Timid Ram

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Hi all, I got some Rams last weekend and although they are stunning, healthy and coloured up they are very timid.

Each time I approach the tank they shy away and I often find the huddled in a corner of the tank. I know rams can have great little characters but they just don't show it. They're in with three plecs and the flow is medium to strong. There are lots of rocks etc and some plastic plants and yet they still don't seem happy.

Does anyone have any ideas as to why they are like this? And any tips on how I might help them settle?

Sam

I saw those super blues on Ste Chesters eBay page the other week. They looked really nice.

Steve, do you know their background? Ie what were the parents? Do they breed true or are you expecting a range of different colour forms in the fry?

I'd be really interested to hear about their genetics etc.

Sam

I can get the genetics Sam but yes they breed true no mixed colours

I got mine at the bca auction for a whole lot cheaper than they are going for on eBay

The lady who created the strain is ghipsi on th bca she also created the lilacs

Lol, mine were also from Ghipsi at the BCA auction. I didn't know she was also behind the super blue variant.

She's been doing some great stuff with the colour forms of Rams. I'm really interested in the genetics side and what colour forms you get from different crosses.

Sam

Mine came from steve chester and were breed by baldyman from parents from ghipsi

I think these Rams might spawn soon. The female's looking very plump and her tube is starting to descend.

With three L340 plecs in the tank who are very active at night there is no way the eggs will survive. I am very aware that I would like them to parent raise eventually but I would also like to secure some fry.

Any help/tips? Do I pull the eggs or let them get eaten until I can move the plecs?

Sam

Brilliant news, and I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for you

Even if you didn't have any plecs in the tank with them, there's a good possibility that the eggs wouldn't survive, right? Especially if rams are notoriously bad parents?

Would taking the eggs out on their first spawn potentially cause any problems later on? Like putting them off spawning in the future? If not II'd say if you have the time and the space, then take the eggs?

If you want to raise the fry I would remove the eggs, the plecs would definately eat the eggs.

Well I cleaned this tank out about an hour ago and the Rams have spawned. They've dug out the substrate in the front right corner and laid on a piece of terracotta that sits in that corner.

I didn't realise they'd spawn that quickly after a water change so when I approached the tank just I spooked them a little.

I now really have to make the call on pulling eggs or not. If I pull the eggs now they may not spawn again or may never parent raise in the future but if I leave them they're Plec food.

Tough tough call!

Sam

My metae spawn exactly the same, literally as the last clean water is going in the tank they start, its weird how a wc triggers some fish.

The plecs have already eaten the eggs. The tanks lit naturally do as its gotten darker they've become more active and have obviously discovered the eggs.

At least the rams are breeding!

Sam

Big things are happening with this pair now. They've grown loads since I bought them and I've recently given them their own dedicated breeding tank. The water quality is better, the water flow is reduced and temperature has increased.

I checked on them this morning and theyve started to colour up and tubes have descended. They're due a water change this afternoon so I am hopeful that will trigger a spawning.

Just need to decide whether to leave them to it or pull at least some of the eggs/fry. I'm thinking of letting them get them to wrigglers/free swimming and then remove half. That way they get practise and I can guarantee some fry. Thoughts?

Sam

Some pics I managed to snap this afternoon. No sign of any eggs yet, but I think she's thinking about laying in the coconut shell.




Sam

They are stunning! Keeping my fingers crossed that they spawn soon

And I think removing half sounds a good plan- like you said, that way they get practice too

Well they ate their last batch through the night but I returned home tonight to find a new batch of eggs. I'm leaving them to it again to see if they get any better at it and get them any further this time.

If they ever make it to the free swimming stage I will likely try removing half of the fry for me to raise.

Sam

Well they certainly seem to be getting enough practice! Hopefully they'll start getting it right soon

OMG!!!! I have free-swimmers!

I moved the tank decor around and put their favourite spawning place (the half coconut shell) right at the back of the tank with plants all around it so they felt secure. This of course meant I couldn't see what was going on so I hadn't even realised they'd spawned!

Just went to feed today and noticed the female in the coconut shell with some "detritus" around her. I had a closer look with a torch and noticed they were actually fry!!

I'm not prepared for fry. I don't have any BBS ready or other small foods available as I lost my micro-worm culture.

Any advice for first foods? Perhaps something I could get my hands on today/tomorrow?

Sam

They've brought the fry out today. I've started to feed BBS but they're so tiny I hope they can eat them.

Here's a few pics I managed to grab at feeding this morning.




Sam

They've still got the fry! I've had some problems with the BBS but back on track now. They're growing slowly but doing well.

The females keeping the male away but no real aggretion.

Overall I'm pretty happy with them.

Sam

Fantastic news Sam How many fry do you think you have?

Quite a few. I recon around 50. Here's some pics:






Sam

Great photos How are they doing?

They've grown loads since these pics and are doing well. However, I leave for Spain tomorrow for two weeks so have had to move them from Cambridge to Birmingham and left them with a friend. They didn't travel too well and I'm not sure how well they'll do whilst I'm away.

If they are still alive when I get back I'll move them back to Camridge and continue raising them.

I could already see some golds popping up and am very excited to grow them up.

Sam

Hopefully they'll pull through for you

Have a lovely time in Spain by the way!

Well, unsurprisingly these all didn't make. I took them to a friend and they were kept alive for a few days until he had to leave for two days and then they all died.

I also not long after returning back to Cambridge lost my Male. I was gutted! He got stuck behind a filter inlet and was dead by the time I found him. I still have the female and am trying to line up an electric blue male for her. I have no Idea what I'll get out from that sort of cross so it should be interesting.

Sam