to dig. It's actually quite interesting. I captured a clip.

Ram Video

 

[TigerIssey]

This is normal behaviour for the genus. The latin name for rams is Mikrogeophagus ramirezi mikro is small / mini geophagus is eartheather. Hence they are mini earth eaters. I would say however that that is your pair. You did not really need the other females, they would have paired anyway. The flat rock will need to be slate, this is their preference.

Looking good though. Just to say aswell, I have performed water change and will hopefully take photos once it is dark sunday night.

 

[mancin]

I was hoping you'd reply! Yeah I can't seem to figure out if that was my original male/female, but I'm kind of thinking it is. If the other 2 females end up getting harassed, I'll probably take them back to the LFS. Time will tell! They are very entertaining to watch. Such personality!

 

[TigerIssey]

They definatley do have have buckets of personality for such small fish. Do they come up to the glass to see you yet. If I sit in front of my tank, The angels and rams are all jostling for my attention.

 

[mancin]

They definatley do have have buckets of personality for such small fish. Do they come up to the glass to see you yet. If I sit in front of my tank, The angels and rams are all jostling for my attention.

Yep! Everytime I approach the tank they are there to say hi.

 

[TigerIssey]

Here is a full tank shot for you, I have changed one light tube to a different spectrum, this is original arcadia tube.

 

[mancin]

Here is a full tank shot for you, I have changed one light tube to a different spectrum, this is original arcadia tube.

That looks great! What are those tall plants in there? Are those the Hygrophila polysperma? Also if you don't mind me asking, where did you find 2 30W bulbs?

 

[TigerIssey]

On left and right corners there are cabomba carolina, from the left next to cabomba is limnophilla sessiliflora. Next is Amazon swords. On the right hand side there is a large anubias barteri and there are 2 anubias nana. On far left in front of the log is some rotala (slow growing in low light) then there are crypts 2 different types.

Have just added a few supplements after water change as there is a little yellow visible on the amazon swords. I will need to replace the root tabs soon aswell.

As I say, I am running with as little maintenance as possible due to setting up a nano reef,

Arcadia make 36" 30w bulbs I believe Interpet do aswell.

 

[mancin]

I have eggs!!! I missed most of it, but it looks like they are still laying. I'm really confused which is my pair because there's 3 of them hanging out

I'll upload a video shortly.

 

[mancin]

Here's video:

Ram Eggs

 

[TigerIssey]

Can you see an egg tube on both females, light not brilliant but I think only 1 female has one.

 

[mancin]

Can you see an egg tube on both females, light not brilliant but I think only 1 female has one.

Yeah sorry the lighting isn't better. I took it with my digital camera. Both of them appear to have tubes. I'll see if I can get a better picture.

 

[TigerIssey]

Rams usually conform to a monogamous pairing. If both have egg tubes you will need to watch them very carefully, if there is a pair they could bully the other female to death.

It is highly unlikely they will manage to raise any fry from the first batch of eggs, they may eat them. They usually get better with practice.

 

[mancin]

Rams usually conform to a monogamous pairing. If both have egg tubes you will need to watch them very carefully, if there is a pair they could bully the other female to death.

It is highly unlikely they will manage to raise any fry from the first batch of eggs, they may eat them. They usually get better with practice.

Yeah that's why I was so confused to see the 3 of them there. The 3rd female is definitely getting bullied, so I'm going to see if I can take her back to the LFS tomorrow.

Female # 1

Female # 2

Male and 2 Females

I don't really have high hopes as this is likely their first set of eggs, but I was very surprised to see eggs, especially since I haven't had the fish long at all!

 

[bagu]

congrats mate!