Clark

So last Tuesday, I went down to Portland (a two hour drive from here) to pick up a friend, and returned with a pair of ram cichlids from a fish store. (Btw, if you ever go to Portland, check out the Wet Spot, it's an awesome store)

Anyway, I had a 20 gallon waiting for them here, pH 6.5, temp 84 Fahrenheit. Turned the temp down to 82 yesterday afternoon, and now they've spawned! Ah, I'm so happy! I've wanted these guys for so long!

One problem though! I go back to school on the 13th, and that's a 6 hour drive! I didn't expect them to spawn so soon, as they look kinda small, aren't very brightly colored (the female doesn't even have that pink spot on the belly that they are supposed to get when they feel like breeding), and weren't in the best of condition. The male also has a small redish area that I figured was a wound, and was worried would get infected, which is why the temp was at 84.

Nessie!!!

Congratltions but I'm not sure what your going to do when your at school sorry! Hope something works out!

susitna-flower

It sounds like you have the touch, congrats.....

Two hour drive isn't bad. How long do you have before you have to make the trip? I know there are many more issues than just the safe transport of the adults. Hope you can work it all out.

Clark

Yeah, the 6 hour drive to school is what I'm worried about, I leave a week from tomorrow.

My original plan for moving was to put five gallons of tank water, the loose plants (hornwort, water hyacinth, water lettuce, and frogbit), and the fish in one of those 18 gallon rubbermade totes, and wrap it in blankets. I hope that the plants will help with the nitrogen problem a bit. I think I'll just keep the babies with the pair, and hope for the best.

I figured I'd just drain the tank, and leave the rooted plants, wood, and sand in place.

jack11

congrats on the spawning, as sustina flower says u must have the magic touch, or as the guy in the fgirl next door says, "It's like a gift, it's like i can't control it."

Clark

Heh. Yeah, unfortunately, they ate the eggs yesterday. I'm not surprised as I've read a lot that they often don't make good parents the first few times. And I don't have to worry about transporting the fry now.