Well hello peoples..
I wanted to share with you before I forget what the events where. About 2 months or so I purchased 2 Golden Rams and 2 German Blue rams and one Bolivian Ram. This was to complete my want list if you should say for the African Dwarf Cichlids. I put the Golden Rams in my 90 gallon I know it was not a good thing to do but I only have 3 tanks. I left to take my nephews home and when I returned BAM one of my Golden Rams (GR) had no tail fin. Lucky enough it was the smaller one. I immediately put the other GR in the other tank with the German Blue Rams (GBR). Since then they have squandered over territory but not to extremes. About a month ago I was doing a w/c and noticed that the GBRs where attacking the brush and vacuum tube. I looked a little closer and to my surprise there was a very small area with eggs. This was there first spawn. Later that day the two GBRs started to eat them. I asked some people on this site why that was happening and they said that for the first to 5th spawn they are learning to be parents.
Fast forward a bit
Last week I noticed that the belly of the female GBR was getting bigger and changing color. I new that she was swelling with eggs. Closer to Thursday the male was cleaning the same spot as the last spawn and taking turns with the female as well. On Saturday I noticed that the male GR was interfering with the two GBRs and coming between them like he was trying to separate them. So I moved him back to the 90 gallon. He is now bigger and is doing ok. On Saturday evening the GBRs colors where booming, and there aggression was getting stronger. I knew that it was getting close. On Sunday there behavior got stronger and color got very bright, and the females egg funnel (I dont know what it is called) was getting very long. By Sunday evening we had some friends of ours come over for dinner and as I was walking by the tank I noticed that the male was vibrating and scooting along the surface of the area that they have been cleaning. Then to my surprise the female repeated the pattern of the male. I looked closer and WOW there is a whole mess of eggs 3 or 4 times more than the first time. I left the lamp on over night by the tank so they would have some light to help them guard the eggs.
So to sum this up I got to watch my GBRs spawn and so did my son, wife, and friends. It was an amazing thing to experience for the first time. I need to work on getting them there own tank I am working on a 40 gallon now hope to get it for fathers day. At least I know when the eggs where laid so I can prepare if needed since I dont have a separate tank for the fry I hope some will survive. I will keep you posted on this. Thanks
Don
I wanted to share with you before I forget what the events where. About 2 months or so I purchased 2 Golden Rams and 2 German Blue rams and one Bolivian Ram. This was to complete my want list if you should say for the African Dwarf Cichlids. I put the Golden Rams in my 90 gallon I know it was not a good thing to do but I only have 3 tanks. I left to take my nephews home and when I returned BAM one of my Golden Rams (GR) had no tail fin. Lucky enough it was the smaller one. I immediately put the other GR in the other tank with the German Blue Rams (GBR). Since then they have squandered over territory but not to extremes. About a month ago I was doing a w/c and noticed that the GBRs where attacking the brush and vacuum tube. I looked a little closer and to my surprise there was a very small area with eggs. This was there first spawn. Later that day the two GBRs started to eat them. I asked some people on this site why that was happening and they said that for the first to 5th spawn they are learning to be parents.
Fast forward a bit
Last week I noticed that the belly of the female GBR was getting bigger and changing color. I new that she was swelling with eggs. Closer to Thursday the male was cleaning the same spot as the last spawn and taking turns with the female as well. On Saturday I noticed that the male GR was interfering with the two GBRs and coming between them like he was trying to separate them. So I moved him back to the 90 gallon. He is now bigger and is doing ok. On Saturday evening the GBRs colors where booming, and there aggression was getting stronger. I knew that it was getting close. On Sunday there behavior got stronger and color got very bright, and the females egg funnel (I dont know what it is called) was getting very long. By Sunday evening we had some friends of ours come over for dinner and as I was walking by the tank I noticed that the male was vibrating and scooting along the surface of the area that they have been cleaning. Then to my surprise the female repeated the pattern of the male. I looked closer and WOW there is a whole mess of eggs 3 or 4 times more than the first time. I left the lamp on over night by the tank so they would have some light to help them guard the eggs.
So to sum this up I got to watch my GBRs spawn and so did my son, wife, and friends. It was an amazing thing to experience for the first time. I need to work on getting them there own tank I am working on a 40 gallon now hope to get it for fathers day. At least I know when the eggs where laid so I can prepare if needed since I dont have a separate tank for the fry I hope some will survive. I will keep you posted on this. Thanks
Don
. I now have a sponge on all my tanks at the intake of the canister filters. I did my weekly water changes and everything is back to normal. I noticed that this morning the male was courting the female and her belly looks a little swollen. I will be getting a 30 gallon breeder tank somewhere in the week of 6/23/08. The tank dims are 36L x 18D x 12H. Is that a good tank to put a pair of GBR’s in? Hopefully by the time the tank cycles they will do it again. I will also have Java moss, drift wood, river rock, and sand. That is my plan. Thanks for the help people.