Electric Blue Rams

[Raetak]

I wanna breed them. I figure it would be a decent challenge with a fairly good pay out.
What I have: A 55 gallon aquarium, decent filtration, GREAT aeration, good lighting, heater, blue gravel, a 2'' wide PVC about a foot long, plastic pots.

What do I need?


What do I need to know? Are they cave dwellers like convicts? Do they need a flat rock?


I was thinking of buying from here

http://www.aquabid.com/cgi-bin/auction/auction.cgi?fwcichlids&1297909239

Which shipping would I use? I've not bought via internet before and this is a big buy so I want the best shipping possible. Also is it possible to get less than ten? I want like 5 or 6

The plan is to get a pair or two (or three) and sell the rest to my LFS which will be loving them. Keep a single pair alone in the 55 gallon with giant danios as dithers.

Thoughts, and ideas?


Thanks

 

[ryansmith83]

I'm guessing you've never kept rams before?

You have to be careful where you get electric blues. Some are good quality, others not so much. Rams can be a little sensitive so you have to stay on top of water quality. They need warm water, 84F at least would be a good start. They would also appreciate plenty of water changes.

One problem with electric blue rams being imported is that there are very few females (or, at least, there were in the beginning). You'd probably be best to get some tank-raised fish from here in the States for a better shot with health and a good mix of the sexes. Ten would be a nice group to start with. Whoever you order from, Overnight shipping is a must. The cold weather around the country has caused a lot of problems with fish shipping. On top of that, rams are very sensitive to cold water. That's the only option you should even consider, as most heat packs expire after 24 hours.

My tank setups for rams usually consist of sand, some driftwood, caves/flowerpots, a bunch of flat stones for breeding surfaces, and silk plants to give them cover. They can be a bit shy at times. Also, males will establish and defend territories, so the more places for them, the better. If you want to let the pair raise their own fry (more on that later), the tetras may not be a great idea. Any tankmates pose a potential risk when it comes to eating baby fish.

I avoid gravel because it's easier for food to get trapped and foul your water, and sometimes fry will fall off the spawning site and get lost in gravel. It's much easier to siphon over sand, and for parents to find wandering fry.

I feed rams a variety of stuff, including Hikari micropellets, frozen bloodworms, freeze-dried blackworms, frozen krill, and sometimes shaved frozen beefheart or finely chopped frozen mysis shrimp.

Spawning usually occurs on flat, smooth rocks or the top of an overturned flowerpot. Rams tend to be notorious egg-eaters, so even if you eventually isolate the pair, they may not be the best parents. I've seen some that do, though, so you could get lucky. Sometimes they get it right after multiple failed attempts. Eggs hatch in 2 - 3 days, wrigglers go free-swimming in 5 - 7, and the fry take newly hatched brine shrimp. Electric blues look like normal rams until they're about 2 months old, then start to turn the electric blue color.

I always mention this as a disclaimer, and it's not intended to be condescending or negative, but do be aware that a lot of work is involved in raising any fish in quantity. I always try to discourage people from starting breeding projects if the main goal is to make a bit of money. If you're just wanting to work with a cool new fish, that's understandable and it's why we're all here. I think electric blues are a gorgeous fish, albeit a small and sometimes delicate one. Good, warm, steady water conditions go a long way in keeping them happy.

It should also be noted that rams are fairly short-lived, maybe 2 years or so.

 

[jakeowen]

These are a domestic strain?

 

[ryansmith83]

Yes.

 

[Raetak]

I'm guessing you've never kept rams before?

You have to be careful where you get electric blues. Some are good quality, others not so much. Rams can be a little sensitive so you have to stay on top of water quality. They need warm water, 84F at least would be a good start. They would also appreciate plenty of water changes.

One problem with electric blue rams being imported is that there are very few females (or, at least, there were in the beginning). You'd probably be best to get some tank-raised fish from here in the States for a better shot with health and a good mix of the sexes. Ten would be a nice group to start with. Whoever you order from, Overnight shipping is a must. The cold weather around the country has caused a lot of problems with fish shipping. On top of that, rams are very sensitive to cold water. That's the only option you should even consider, as most heat packs expire after 24 hours.

My tank setups for rams usually consist of sand, some driftwood, caves/flowerpots, a bunch of flat stones for breeding surfaces, and silk plants to give them cover. They can be a bit shy at times. Also, males will establish and defend territories, so the more places for them, the better. If you want to let the pair raise their own fry (more on that later), the tetras may not be a great idea. Any tankmates pose a potential risk when it comes to eating baby fish.

I avoid gravel because it's easier for food to get trapped and foul your water, and sometimes fry will fall off the spawning site and get lost in gravel. It's much easier to siphon over sand, and for parents to find wandering fry.

I feed rams a variety of stuff, including Hikari micropellets, frozen bloodworms, freeze-dried blackworms, frozen krill, and sometimes shaved frozen beefheart or finely chopped frozen mysis shrimp.

Spawning usually occurs on flat, smooth rocks or the top of an overturned flowerpot. Rams tend to be notorious egg-eaters, so even if you eventually isolate the pair, they may not be the best parents. I've seen some that do, though, so you could get lucky. Sometimes they get it right after multiple failed attempts. Eggs hatch in 2 - 3 days, wrigglers go free-swimming in 5 - 7, and the fry take newly hatched brine shrimp. Electric blues look like normal rams until they're about 2 months old, then start to turn the electric blue color.

I always mention this as a disclaimer, and it's not intended to be condescending or negative, but do be aware that a lot of work is involved in raising any fish in quantity. I always try to discourage people from starting breeding projects if the main goal is to make a bit of money. If you're just wanting to work with a cool new fish, that's understandable and it's why we're all here. I think electric blues are a gorgeous fish, albeit a small and sometimes delicate one. Good, warm, steady water conditions go a long way in keeping them happy.

It should also be noted that rams are fairly short-lived, maybe 2 years or so.

Ah, thank you this is exactly what I needed. Yeah I know there isn't any money to be made in spawning fish and selling them. I'm thinking more about the bragging rights. I think I can manage to do this as soon as I save up enough money for this project of mine.