Re: Spawning Rams

["Helen Burns" <helen.burns@bigwig.net>]

Lawrence,
My first thought is to slowly raise the temperature in the tank as I feel
76F is too cold for rams, I would recommend 80F.  Post spawning as you have
witnessed the spawn hatches in 2-3 days,  the pair will indeed move the
'wrigglers' to a pre dug pit where they remain for the following 5-6 days
then they become  free swimming fry.  (By this time the yolk sac has been
absorbed.)  As you have a bare-bottomed tank I would suspect the pair are
moving the 'wrigglers' to one of the gravel filled pots.  Cichlids have to
assist the eggs i.e. break the egg when they detect hatching is imminent,
once this is done the parent then moves the 'wrigglers' to a pre dug pit.
I think with your excitement to detect a successful spawning by inspecting
the tank decor you may be causing either male or female or both to eat the
'wrigglers' as they fear for their safety.  Next time they spawn I would
suggest you do not put your hands in the tank at all for eight days, be
patient, that's the name of the game in this hobby.
Helen


> The pH is 6.8-7.0, temp is 76F, and a 50% water change is done
>every weekend.  They are the only occupants in a no-gravel-bed 5 gallon
>tank with a Tetra sponge filter (rated for 20 gallons) and "powered" by a
>Whisper 300 air pump (which I do not feel is overkill for filtration in
>the tank, although some out there may disagree), two small gravel-filled
>clay pots (one with dwarf Saggitaria and the other with A. crispus), one
>flat rock for spawning, and several huge clumps of Java Moss.  >>
> So here goes my questions...
> I've been told that it is common for the young pair to eat their
>eggs, at least the first two spawns.  So does that mean my chances improve
>for the third spawn not being eaten by the parents?  8-)   And since I've
>been seeing empty egg shells on the second day and my literature readings
>indicate that hatching of German rams takes 2-3 days, does that mean the
>pair are removing the fry from the egg shells before they are hatched?
>I've never heard of that happening before.  And if they do remove them
>from the eggs, what do they do with fry that can't swim and have to absorb
>a yolk sac?  Move them to a pit dug in the gravel, I'd assume.  Yet, I
>can't seem to find them in the tank but I know that I'm scrutinizing every
>part of the tank (even the gravel pits they dig in the pots with the
>plants).  Short of pulling the fry out, is there any way that I can
>improve my chances of not seeing another spawn go down?  I'd really like
>to see the spawn being taken care of by the parents but this, in the end
>may prove unlikely.
>Lawrence



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