Blue Rams (Mikrogeophagus.ramirezi) Log

[Pred-Finatic]

Hmmm...Kinda have a dilemma on my hands.

I'm planning to sell my younger bonded pair of rams tomorrow afternoon (not the pair in this thread), and just discovered that they've bred (laid eggs on a piece of Indian almond leaf I have in the tank). Turned off the lights for the day and locked the door, to ensure no one goes into the room to disturb them.

The buyer is really interested in the pair, and we've ready planned meet tomorrow. Thinking about asking the current buyer if he's willing to hold off for a while (to see if the eggs hatch and the parents raise the fry), or continue with the sale and artificially raise the eggs/fry myself.
Any suggestions?

On other news, back to the pair in this thread:
They are starting to clean off the slate rock in my tank again, and the male is beginning to dig new pits. Will make sure to give them their privacy this time around.

 

[Pred-Finatic]

The second pair's eggs ended up growing fungus. The pair began to bicker against eachother when guarding the nest. Not really taking turns, but fighting for it. The eggs ended up not getting fanned enough and went bad. Pretty sad to see how the female behavior changed, once she realized the eggs went bad and watched the male dispose of them.
The female only just reached maturity, and it was both they first time spawning, so they probably didn't have enough experience. Hopefully the learn to spawn successfully for the buyer.

Back to my main pair. They spawned again, and this time with a little bit more eggs. Threw a towel over the tank before they spawned to give them some privacy and a sense of security. Peaked in just to feed them, and noticed the male has taken on the role of fanning and guarding the nest more seriously. Even when they swapped places, the male kept near the nest and ignored some of the pellets left by my female.
Will update you guys, if things go better with these eggs. Hopefully the female feels more comfortable this time around, and doesn't decide to eat the eggs.

 

[jhook]

Hopefully they do better this time. I've got a pair of Discus that can't seem to keep their attention focused enough to actually take care of the wrigglers. I sympathize with your frustration!

 

[Pred-Finatic]

Went to feed the pair this morning and noticed all the eggs were gone...


What I saw instead was the male guarding a clusters of wigglers in the pit he dug at the back of their tank

Not exactly sure how many there were, but my initial count of their nest was about 180-200.
Will continue to give the pair their privacy and see if they can raise the fry to free swimmers
They seem to have gotten switching shifts down pretty well.
Keep you guys updated.

 

[Pred-Finatic]

Checked up on the pair and their fry earlier this morning, while I was feeding them, and things are progressing quite well. The cluster hasn't decreased in size, so I guess the parents (primarily the mom) hasn't been snacking on their babies. The parents really seem to be getting good at caring for their fry, surprised and happy that it took them 2 attempts (fingers crossed that they continue getting better)

The wigglers are becoming more active, startling to roll and bounce a little. 3 more days until they start free swimming, or so I hope.

 

[Pred-Finatic]

Another morning update: The fry are starting to jump/wiggle around a lot more, and the parents have relocated them to a larger/wider pit they dug. The pit also happens to be directly under my java fern. Guess the roots will help serve as shelter and security.

Will update everyone again tomorrow morning

 

[Pred-Finatic]

3 fry have reached the free swimming stage. Watched the parents corral them back to the nest, when the fry would wander out

 

[Pred-Finatic]

Just got home and checked up on the pair and their fry, and saw all the fry free swimming
Some are already nipping at the plants I have in the tank, but I put some microworms in to get them going.
Will keep everyone posted.

 

[Pred-Finatic]

Fed and checked on the parents and their fry this morning, and things are going very well. The fry are all feeding (starting to see their bellies turn white from the microworms, and poop trails behind them haha), and becoming more independent (went from a cloud that followed the parents, to swimming across the length and height of the tank).

Was hesitant about doing a water change yesterday, because the sensitivity of the fry, but using a drip line to top off the tank worked out. Took about 3-4 hours to complete.

Will update again later this evening.

 

[Pred-Finatic]

Fed and checked on the rams just a moment ago, and some of the fry are beginning to starting to wonder around the tank (hiding in and nipping at my cabomba.carolinia and Myriophyllum.scabratum).
The parents seem to have a hard time trying to keep their school of fry together. Once a group of fry leave the school, the parents chase after them to bring them back, but as soon as they do, they have to go catch the ones they left behind haha.
On another note, the fry seem to have doubled in size compared to yesterday