Tropical Fish Forum

Tropical Fish Keeping Help and Advice => Fish Species => Dwarf Cichlids => Topic started by: Pixiecatjo on January 29, 2017, 06:02:15 PM

Title: Spawning German Blue Rams
Post by: Pixiecatjo on January 29, 2017, 06:02:15 PM
Hello lovely people,
I have a pair of German Blue Rams that are healthy and spawning, they have laid eggs twice and then eaten them, I am not too troubled by this as I am aware that they are not natural parents when they have been captive raised. My problem is that the male has since the last spawning started to chase the female non-stop!
It is now to the point that she is hanging round at the top of the tank in the shadows out of his way, I'm confused as to why he is suddenly doing this when they are happily spawning?
If anyone can give me any pointers or advice that would as always be very much appreciated, the tank they are currently in is 130lt's and all my water readings are showing clear, they get a varied diet of flake frozen and live, and live with a group of 6 cory cats and very few baby platys.
I do have a second tank that's an option for one of them if you guys think that, that is the best option?
Thanks!! :)
Title: Re: Spawning German Blue Rams
Post by: Matt on January 29, 2017, 06:39:34 PM
I've had this happen before - the solution was to rearrange the tank devote to disrupt the territory of the male who seems to have taken the opportunity to claim the entire tank to himself. Perhaps a flush of testosterone post spawning!

Good luck!  :fishy1:
Title: Re: Spawning German Blue Rams
Post by: Andy The Minion on January 29, 2017, 06:46:51 PM
Another tank is always a good idea, excellent you have found a reason to justify it to the significant other  :rotfl:
I don't keep Rams but do additional females ease the problem anybody?
Title: Re: Spawning German Blue Rams
Post by: Sue on January 29, 2017, 07:14:36 PM
Did the rams choose each other or did you just get a male and female? I've heard before of Bolivian rams (which are closely related to rams) which weren't a bonded pair spawning several times then the male turned on the female and killed her.

If the male doesn't stop chasing the female, I think you'll need to separate them.


Or use the spare tank to get several juvenile rams and see if a pair form. They will fare better. The problem then is that you'd have to rehome the rest.
Title: Re: Spawning German Blue Rams
Post by: Matt on January 29, 2017, 08:36:13 PM
Adding more females won't work in this instance... theses fish are strong pair formers and can be quite territorial especially with each other. Adding another female would result in one becoming the less favoured or less dominant and being bullied to the point of death.

Has the female changed its coloration to loose the intensity in its spot and become more grey overall?  This is a sign of a stressed fish which is trying to disguise itself.

Try the rearrange and let me know how you get on, if you can take them both out of the tank whilst you do it then all the better.