German blue rams stopped spawning

Hello I just got 3 german blue rams recently and two have paired off.
They looked like they were trying spawn to as they cleaned off a rock and started taking turns passing over the area... The female had the part sticking out where the eggs come out (sorry I can't remember the name of it) and she was dragging it across the rock but nothing was coming out... I know they take a few times trying to get it right but would that be a normal thing? Or does that mean she is sterile? Since they have stopped trying to spawn but they still follow eachother around and her belly is still pink any ideas? Thank you

 

Patience. It does not mean she is sterile. Often they make several passes to see if the surface feels clean enough before they start laying eggs.

 

Thank you I am so excited they have started off so well. Such an interesting species! hopefully one day they will hatch a successful batch of fry but for now I'll wait.... Very impatiently

 

They are at it again.... I think I have eggs this time but it's so hard to tell with where they are hovering over ... I was hoping they would lay them on the darker grey slate lol

Went to take another photo and there is definitely eggs !

View attachment 1481093317735.jpg

 

Whats your PH and water temp?

 

We have hard water here and it's got a high PH so I really don't think any will make it unfortunately however I was told these guys were used to our water... Mine comes out of the tap at 7.6 - 7.8 and my tank is 8-8.2 the temperature is normally 80 as that is the high range for some of my other fish but I turned it up just slightly while the eggs are in there... If I get some free swimmers I am going to set up a small tank with filter media from this tank and this tanks water and hope for the best ... Eventually hoping to get RO system put in but until then just try to do the best I can

 

I would suggest adding peat moss, that's what I've always done with my Ram tanks. Your PH is way too high for them, they are very sensitive fish, I'm surprised they're even laying eggs. I don't mean to be a downer, but I highly doubt the fry will survive. However, if you add Fluval Peat Granules in a mesh bag you can do it. I had hard water and my PH was 7.8 and now I have soft water and my PH is 6.

 

I would if I could find some Will be driving out to a better fish store fairly soon which should have some and they have much better reviews than my LFS ... I imagine they will be able to tell me amounts to use and how long it buffers the PH for ... In your experience does it take a lot and how often does it need to be replaced?


I have a softener pillow I rinse out with salt water every few days but I know it doesn't help the PH

 

Do you have access to Amazon? I get it from there and I use a half a cup per 10 gallons, with your water I'd try 3/4 of a cup per 10 gallons. You can purchase a mesh bag or use something like pantyhose, and just let it hang in the water or you can even put it in the filter. It usually lasts me about a month. I do warn you that you should rinse it before you add it or it'll slightly color your water. Another thing that helps is driftwood, but be especially wary of driftwood because it can, and it will color your water. Luckily I bought some that had been in the tank at the fish store.

 

Thank you ! Yes I will grab some off Amazon tonight ... I have been wondering how long it lasts and how much to use for weeks now and never found a definitive answer, heard of people using it in large amounts in big garbage cans to treat the water before it goes into the tank but I just don't have the room to do that indoors. I do have a peice of driftwood however its been in use for years so I don't think it has any effect at all anymore. I really appriciate the help!

Sorry for all the questions, I know these eggs probably won't make it but then again I was overly suprised they paired off right away and surprised they tried the first time to spawn and surprised they actually layed eggs this time... And suprised at their parenting... They all look sorta clear, definitely not white. Should I try to put them in a mesh breeder box once they start hatching (with something like a colander around it to keep the big guys away from the sides) until I get my nursery tank set up ? (nursery tank would have media from this tanks filter and this tanks water mostly.
Or just wait until next batch?
Thanks again JakePetValu!

 

I would just wait. Don't be discouraged if it takes a couple of batches to work.

 

I left the light on since they had layed the eggs because I watched and each time they left the eggs alone. Last night I gave them a night light and turned off the big one and they seemed to take turns staying there.... Woke up this morning and I only see a few eggs left. Ah well I've only had babies from livebearers and mouth broaders so it was cool to watch !
Peat will be here in about 2 weeks and I'll have another 36g tank set up to put all my other fish in so these guys have the whole tank to themselves and their fry besides for a few cardinals.

Better luck next time!

 

Awesome, good luck

 

Peat came in already! .... Any idea how long it takes to lower the PH ?

 

7.9 from 8.2 in one night... Cool thank you ! I may be able to keep cardinals again

For water changes do you just add the water straight to the tank now? And the peat will fix it up in there or do I need to treat it before hand now?

 

Down to about 7.7 but my water is soooo gross looking! Ahhh next time I will rinse it more!

 

hey guys,

I was wondering if there is someone out there with a bit more knowledge about these fish than I have right now. I have a male and female pair of German Rams. I have been attempting to breed them but until now I have not had any luck. The male used to chase around the female and she would hide. Now all of a sudden the male is chilling and the female charges him now and again. I would really appreciate any help you may have, please find below pictures of my beautiful pair. I was wondering if someone could share some expertise on if my female is ready to mate.

 

Were they a breeding pair when you bought them or did you just purchase a male and female?

PS great looking fish!

 

Were they a breeding pair when you bought them or did you just purchase a male and female?

No sadly they aren't from a breeder, picked them out at my local aquarium store.

 

Most Cichlids are pretty liberal spawners but they don't always pair off to breed. How long have you had them and who else is in the tank?

 

Most Cichlids are pretty liberal spawners but they don't always pair off to breed. How long have you had them and who else is in the tank?

I'm coming up to the yearly mark of owning them. In the tank I have 4 Angel Fish, 13 Neon Tetras, 3 Corydas, 1 Pleco and 2 diameter algae eaters

I have set up a second tank and Is cycled incase I needed it for breeding...below are the two tanks

 

Is it possible that they have laid eggs and the others have eaten the eggs without you noticing?

You could try to introduce another female and see if that produces any results but it could also result in one of the two females getting bullied. If harmony is more important to you maybe you could just let them be

 

Perhaps that could have happened. I sit daily in front of my aquarium and observe all the activity. I have never seen either of them both clear any area to begin spawning. The idea of purchasing another female has crossed my mind. At first when I purchased them I had 2 males and 1 female, had to give away one of the males as I was told that both males were tiring out the female. I gave him away and assumed once they both had each other it will look start, for now I have been proven wrong. I might finally opt for a second female and observe what happens and if any bullying goes about I shall move her to my other setup.

 

I had a pair of gold rams and the spawned a few times on a flat rock. They only did it twice that I am aware of and despite their best efforts my pleco got their eggs both times.
Good Luck!!

 

What temp and pH is the tank?

You have stocking issues, if you'd like to discuss them

 

What temp and pH is the tank?

You have stocking issues, if you'd like to discuss them

Temperature is 26.3 degrees/79.34 Farenheit
PH is neutral at 7

You reckon I might have the tank over stocked? Maybe it is time to set up the other thank then

 

What size tank is this?

Cories should be in larger groups of their own species. Not all cories are temp compatible with GBRs though. What species do you have?

Neons need cooler water than GBR and angels, and are likely to be eaten by the angels when they're adults.

What species of pleco? What species of algae eater?

 

Its a 25 gallon tank

I have 2 Aeneus Cories and 1 Black Aeneus Corie

My pleco is a Marble Pleco and tbh not quite sure what species my algae eaters are.

Here are a few photos,

Also I have an update, I built up a 15 gallon tank holding just my two GBR. Added some pictures of that too

 

Unfortunately your pleco will get much too large for your tank size. I'd rehome him. The algae eaters look like Chinese algae eaters. These will get large and aggressive, so I'd rehome them too. I would add more C. aeneus though