Blue Rams spawn

[dagray]

So as I am feeding the 75 gallon tank I can only account for one of the three Blue Rams. I caught some movement behind some plant stalk on top of the driftwood, and there were the other two.... complete with eggs.

I am thinking I have two females and one male based on shape of fish and the behavior I have seen tonight.

Here is a photo of the male and what I think to be the second female in colors super vivid.

Blue Rams Spawning.jpg

[Willie]

Beautiful!

[dagray]

Beautiful!

thank you.

[danotaylor]

very nice mate...egg tube is still down and all! nice work

[dagray]

very nice mate...egg tube is still down and all! nice work

Thank you.

[dagray]

Day three and one or the other of the pair is hovering above or within an inch of the eggs at all times.

Plecos haven't gotten to the eggs.

It also looks like there might be a love triangle with the second male trying to spawn with the female.

[Pices]

The colors of those rams are so beautiful! What a gorgeous spirited fish.
Patty

[dagray]

The colors of those rams are so beautiful! What a gorgeous spirited fish.
Patty

Thank you Patty.

[brewmaster15]

Beautiful Fish Dave, any fry yet?

al

[dagray]

Beautiful Fish Dave, any fry yet?

al

eggs three times now, no hatches that I have seen, but I think the three factors working against me are 1) community tank and 2) young fish 3) another male that keeps interfering.

My solution to one of the problems is to add another female, and I have my 20 gallon up and running with only three small bristlenose plecos (two will get moved to the big tank as they are the same strain as what is in there. This might get me some young, and I can always move the third bristlenose to my second 20 gallon tank once I get a new heater and light for it.

I have added Frogbit to my 20 that is running and to my 75 gallon. The 75 gallon has a big Manzanita stump with Anubias growing all over it, and the pair in that tank spawns on the stump where the Anubias makes a ring leaving a clear spot on the stump.

I am loving watching the interaction of the Rams as one male will get very pushy even with Plecostumus that are almost six inches long every once in a while when he is trying to entice the female Ram.

[brewmaster15]

Dave,
Is your goal to breed them foremost or have them bred in your mixed tank?

If you want them to breed a 10 gal tank and over turned clay pot base is all you need. When I breed them.its much like discus.. take the male and female and place in the tank..Nature usually does the rest...especially if theres already been pairing going on and spawning attempts ..That 3rd fish is probably too distracting. If you separate them and they still dont have fry. swap out the males.

If you want to breed them a mixed tank.. create a barrier... I usually use bricks and make an "L" in the tank corner... gives them a honey moon suite they can easily defend.

al

[dagray]

Thanks Al. My initial goal wasn't to breed them, but I figure if I get a few spawns to grow out I can maybe make a little cash to put toward the discus purchase. Also I think my eight year old would be enthralled with the fry growing out.