neverendingninja

Well, yesterday I drove 5 hours north to see a show(http://you_tube.com/watch?v=g_txpHfRuaM <--awesome video I shot[remove the _ from between you and tube]), and I didn't get home until 6am this morning, didn't go to sleep til 7:15am....then, I lounged around all day trying to recoup and finally peeked in my fish tank, and my bolivian rams have a clutch of eggs right on the gravel, in the middle of my wisteria. All this while the temp is 83ºF, and I'm still struggling to get the cycle caught back up after medicating the tank. We'll see what happens. All the eggs look fertile, and both parents are actively guarding them.

Wish them luck

Butterfly

WOW! Rams are so cool with their eggs and fry. They may even move them around a few times. Your so lucky
Carol

COBettaCouple

very cool! best of luck with them - can't wait to see pics of the fry!

neverendingninja

I don't think I'm going to remove the fry from the tank and rear them separately. At this point in time I'm not looking to raise a bunch of fish, but its very rewarding to know my fish are happy enough to breed. However, I think one or two may survive, as its quite a large clutch of eggs, and there are a ton of spots for them to hide.

neverendingninja

Well, she started munching on eggs this evening. She spits something out, but due to her position in the tank, I can't tell whether she is spitting out the whole egg or pieces. I definitely don't think she's spitting out wigglers, because I don't see any motion. Oh well.

COBettaCouple

you think she's eating them & not moving them?

neverendingninja

I'm pretty sure she ate them all, but she's still hanging out in her little nesting spot. I don't see any eggs anywhere, but unfortunately can't get a great view of the area...so, if I don't see wigglers today, she ate them. Oh well! I'm just glad they were comfortable to spawn in the first place. And FYI, this is in a pH of less than 6. With 0kH.

neverendingninja

Woohoo! She didn't eat them. She moved them into a nice little pile, and now I see wiggling going on by the base of a plant! I've got baby fish. Once she comes out of her spot, I'll try to snag some pictures.

Sabi

Wow you lucky! Thats really super!

COBettaCouple

great to hear she was only moving them! gonna be wigglers in the tank!

neverendingninja

Well, someone ate them, or she lost them all to the substrate. Unfortunately, its quite full of gaps, being large gravel and all, and I'm afraid it may have allowed the wigglers to wiggle out of her reach.

Its all over now, and she's actively swimming with the rest of the gang...not beating anyone up anymore

Hopefully, shortly after Christmas, I'll be switching to a coarse sand/eco-complete substrate so that will be more appropriate for their needs

melawii

I had the exact same concerns with gravel while my kribensis were breeding, I switched over to sand, but there is still a good inch or gravel underneath for plant support. I'm pretty sure I lost some wigglers to the cracks and crevices of darn gravel! haha, but sand can be a pest as well... I just prefer it deffinately for breeding. sorry to hear about your wigglers, hopefully you'll have some more soon!

neverendingninja

Like I said, I'm not too upset about losing the babies. I'm just glad that my adult fish were happy enough to at least attempt to make a family, even if dad is like a rolling stone.

Isabella

Don't worry - they'll spawn again And I'd love to see some pics of your Rams!

COBettaCouple

yea, we need to get some of that stuff too for when our Julies get to breeding time.. i'll look forward to seeing how you set your tank up when you get it.

neverendingninja

Looks like it will be shortly after Christmas. I think my mom is either going to get me the eco-complete, or just give me the money to get it. That would be ridiculously awesome. Oh yeah, pictures of fish right before breeding here

Tayful

Sorry to hear that you lost them - I absolutely love bolivian rams (even though I have not owned any - YET), and when I get mine I also hope they'll be happy enough to breed. That's so exciting!