GBRs Mate for Life?

[EddyC]

I was just wondering if anyone knows for sure whether German Blue Rams mate for life - as in only accept one mate in their entire lifetime, even if that mate dies.

I bought two pairs of GBRs this past Monday, and introduced them to my live-in quarantine tank (I say live-in because it's set up like a "real" tank). The four proceeded to divide the tank in half and pair up, and Thursday night they spawned. Since the people at the store had already treated them for parasites and disease (when the batch arrived some had dropsy so they treated the whole group for everything they could think of), I moved them into the 36-gallon community tank that was set up specifically for them seven months ago. Both couples proceeded to defend their eggs from the other fish and again divided the tank right down the middle.

In one of the fights the smaller male received an injury to his left side and a torn fin. I could see a small red gash on his side, but since he wasn't behaving differently I thought nothing of it. But Friday afternoon I noticed a small white spot on the tip of one of his dorsal spines that hadn't been there before. I quickly removed him to the quarantine/hospital tank, and dosed it with a broad-spectrum antibiotic. He seemed to be doing fine, he was just a little peeved that I had had the nerve to separate him from the eggs.

This morning he was on his side in the gravel, panting heavily. There were no other symptoms; the white was gone, the gash closed up. He was just lying there panting. Shortly after he passed away. I've never seen this before.

Though I'm saddened that I lost him, I'm more concerned about the "wife and kids" he left behind. The eggs should start hatching soon, but since the parents are all at most 6 months old, I don't expect many to live.

So, to get to my main question, should I buy the single female a mate? I know that simply getting a male isn't a guarantee that they'll pair up, but she's so young I think she'd be open to finding another partner. She's still got her breeding colors and everything. I'm also worried that she's by herself and the other two are a breeding pair; they might beat up on her (though she's a tough little one and has been dutifully defending her clutch so far). So whaddya think? Should I get her a new boy-toy, or force her to grow up a spinster?

[Little Embers]

No...they don't mate for life and she will be open to other suitors. If you get another male now, she may still have to defend her eggs against him as well until they bond...if they do that is. I have read that Kribensis may pine for their lost mate...whether that is true, I'm not sure)

(when the batch arrived some had dropsy so they treated the whole group for everything they could think of)

I don't think I like that practice of the LFS though!

[VoidParadigm]

Agreed. Sure, I don't know much about GBRs, but I can't think of many Mothers anywhere in the world (who act motherly, that is, not talking about those cannibals ) who would let a new suitor come into her life with new eggs/babies around.

Anything's possible, of course, though.

[EddyC]

Thanks for the replies.

Just to clarify though, I was planning on waiting until the fry were raised/disappeared (first spawns almost never make it in my experience) before introducing another male. Just wanted to know if it was an option, or if I should move her into another tank. My krib wouldn't accept any other mates after her boyfriend died a few years ago, so I wasn't sure.

[EddyC]

Oh, and the reason the lfs treated them for everything was that they had thought this breeder was a reputable one (and had done business with them in the past without problem) but since the breeder had sent them out in such terrible condition they figured they'd better play it safe.

[jackson17]

I heard they mate for life...

[Wild Turkey]

They do mate for life. That is to say, if i have a pair, they will always be a pair, and if I add another GBR he probably wont get lucky.

However, breaking apart pairs, though arguably stressful, is effective in the GBR seeking new mates.

Thanks google

[Little Embers]

My intrepretation of "Mate for Life" is different I guess. To me it means that if either one of the partners dies, then the other one will not mate with another for the rest of his/her life.

[Lady Hobbs]

Fish brains do not feel this never ending love. It's not like fish will pine away for a lost love as they do not have the ability to show or have emotions.

[EddyC]

That's what I thought, Lady Hobbs. But I've heard many stories of fish that refuse to accept a new partner, so I wasn't sure.

Little Embers, that's the same definition of "mate for life" I use.

All the eggs are gone now, as was expected. I'll probably wait two or three weeks before I get another male. Although the male in the tank seems to have moved on from his current partner - he's been hanging around the newly-widowed fish an awful lot ...