Please give me info on my ram fry.

[sarah]

Hello everyone, I have a 46 planted aquarium with two blue rams that spawned and I am on day 17 with over 100 free swimming fry. Their first food was from Jave Moss, then microworms, and now solely BBS. I do daily 5 gal water changes.

I've never taken care of fry before and I'm wondering how long it will take before I can sell some? On average, or how many should be expected to survive to adulthood? The fish store seemed very excited about them and offered me $3 a piece.

When will they eat food other than BBS and what are some good choices?

If there are any other obstacles or anything else I should know please do share.

Sincerely,
Sarah

 

[RHS788]

I don't have any advice for you but I do have some questions. I am able to raise cacatouides, but simply have no luck with rams. My latest was acquiring a wild pair. The female laid eggs twice, the first time they fungused, and the second time the male died two days after the eggs were laid. The eggs are now fungusing.

My questions:
Water quality, ph, gh, etc. temperature, water changes, including percent, anything to soften the water, do you leave lights on when eggs are in tank, what do you feed adults to get them primed, what you use for spawing surfaces, what kind of rock etc, in the tank, type of filter, any type of fungus guard used when the eggs are laid, and any other key factors you feel have been beneficial. I appreciate your help, as I am getting desparate and am about to give up. I have been attempting this for about two years. Thanks for your patience and any help.


And lastly good luck to you. I would think the fish would be ready to sell at three months.

Randy

 

[sarah]

I don't mean for this to show you up as you've been trying for two years, but this is how it happened. There was one female ram in the tank and I went to the store and bought some nice plants and a male ram. Two days later there were eggs on the flourite substrate. There is some slate rock slightly buried underneath the flourite, but they didn't use it.

The female was attacking the C02 counter in the tank and gouged her head. Because of this Pimafix and Melafix was added to the tank (CO2 unhooked) and this could have possibly prevented the eggs from acquiring fungus.

RO water is used in the tank, plus the instructed amount of Kent RO Right powder, and about 5% tap water. The water is VERY soft and about 83 degrees. There are two filters on the tank with sponges on the intake rated at 100 gals combined.

I feed the parents frozen mysis, bloodworms (love those!), and brine along with some flake food, but the male won't eat it.

Before they spawned I did weekly 10 gal water changes for a few weeks and now because of heavy feeding I do 5 gal/day. The lights were kept on schedule and I am not sure of the exact water quality parameters because it's my boyfriend's tank and he doesn't have a test kit anymore. A few weeks ago I took a sample to a fish store and they tested with a Sera kit and said it was "great." I have a saltwater tank and I usually am not responsible for the freshwater tank.

Well that's my story I hope it helps. It was kind of dumb luck, but I am taking the initiative to take care of them properly.

 

[Mike Wise]

I think size is more important than age. Once the fry are ¼"/6 mm and look like small fish, try to add finely crushed flake foods with the bbs. As they get larger, increase the amount and size of the dry foods. More small feedings and more frequent water changes will encourage growth. Depending on feedings and water quality, the fry could be up to 1"/2.5 cm in 3 - 4 months. Rams can be sexually mature at 6 months. You need to ask your LFS at what size they want the fish.

 

[RHS788]

Sarah, thanks for the info. It sounds like you are maintaining excellent water quality, which makes everything else more than luck.

Randy

 

[Apistomaster]

I feed my juveniles frozen blood worms primarily to get the best growth rate. At least compared to using a prepared food. They can be ready for sale in as little as four months if fed properly and given plenty of room. Lot's of big water changes. 50%/day is not too much. Keeping nitrates low and nitrites at 0 is key.