How Many Practice Runs Will My Gbrs Go Through

[Tonyb111111]

Well, after rescaping my tank on Sunday and been slightly concerned that rams wouldn't like it, they have gone and laid eggs again. My question is this is about the 7th time they have spawned, but never got to fry stage. Is this just a case of a new pair gaining experience, or something in their environment preventing them going the distance?

 

[coldcazzie]

I imagine it's both. Cichlids can take a while to become experienced enough to raise eggs to fry, especially if they're young. However, I would think that the tetras, scissortails and shrimp think that your rams are laying them a tasty all-you-can-eat buffet each time. They will have more success if they're in a tank by themselves... but it depends if you can be bothered with the phaff...

 

[Tonyb111111]

I imagine it's both. Cichlids can take a while to become experienced enough to raise eggs to fry, especially if they're young. However, I would think that the tetras, scissortails and shrimp think that your rams are laying them a tasty all-you-can-eat buffet each time. They will have more success if they're in a tank by themselves... but it depends if you can be bothered with the phaff...

I know what you mean but I cant tell who is eating them. At the moment at I am giving the other tank mates the benefit of doubt and putting it down to the rams, but I just don't know. I do have a quarantine tank, but it is only 5 gallon. May be worth investing in something bigger, maybe a 20 gallon, would this be big enough for the pair to do their thing?

 

[coldcazzie]

Yes that would be fine.

They won't necessarily be all doing it all of the time, but it's a war of attrition - they swoop in and grab an egg, eventually they're going to run out of eggs. Failing that, if the parents think it's not going well they will just eat the remaining eggs...

I guess it depends if you want to raise gbr fry?

 

[Tonyb111111]

Yes that would be fine.

They won't necessarily be all doing it all of the time, but it's a war of attrition - they swoop in and grab an egg, eventually they're going to run out of eggs. Failing that, if the parents think it's not going well they will just eat the remaining eggs...

I guess it depends if you want to raise gbr fry?

It is something i'd like to try, so will keep trying and see what happens.