New member saying hello

[Fenster]

Hello everyone, I have been lurking around the forums for a couple of months now and thought I would get registered and say hello.

I have been keeping fish off and on my whole life, but steady for about the last 9 years, so I have a pretty good handle on keeping fish, however, I am new to dwarf cichlids and have a couple of questions. I recently attended my first fish auction (put on by the Tropical Fish Club of Erie County - Buffalo, NY area) and found just what I was looking for. I purchased a "breeding pair" of German Blue Rams and I am hopeing to raise some. I have done some research but would like any of your opinions about successfully breeding Rams. Also what should I be feeding the pair to have them in the best condition for spawning?

Here are my tank parameters, is there anything I should change, add, or remove?

29 gallon tank
wisper power filter
black sand substrate
very large piece of driftwood
visi-therm stealth heater - set at 80-82 F
PH 5.5 - 6
hardness - about 80ppm
ammonia - 0
nitrites - 0
occupants - 1 pair of Blue Rams

Thanks for any and all help,
Fenster

 

[Randall]

Breeding Mikrogeophagus ramirezi

Hello Fenster and welcome!

Your setup sounds ideal for breeding Mikrogeophagus ramirezi. This species is an open substrate spawner, so including a couple of small rocks with flat surfaces might give your fish a good breeding site. This species also does well in planted aquaria with dither fish (small tetras, Nannostomus spp., etc.). The dither fish are important because their presence should strengthen your M. ramirezi's pair bond.

Sometimes a male and female get on well and will pair off; other times the pair bond is weak or problematic. For this reason, many hobbyists start off with a small group of fish (i.e., two males and two females) and allow them to pair off naturally.

For feeding, a varied diet is best. I generally include frozen and/or freeze dried daphnia, blood worms, glass worms, and a high quality small pelleted food that contains Spirulina.

Good luck!

All the best,

Randall Kohn

 

[Apistt_ed]

Nicely said Randall! I just wanted to Welcome you !!! so WELCOME!!!

 

[scott]

Welcome! if you are planning on leaving the fry in the tank with the parents be sure you put some kind of pre-filter on the intake of your power filter so it doesn't "eat" the fry. i use a small piece of filter sponge with a hole in it so you can just slip it right over the intake strainer. as randall said your set-up seems ideal. good luck!

scott

 

[Fenster]

Thanks guys. Glad to know I am at least headed in the right direction.

How often can/do Rams spawn?


Fenster