Third batch of Ram Eggs...Hopefully third time's the charm!

**kurly** · 06-27-2011, 07:41 PM

Just saw another batch of Bolivian Ram eggs today on a rock that I placed in my tank a few days ago. This will be the third batch of eggs over the last couple of months. Again, the female is guarding the eggs with her life.

Hopefully I'll a survivor or two out of this batch.

**Spidyman** · 06-27-2011, 11:52 PM

Good luck!!!!!!!!!!

**kurly** · 06-28-2011, 12:01 AM

Thanks!

I think I'll need it because it looks like I've got a Deadbeat Dad on my hands..lol The first two times my Rams mated, both mama and papa were guarding the eggs. Now it looks like only mama is hovering over them. Dad is just swimming around like he doesn't have a care in the world

**Strider199** · 06-28-2011, 12:08 AM

Best of luck Kurly with the spawn. My GBR's are the opposite. Dad guards the eggs while Mom swims around looking for something to eat. The eggs didn't stand a chance against the Cardinals, neons, and Red Tailed Shark. Just way too many foes for the Blue Ram to guard against.

**kurly** · 06-28-2011, 12:36 AM

Sorry to hear that Strider199

There are quite a few tetras in the area by the eggs but they aren't paying any attention to them. If they come a little close them the female ram chases them away. The only fish she really pays attention to are the other Bolivian Rams in the tank. If they even look over at the area where the eggs are, she charges at them and chases them away!

I may move the rock over to the other side of the tank where most of the fish never travel depending on what happens to this batch of eggs. But then again, maybe not because the pair have already claimed this area of the tank for laying eggs. I'm thinking about leaving the lights on in the tank tonight so I can keep an eye on things because the last two times I went to bed with eggs on a rock or driftwood and woke up to nothing on them at all.

**kurly** · 06-29-2011, 01:50 AM

Still have orangy-brown eggs on the Rock and mama is still guarding them with her life so maybe I'll get a few survivors this time... i hope i hope i hope

**kurly** · 06-29-2011, 10:45 AM

Eggs are still on the rock with female guarding and male nearby. On what day should I see the eyes and spines forming in the eggs?

This is day three...Wondering if I should see them by now? This is a small batch of about 30 or so. All are still orangy brown in color. No white or black eggs as ogf yet...Third try so not sure if anything will come out of it.

Am I supposed to be doing anything special for them right now?

Thanks

**kurly** · 06-29-2011, 01:56 PM

My tank is very deep and the filter is located more to the left of the tank. The rock with the Ram eggs are on the back right side of the tank.

My question is do the eggs need more circulation around them for oxygenation?

Also, one of the mates (I'm getting the male and female mixed up for some reason now) is keeping the mate away from the eggs but allowing it to stay in the area. Is that normal? Maybe the one being kept at bay is the one who ate the previous two batches of eggs??? Just guessing

**kurly** · 06-29-2011, 04:56 PM

Nevermind! I went to check on the eggs and now I see who the culprit is... It's the Ram who has been protecting them from everyone else!!!! I don't understand this at all. What's the point of protecting them from others for three days if it's going to end up eating them anyway!!! The eggs weren't white or black or anything!!! How many times do they eat the eggs before they realize that they are actually their babies?!?!?! Stupid Fish!

Guess they'll have to keep at it for a while longer. They are still quite young, this is their third time so I guess this is still pretty new to them.

If anyone knows something that I don't know, I'm happy to hear your advice.