Blue Ram Spawn

[matpat]

I've seen some other posts on this topic by doing a search and I've also done quite a bit of research online but there seems to be a lot of contradictory info out there so I thought I'd ask the experts

I had a pair of Blue Rams spawn this evening on a Red Tiger Lotus leaf. It's my first spawn so I'm pretty excited about it I'm looking the incubation period for the eggs and when I should begin feeding BBS.

I ask because I am leaving town this Thursday night and will not return until next Tuesday morning! We have a pet sittng service coming to the house but I doubt they will be able to handle feeding BBS.

If it helps, water parameters/other tank residents follow:

75g heavily planted, CO2 injected, add NO3 and PO4 3x week hence the variable test results

pH 6.5 - 6.8 depending on time of day
GH 4
KH 7
NH3 0ppm
NH4 0ppm
NO2 0ppm
NO3 7-10 ppm
PO4 0.25-0.5ppm

Pair of Killies
6 neons
6 cardinals
2 cory cats
6-10 otos
5 SEA's
6-8 Amano Shrimp (breeding, attempting to raise fry)
12+ Cherry Red Shrimp (breeding like guppies)

I have a couple of other tanks I could move some fish/shrimp into if need be and I do have a spare 10g I was gonna use as a quarrentine tank. I also have plenty of peat water so I shoud be able to get water parameters close to the 75g.

Is the timing right for setting up the 10g due to my time away from home? Will the fry have a better chance in the established 75g or should I just let them be and wait for the next spawn?

Thanks for your time.

 

[Apistt_ed]

..

First thing off, Congrats! Now, you have to get rid of those corys, they will most likely get at the eggs or fry when they do hatch. I wouldn't recommend moving the eggs and parents due to stress.. but instead moving the other fish that may cause problems... I really don't see any problems with the tankmates except for the corys and maybe the cardinals/neons, but the cards/neons shouldn't be too much trouble for the parents... as for the fry, depending of temp of tank... they should be "wrigglers" (larvae stage) in anything from 2-5days. Ram fry are probably some of the smallest of fry that can come from dwarfs... I suggest a large ball/clump of Java Moss be put near the spawn site. Java moss will have infurosia which are far too small for us to see, but the babies (once free swimming) can see them and will do fine on these for the first few days of freeswimming. By that time, you should be back and can take care of them. good luck and keep us informed of the progress!

 

[matpat]

I lost all of the eggs It seems the male was constantly guarding the spawning site and when he would chase the female away, the SAE's moved in and started eating the eggs.

On the good side, I seem to have a young pair of Rams that will hopefully breed again. After my trip I will be removing the Cory cats and the SAE's from the tank just in case.

Thanks for your help!

Matt

 

[farm41]

They most definately will breed again, a very positive sign of that, and most rams don't get it right the first time.

When you get back, you may want to try them again, with softer water though. Rams are from very soft water.