Blue Rams Spawned In Community Tank - Tips Needed

[Tonyb111111]

My rams have spawned overnight in my 200 litre tank and I looking to pull on some of the experience on here to help give them every chance. I do not have the option to remove the eggs as they have spawned on the end of a very large piece of bogwood. The tank is medium planted and includes 6 Colombian tetra, 3 danios (was 6 until the nesting gourami got protective), 6 corys, 3 dwarf gourami, 4 shrimp and 6 scissortails. For interest, the gourami is bubble nesting again, which I intend to remove, with the male, to a 10g breed tank when it is egg bound. Currently running pH 6.3, GH 5, zero amm & nitrite, and 20 nitrate. Is there anything I can do in the community tank that may help the eggs hatch and grow successfully, or am I on a hiding to nothing

 

[magical trevor]

I think it will be hit and miss if the eggs hatch and the fry have plenty of places to hid you might get some that survive. Best of luck!

 

[Gilli]

Rams are notorious for eating their first few or even more batches of eggs until they suddenly magically get the hang of it so if this is your first batch then id just leave them alone until they gain experience. If the eggs are fertile they will be a light tan colour - white ones are infertile and the female and male will eat them before they go mouldy and affect fertile ones. Rams are very good parents so theres no need to remove the eggs as they will guard them and any fry that hatch.

Also if you removed them you would miss their amazing parenting skills as they 'tag' each other as they take it in turns to stay with the eggs. My female used to get really cross if the male took too long to come over to do his share and she used to bash him before swiming off!! They really are such endearing little characters

 

[Tonyb111111]

Thanks for the advice guys. Latest update is all good news so far, all eggs are still there and been guarded diligently, noticeably more by the male as the female always tends to be out and about giving the other rams a hard time. I can only see about five white eggs out of I guess 50 light brown ones. Does it take about 36 hrs for the eggs to hatch, and how will fry feed? Do I need to buy liquifry and if so how do I stop the other fish from eating this or losing it to the filter? It really is fascinating to watch the rams taking shifts to look after the eggs, but I am curious as to why the male seems to be doing the majority of the work.

 

[Tonyb111111]

Latest update, eggs are still in tact after at least 36 hours and the parents are still fanning the eggs. So I guess there will be fry in the morning, question is how do I feed them in a community tank? Any advice please.

 

[Tonyb111111]

Ok, woke up this morning after 48 hours of spawning and there is no eggs, so i assumed they had hatched. However, I cannot see any fry either. Have the eggs been eaten or are the parents just very good at hiding them. The parents also to have moved places in the tank as well, so I suspect they have been eaten.

 

[Gilli]

If they have hatched the parents will have moved them and they will be hidden until they are free swimming. You can buy liquifry and squirt some with an eye dropper near the fry if you see them, but the parents will chew up fish food and blow it at them and they will also feed on insuforia in the tank if it is mature. Moss balls are handy for fry as they contain insuforia.

 

[Tonyb111111]

If they have hatched the parents will have moved them and they will be hidden until they are free swimming. You can buy liquifry and squirt some with an eye dropper near the fry if you see them, but the parents will chew up fish food and blow it at them and they will also feed on insuforia in the tank if it is mature. Moss balls are handy for fry as they contain insuforia.

Thanks Gilli, thing is they spawned again yesterday, in the same place as before so assume things didn't go well first time round. How often do they potentially spawn, I wasn't expecting a repeat performance so soon after the first lot

 

[Samuran]

I've had Rams spawn pretty much weekly when they are happy
Ben

 

[Tonyb111111]

I've had Rams spawn pretty much weekly when they are happy
Ben

Really, mine must be over the moon with happiness then. It is quite satisfying as the tank has been running less than two months, but they see,ed to go at it as soon as they went in. Do you think I should return the other three females?

 

[Samuran]

I've had Rams spawn pretty much weekly when they are happy
Ben

Really, mine must be over the moon with happiness then. It is quite satisfying as the tank has been running less than two months, but they see,ed to go at it as soon as they went in. Do you think I should return the other three females?

Depends on what you want to happen...
I'm no expert mind you heh

 

[Gilli]

Usually its around once a month. Just a thought are you sure you have a male and a female ?. The reason i ask is because 2 females will act like a pair and even go through the mating rituals so if you have 2 females they will spawn at different times.

Here is a really good page with lots of info which may help you -

German Blue Rams

 

[Tonyb111111]

Usually its around once a month. Just a thought are you sure you have a male and a female ?. The reason i ask is because 2 females will act like a pair and even go through the mating rituals so if you have 2 females they will spawn at different times.

Here is a really good page with lots of info which may help you -

German Blue Rams

Hi, I am pretty sure I have one male and four females. When the eggs are laid the pair take turns fanning them. The second lot of eggs are gone, so i assume another unsuccessful attempt. I will try to get some pics on for verification