well....gonna do another ram spawn.....
- Thread starter Emg
- Start date
Well, the third batch of eggs hatched this afternoon. I syphoned some of them out, but I'm going to let the parents take care of a few. They'll most likely get eaten but that's ok.
These little fry are tiny enough that I'm afraid thier older siblings might just make a meal out of them. I put them in a bowl and am floating them in the fry tank for now. Not sure how well that's going to work without an airstone. I think if I put one in there it will cause too much turbulance for the fry. I plan on changing out about half the water daily...see how far that gets em.
If they do well in the bowl, I'll add them to the fry tank when they become freeswiming, which takes about a week...maybe a little less.
These little fry are tiny enough that I'm afraid thier older siblings might just make a meal out of them. I put them in a bowl and am floating them in the fry tank for now. Not sure how well that's going to work without an airstone. I think if I put one in there it will cause too much turbulance for the fry. I plan on changing out about half the water daily...see how far that gets em.
If they do well in the bowl, I'll add them to the fry tank when they become freeswiming, which takes about a week...maybe a little less.
Took a few pics of how I have the bowl setup with the new batch of fry...
And a closeup of the bottom of the bowl with some tiny little fry in it.....
The fry seem to be doing just fine in this bowl without an airstone. They have become pretty active and will swim up towards the top of the water from time to time.
And a closeup of the bottom of the bowl with some tiny little fry in it.....
The fry seem to be doing just fine in this bowl without an airstone. They have become pretty active and will swim up towards the top of the water from time to time.
Agh! what did I do wrong? I think all my fry are dead or dying. They were just learning how to swim a couple of days ago, and now they are almost all dead. Should I have done more waterchanges? How much do you do? I don't think they were needing me to feed them yet were they? Any ideas why I lost them?
I have no idea stingray...sorry to hear that.
Check your water parameters so that you can get an idea about what's happening in there.
I don't change out water as often as I should, frankly......I worry about taking out too much of the infusoria that they're snacking on in there...along with being concerned about killing any more off with water changes...lol. Though syphoning the water in instead of slowly pouring it in seems to have taken care of that issue.
Water temp ? Anything different happen with the tank today ? Did you just do a water change ?
Don't give up. Keep your fry tank setup and ready for the next batch. If you're sure you lost them all, do a good water change and clean the bottom....add more plants and if you have a "healthy" fish you can toss in there temporarily to keep the tank cycled...that would be good. Do regular maintenance on that tank to keep it good and clean and by the time your rams spawn again that tank should have a good supply of infusoria for the fry to feed on for the first week or so.
Get some micro worms or brine shrimp eggs too. So that you have something to offer them if it doesn't look like they're getting enough from the tank. Mine obviously are so one feeding of brine shrimp is apparently enough for them each day....so far. But I keep an eye on them and if I see that they don't seem to be getting enough to eat, then I'll start feeding them 3 times a day with the bbs....along with the powdered stuff...so they will start eating that. You can tell because you can actually see thier little bellies full after they eat. They should look like they have something in them most if not all the time.
Hope it works out for you Sting...dont' get discouraged...it's a learning experience !
Check your water parameters so that you can get an idea about what's happening in there.
I don't change out water as often as I should, frankly......I worry about taking out too much of the infusoria that they're snacking on in there...along with being concerned about killing any more off with water changes...lol. Though syphoning the water in instead of slowly pouring it in seems to have taken care of that issue.
Water temp ? Anything different happen with the tank today ? Did you just do a water change ?
Don't give up. Keep your fry tank setup and ready for the next batch. If you're sure you lost them all, do a good water change and clean the bottom....add more plants and if you have a "healthy" fish you can toss in there temporarily to keep the tank cycled...that would be good. Do regular maintenance on that tank to keep it good and clean and by the time your rams spawn again that tank should have a good supply of infusoria for the fry to feed on for the first week or so.
Get some micro worms or brine shrimp eggs too. So that you have something to offer them if it doesn't look like they're getting enough from the tank. Mine obviously are so one feeding of brine shrimp is apparently enough for them each day....so far. But I keep an eye on them and if I see that they don't seem to be getting enough to eat, then I'll start feeding them 3 times a day with the bbs....along with the powdered stuff...so they will start eating that. You can tell because you can actually see thier little bellies full after they eat. They should look like they have something in them most if not all the time.
Hope it works out for you Sting...dont' get discouraged...it's a learning experience !
Oh, EMG, by the way, I am thinking about getting a few more tanks, and a few more Rams. I want to try breeding them regularly. I might be interested in purchasing some of yours when they are ready. I'm up in Eastern MA, so I don't think I'm _too_ far from you.
Just wanted to let you know.
Oh, and as for my current pair.. I'm pretty sure the female is just being coy.. poor male has been hovering over the spot they've been cleaning for 2 weeks, waiting for her to be ready. Who knew fish and people were so similar? :joke: :bday: :hi:
Just wanted to let you know.
Oh, and as for my current pair.. I'm pretty sure the female is just being coy.. poor male has been hovering over the spot they've been cleaning for 2 weeks, waiting for her to be ready. Who knew fish and people were so similar? :joke: :bday: :hi:
I started reading this thread last night, as I was in search of info about breeding Rams.
I am the new proud owner of four of these awesome little fishes....they have been in my Q tank (5 gal) since Saturday aft. Ever since we brought them home on Sat, a pair had formed immediately and the dance started ! The two busily and aggressively shooed away any visitors, and would also make a point of swimming across the tank to let their feelings be known. Last night I was out for a while and when I returned I found that the female had laid some eggs !! WOW ! She continued for about another hour, as her partner would slowly swim over top of the eggs and wiggle. They continued over the evening to guard these eggs, and now this morning the male is the sole guardian. The eggs appear to be getting more color to them .... less translucent than before. My biggest problem here is that this was all done in my Q tank ! I don't have any more seeded filter material to set up another tank, which I have available (a 10 gal) The eggs are laid on some gravel in the back left corner of the tank. I have one live plant in there and a clay pot for cover but the fish seem to ignore it all. My filter is a hob AC (no carbon in it) with sponges from my main tank which is heavily planted. I am thinking that to try to get these eggs to hatch I could just remove the fish to my main tank, but that would be too early since I should have them in the Q for at least a couple of weeks.
Maybe a tank divider for the Q? Now I am wishing that I had set up the 10 gal as my Q tank, but I have limited space and just used the 5.
This thread has been getting alot of attention so I posted here rather than start new...so sorry if I am highjacking the thread. Emg thanks for taking the time to post all the info that you have.
I am the new proud owner of four of these awesome little fishes....they have been in my Q tank (5 gal) since Saturday aft. Ever since we brought them home on Sat, a pair had formed immediately and the dance started ! The two busily and aggressively shooed away any visitors, and would also make a point of swimming across the tank to let their feelings be known. Last night I was out for a while and when I returned I found that the female had laid some eggs !! WOW ! She continued for about another hour, as her partner would slowly swim over top of the eggs and wiggle. They continued over the evening to guard these eggs, and now this morning the male is the sole guardian. The eggs appear to be getting more color to them .... less translucent than before. My biggest problem here is that this was all done in my Q tank ! I don't have any more seeded filter material to set up another tank, which I have available (a 10 gal) The eggs are laid on some gravel in the back left corner of the tank. I have one live plant in there and a clay pot for cover but the fish seem to ignore it all. My filter is a hob AC (no carbon in it) with sponges from my main tank which is heavily planted. I am thinking that to try to get these eggs to hatch I could just remove the fish to my main tank, but that would be too early since I should have them in the Q for at least a couple of weeks.
Maybe a tank divider for the Q? Now I am wishing that I had set up the 10 gal as my Q tank, but I have limited space and just used the 5.
This thread has been getting alot of attention so I posted here rather than start new...so sorry if I am highjacking the thread. Emg thanks for taking the time to post all the info that you have.
No problem Aqua.....any information on breeding rams is welcome here. That's what I set the thread up for ! 
And I don't mind any corrections on anything that I'm doing either. I'm no professional breeder or anything..I think that's pretty clear...lol....I just do what seems to work for me...trial and error.
Clurin...I live in Northeast CT...not far from UCONN. You are certainly welcome to some should this batch work out well. I don't know how far away you are..but if you don't mind the drive...I won't mind selling some to you..
Lol on your female being coy.....I wonder though...could it be that she's rejected him ? I have one pair that the female would chase the male away..though it was obvious that she was ready to spawn. She did eventually lay the eggs, but I'm not so sure he was able to feritize them since I didn't witness the spawn. She wouldn't let him help guard them so that makes me suspect that he didn't get to "Daddy" them. The eggs went bad..another sign that they probably weren't fertile. Just something to ponder...maybe you want to get her another bo...see if she'd like to make a switch....(also, a very human like trait
)
And I don't mind any corrections on anything that I'm doing either. I'm no professional breeder or anything..I think that's pretty clear...lol....I just do what seems to work for me...trial and error.Clurin...I live in Northeast CT...not far from UCONN. You are certainly welcome to some should this batch work out well. I don't know how far away you are..but if you don't mind the drive...I won't mind selling some to you..
Lol on your female being coy.....I wonder though...could it be that she's rejected him ? I have one pair that the female would chase the male away..though it was obvious that she was ready to spawn. She did eventually lay the eggs, but I'm not so sure he was able to feritize them since I didn't witness the spawn. She wouldn't let him help guard them so that makes me suspect that he didn't get to "Daddy" them. The eggs went bad..another sign that they probably weren't fertile. Just something to ponder...maybe you want to get her another bo...see if she'd like to make a switch....(also, a very human like trait
)
OK...two things......
I dumped the little fry from the second batch in with the older sibs. They're swimming around now and I figure they can hold thier own in there, and they're better off in the tank than in that bowl..though they managed pretty well considering.
Second, The fry I left in with the parents are also now swimming around. Mom and dad have them all gathered into a group and are doing a great job of caring for them...so far. This pair of rams are sooo sweet ! They're such good parents (till they eat them )...and they're soooo sweet to each other. I never see these two bickering. Dad seems to take most of the chore of staying with the kids on himself, though when mom stops by he takes a breather, but not for too long. He comes right back than mom goes and chases the female guppies a bit.
I have some REALLY great pics of them that I'll try and post either tonight or tomorrow....have to go tuck a few little ones of my own in for the night !
I dumped the little fry from the second batch in with the older sibs. They're swimming around now and I figure they can hold thier own in there, and they're better off in the tank than in that bowl..though they managed pretty well considering.
Second, The fry I left in with the parents are also now swimming around. Mom and dad have them all gathered into a group and are doing a great job of caring for them...so far. This pair of rams are sooo sweet ! They're such good parents (till they eat them
)...and they're soooo sweet to each other. I never see these two bickering. Dad seems to take most of the chore of staying with the kids on himself, though when mom stops by he takes a breather, but not for too long. He comes right back than mom goes and chases the female guppies a bit. I have some REALLY great pics of them that I'll try and post either tonight or tomorrow....have to go tuck a few little ones of my own in for the night !
OK....all tucked in......here's a few pics that came out very nice for me...click on them for a larger view....
Mom's the one with the side view....
This is a nice shot of dad....
This shot is the best I could do as far as showing the little ones....he's such a good daddy....at least for now...lol....
Mom's the one with the side view....
This is a nice shot of dad....
This shot is the best I could do as far as showing the little ones....he's such a good daddy....at least for now...lol....
