New Project

[jeep]

Just getting caught up. This is fun to watch! I'v always liked Rams, but these Black are very nice!!!

[LizStreithorst]

You need a pair, Brian. His blue ones are very blue, too.

[danotaylor]

Looking great Pat! You guys got me thinking I need a pair or 2 in my 125 community tank. Not for breeding, but just to enjoy. I have always liked Rams but the ones I have kept have been genetically weak and didn't last long. Tom's seem very robust...hmmmmm

[Second Hand Pat]

You've got it going on, Pat. Tom does indeed breed good fish.

Yes he does Liz and the fish seem to have a clue which is super nice

Just getting caught up. This is fun to watch! I'v always liked Rams, but these Black are very nice!!!

Thank you Brian and these are super nice fish

So the fry seem a little less active this morning but not sure if that is a concern or an observation??
Pat

[coralbandit]

I was surprised to see them swimming so much while still holding their yolk sac .
Hopefully they are just settling in before they form the cloud .
I appreciate all the kind words from you guys .

[Second Hand Pat]

I was surprised to see them swimming so much while still holding their yolk sac .
Hopefully they are just settling in before they form the cloud .
I appreciate all the kind words from you guys .

I spend several times watching them today Tom and they were still pretty active. The parents and fry hoard looks great. I fully expect a swarm soon.
Pat

[Second Hand Pat]

Appears to be a bit of yolk sack left on the fry...

[Second Hand Pat]

The swarm appears to have started. I gave them some micro worms this morning. Later today their version of BBS will be available.

[LizStreithorst]

You watched them very carefully. Your eyes work better than mine. Your pics and making videos are better than everything I've ever seen.

My blacks just spawned again in a sneaky spot. One of the front corners of the tank! I gave them a sock of tea. They were successful before with the tea so my hopes are up.

[Second Hand Pat]

You watched them very carefully. Your eyes work better than mine. Your pics and making videos are better than everything I've ever seen.

My blacks just spawned again in a sneaky spot. One of the front corners of the tank! I gave them a sock of tea. They were successful before with the tea so my hopes are up.

Thank you Liz but honestly a bit worried. Fry are all over the tank with many gathered at the top of the water column. Tom suggested collecting near the top was not a good thing. The parents are still trying to collect them. The water column is full of live BBS but not sure if the fry are eating or not. I thought the fry would hang around the parents but perhaps I am wrong. I did drop the water column so the tank is half full and did a 50% water change.

[coralbandit]

I was surprised again to see the fry near top of tank .
This is not common in my experience and just seems the opposite of what fry would do in nature as most their predators not in the water with them are above the surface and strike from there .
I know they don't know all this but it is just not something I see often .
I think lowering the water level was a real good choice .
IMO the closer to the parents the fry stay the better .

[Second Hand Pat]

I was surprised again to see the fry near top of tank .
This is not common in my experience and just seems the opposite of what fry would do in nature as most their predators not in the water with them are above the surface and strike from there .
I know they don't know all this but it is just not something I see often .
I think lowering the water level was a real good choice .
IMO the closer to the parents the fry stay the better .

Tom, is there something I should be doing better? I will admit the TDS is about 200 or so. I could make the WC water in a bucket with a bit of RO.
Pat

[coralbandit]

The TDS only really matters for the eggs the best I understand ..
So I don't think they are behaving odd due to water ?
That being said I breed my rams at 100TDS and can run into trouble with eggs at levels like 130 with some , while others have been fine higher then that ?
So if the eggs hatched which they did then I really don't think any change is needed..
I was thinking if you have a very fine powder food maybe try feeding that while they skim the surface ?
I am at a loss for why they are up there ..I don't see that in my tanks but I breed in 5 and 10g tanks so they are not real deep .
Usually the fry stay pretty tight to the parents ..
I think it was Steve whose ram fry were doing the same before ? I can't remember how that turned out though .

[Second Hand Pat]

So I spoke with Ryan Smith as he raises a lot of cichlids And he suggested turning off the tank light which I did. Seems like there’s less fry at the surface of the water now. I’ll keep everybody posted.
Pat

[LizStreithorst]

Why didn't we thing of that? It's always the best thing to do if fish are under stress.