Ram Escavation

[Jay]

I have a pair of German Blue and a pair of Bolivian Rams.
The Bolivian pair have excavated a hole in the gravel approximately 3” wide and 1.5” – 2” deep. Has been about three days and I can see the bottom of the hole moving (wiggle). I just can’t seem to get a good enough picture with enough contrast to see the hole clearly. They are diligently guarding the area. I have never seen a ram dig and maintain a hole like this.

Comment and opinion is welcome.

[labont865]

You are prbably going to have some beautiful little babies my friend. Just be careful Rams arent the most diligent parents, they often almost forget they have babies. They dont generally eat their young but often forget to protect them from other fish, and will often forget to protect the eggs too. So it may be best if possible to move the other pair to a seperate tank for awhile.

[Makino]

When I bred Microgeophagus Ramirezi in the past, the digging of several pits in the sand at various locations around the tank would almost always be followed by a spawn. They never spawned in the pits though. Eggs would be deposited on large smooth leaves, slate or wood. Once hatched, the wrigglers would be taken to one of pits and sometimes moved between pits until free-swimming.

Just out of curiosity, what's your ph and hardness?

[cdawson]

If there are any other fish in the tank you may want to remove them temporarily, dwarf cichlids can't raise spawns well in community settings because the activity from other fish distract them. While they're distracted the other fish in the tank eat the fry. They also will be VERY aggressive towards the other pair, possibly even killing the other pair in defence.

[Wrench]

What are the ideal conditions to induce spawning in Rams?

[Jay]

I know the picture is a little misleading but the spawning pair are Bolivian Rams, not the German Blue. They are really lit up due to their spawning activity. I am really fascinated with the meticulous house keeping in the hole.

There were some questions about tank specs…

75 gal
76.4 degrees Fahrenheit
Ammonia = 0
Nitrite = 0
Nitrate = 5ppm
pH = 7.6
Phosphates = .5 ppm
GH = 2 degrees
KH = 4 degrees

Planted Tank 2.5 wpg/ 10 hours no CO2

[Wrench]

My German Blues are luckily a pair, I'd like to coerce them into spawning. The female has developed a nice pink/red belly. So you're saying that they seem to like extremely clean, soft water.