Rom
09-19-2010, 11:56 PM
Hey guys, quick (not too quick!) back story. Ive been keeping fish for around 8 months. Purchased my first 30 gal in Jan. I believe I got lucky that the previous owner of the tank recently emptied it and the bacteria was still alive in the filter (as I had no idea about cycling etc). Soon I brought 8 guppies for it and about 1 week later 3 Blue Rams (i know...:help:)
Everything seemed to be going fine, so I brought 3 Khuli Loaches and 2 BNs.
Well the internal (Juwel) filter decided to cark it, and it was probably 15 hours before I noticed. Got a 205 Fluval(changed the media) and some sand and live plants.
I was satisfied...soon I noticed two Rams were spending a lot of time together, and the third wheel kept to himself. So I sold the loner Blue Ram (male) and got lucky with a pair.
Soon the female laid eggs and everything seemed fine. The eggs got to the wriggler stage but were soon eaten (maybe by the parents, or BNs....?)
I started researching, and got a good deal on another 30gal with a filter and light for $60 (about $35 american). Moved the BNs and guppies over to that tank.
The first batch after the move made it to the swimming stage...but to my horror :kenny: were eaten in the night. I cried myself to sleep that night but also began thinking of a plan.
I was now determined to breed Blue Rams :14:
Got a cheap 10gal, chucked a seeded sponge filter in it, filled it up about 1/3 water, added some meth blue, and placed my rock in it with about 150 eggs.
Alot of the eggs went white quite quickly (not enough meth blue?, or would an air stone been better at the start?), so I decided to blow the eggs off the rock to seperate them. This worked and about 50 eggs made it to the swimming stage. Chucked in some java moss (from a big tank), and started a batch of micro worms.
Everything seemed to be going good until...the Rams started to die off (the pH wasnt changed btw, sits at around 7.0)
I changed about 1/6 of the water each day but they kept dying off.
Soon I was left with 10...then 6...then 4 :scry:
However there was a light in the darkness. 4 of the Blue Rams are now around 3 and a half weeks old and seem to be strong and healthy (are eating microworms, brine shrimp, decap brine shrimp eggs, and now crushed flaked aswell)
My main question to all you very smart fish people (I regulary read this great forum!): when are the young Rams ready to move out of home and go into a 30gal (not with the parents, it has guppies and a 'slow' betta).
Also wondering what pH I should lower the breeding tank to for the next batch...
Much appreciated guys and girls!
Thanks,
Rom
Everything seemed to be going fine, so I brought 3 Khuli Loaches and 2 BNs.
Well the internal (Juwel) filter decided to cark it, and it was probably 15 hours before I noticed. Got a 205 Fluval(changed the media) and some sand and live plants.
I was satisfied...soon I noticed two Rams were spending a lot of time together, and the third wheel kept to himself. So I sold the loner Blue Ram (male) and got lucky with a pair.
Soon the female laid eggs and everything seemed fine. The eggs got to the wriggler stage but were soon eaten (maybe by the parents, or BNs....?)
I started researching, and got a good deal on another 30gal with a filter and light for $60 (about $35 american). Moved the BNs and guppies over to that tank.
The first batch after the move made it to the swimming stage...but to my horror :kenny: were eaten in the night. I cried myself to sleep that night but also began thinking of a plan.
I was now determined to breed Blue Rams :14:
Got a cheap 10gal, chucked a seeded sponge filter in it, filled it up about 1/3 water, added some meth blue, and placed my rock in it with about 150 eggs.
Alot of the eggs went white quite quickly (not enough meth blue?, or would an air stone been better at the start?), so I decided to blow the eggs off the rock to seperate them. This worked and about 50 eggs made it to the swimming stage. Chucked in some java moss (from a big tank), and started a batch of micro worms.
Everything seemed to be going good until...the Rams started to die off (the pH wasnt changed btw, sits at around 7.0)
I changed about 1/6 of the water each day but they kept dying off.
Soon I was left with 10...then 6...then 4 :scry:
However there was a light in the darkness. 4 of the Blue Rams are now around 3 and a half weeks old and seem to be strong and healthy (are eating microworms, brine shrimp, decap brine shrimp eggs, and now crushed flaked aswell)
My main question to all you very smart fish people (I regulary read this great forum!): when are the young Rams ready to move out of home and go into a 30gal (not with the parents, it has guppies and a 'slow' betta).
Also wondering what pH I should lower the breeding tank to for the next batch...
Much appreciated guys and girls!
Thanks,
Rom