German blue ram- ovipositor?

[sunnysmom]

My female g.b. ram has her ovipositor (I think) sticking out. It's been out for a week, but she's not spawning or anything. Is this normal, or is she sick?

S

 

[farm41]

She's ready to spawn. They are probably trying to find a suitable spot. Do you have a flat rock or some wood in the tank?

 

[sunnysmom]

just put in a cross-section of geode. Only flat smooth rock I had. Now the male is chasing her around the tank, and she is swimming backward in front of him. Spawning behavior?

There is also a fairly large piece of driftwood, but my bristlenose has made that his home.

S

 

[farm41]

They will want to make a pit to put the wigglers in.

Do you have sand or gravel?

 

[sunnysmom]

gravel, is that a problem? I'm new to dwarf cichlids, and these are supposed to be quarantining. They will eventually be in the big tank with a flourite substrate and plants. They just are anxious to get started I guess.

S

 

[farm41]

Yes they are anxious, and they will probably spawn many times. I just keep a sand in 1/3 of my 20g long when I want to breed them, and then for growout I just pull the parents and keep them in the 20L. I wouldn't worry about it, but if you want, get a couple pounds of sand and dump in one end, they will like it.

 

[Neil]

sunnysmom,

WELCOME TO THE FORUM

Sounds like spawning behavior and physiology to me. They would probably benefit froma cup or 2 of sand dumped into a specific area of the tank. It is much easier for them to make a pit that way. Otherwise the fry may filter through the courser gravel and be lost. Although it is not absolutely necessary. The geode will probably be fine for a spawning surface.
Keep us informed and good luck!
Neil[/list]

 

[sunnysmom]

thanks for the welcome. they spawned and somebody ate the eggs. I'm betting on the corys. Oh well, not really set up right now for fry. But it's good to see they paired up. They laid the eggs on some filter media that I stuck in to ripen for a new tank. Weird!

Not sure the eggs would have made it anyways. I've had a little bit of nitrite the last few days in this tank. Frustrating.

S

 

[Randall]

Ram Spawn

Dear Sunnysmom,

Well, sorry it didn't work out this time, but at least you now know that you have a compatible pair. They'll get it together the next time, when you're better prepaired as well.

Good luck!

Randall Kohn

 

[farm41]

I've had a little bit of nitrite the last few days in this tank. Frustrating.

S

Why the nitrite? Is this a new tank? The rams are very sensitive to nitrite.

 

[sunnysmom]

yeah, I know they are sensitive. The nitrite is going back down today. The only thing I can figure is my bioload was very low. I only had 2 corys in, and I put 2 rams in thereby increasing the bioload by 100%. I guess it was some sort of mini-cycle. If I ever do that again with rams, I will move out the same # I put in so I don't get a spike.

It's irritating, but I'll deal, and hope I don't lose anyone.

S

 

[sunnysmom]

oh yeah, and it's a fairly new tank, but it had already cycled the month before. Shouldn't have happened.

S