Rams spawned - When does Mom get removed?

[mak]

The pair of rams I removed from my 55 g community tank & put in their own 20 g tank w/potted plants & oak leaves (& lots of nice green algae!) have finally got a free-swimming brood! They'd been spawing in my 55g, but couldn't stand up to my aggies. I've only raised the young in the absence of parents (w/o too much success) in the past; it's fun to see Mom herding her charges around. The fry been free-swimming for a week, taking BBS and grazing in the algae (esp. the sponge filter).

So, how long does/can Mom stay in the tank? I had to remove Dad about 4 days ago 'cuz Mom was really wailing on him (after he did all the work guarding the eggs & wrigglers...).

mak

 

[Randall]

Ram Brood Care

Dear Mak,

You should be able to keep Mom in with her fry up to a good four weeks or so, from the time they were free swimming.

Good job!

Randall Kohn

 

[Neil]

mak,

So, how long does/can Mom stay in the tank? I had to remove Dad about 4 days ago 'cuz Mom was really wailing on him (after he did all the work guarding the eggs & wrigglers...).

I think that you could have easily removed the female, considering she was at the root of the parental aggression. I am not sure why so many Dwarf Cichlid breeders can't get around the assumption that the female is the only partner that can effectively deal with parenting. I have used the male for continued parenting, at least, as many times as the female. Currently, I have 1 month old (or more) diplotaenia and N. dimidiatus fry in with father only. I have several others, but those 2 are very valuable fish to me and I would do it if it was careless.
Both parents are ideal, but if parental aggression issues jepordize the fry, remove the trouble-maker, not the hard worker. Males often have a more significant stake in the survival of their offspring. Females more often eat the eggs or fry to utilize that resourse for future productivity, when things aren't perfect.
Neil

 

[mak]

Removing parents

I just pulled mom out, too - the fry are growing great (about 8 mm now)but developed a bad habit of going after mom's frozen adult brine... After I saw mom gulp three "moving" brine shrimp (babies attached!) I figured it's time to go. Other than that, she was doing a great job of caring for the young.

Thanks for the input. I might have an opportunity to use it soon. Mom's plump & looking ready to go, and you should have seen the display Dad gave when I put them back together in the same tank!

mak

 

[mak]

Ram fry!

Instead of setting up my rams in a 20g, I've set up a 55 g tank with just 2 pair of rams and some ottos.

And look what I've got!

They're being great parents, herding the fry around & working together.

The other pair of rams make for great dither (they're hiding in the left 1/5 of the tank).

Thanks to everyone for help.

mak

 

[Moreta]

Congrats mak!!!

Nice picture, too...

Tracy

 

[farm41]

Good going mak, you must be taking excellent care of those rams.

 

[Neil]

Congratulations mak! Nice little new family you have there. I have also found G. rams to be very good parent, unlike their relatives.
Please read this post from Gary, the site administrator.
http://www.apistogramma.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=767
I have been seeing a number of unlinked pics lately. Normally I don't mind and like the pics. But they do slow things down for those who are using dial-up connections. If possible, please use a link to the picture in the future.
Thanks much,
Neil