Surprise Breeding

[Calico3]

 Good Day :  I had a surprise bunch of eggs laid last night.  Seems my new pair of German Blue Rams laid eggs last evening on a large piece of  drift wood . I did a water change same day and really didn't expect eggs as this pair is still in quarantine in a 75 gallon tank.  With them are two mid size Angelfish also in quarantine .  As the piece of drift wood was too large to remove and put in a 10 gallon tank. I left them expecting to have eaten eggs this morning .  Not so ......

Is there any chance of these eggs hatching and perhaps saving a few wigglers to grow out before they are eaten. I understand their eggs hatch very quickly and am  not at all prepared . However I do have brine shrimp  eggs to hatch  .   I don't think that I have any chance of any surviving however .  Any suggestion on how to proceed  or how to remove a few wigglers. .  . I have experience in raising Angelfish.

Thanks for any helpful comments.

[Filet_O_Fish]

They usually hatch in 48hours, rarely longer.

You should see the eggs gradually get darker as they mature. If they are not, they are probably not viable.

I usually place a small perforated plastic dome or loose plastic mesh over the eggs to prevent the parents from eating them. After they hatch It is a good idea to either move them to a hang on box/ small breeder box or have a good enough hiding spot for them. A box will allow you to use only small amounts of food.

[Calico3]

Sorry to say the eggs were not viable . After the surprise I was pleased about raising a batch of dwarf blue rams as they are so colourful and they make excellent dither fish. I do hope that I will get another chance to raise my own fry eventually as I wouldn't mind a few more Rams .  Raising your own fry is expensive however  " fun"  and you know you have healthy fish .

The fact that the eggs were not viable concerns me as my experience has been if the first batch of eggs do not hatch you don;t have a good breeding pair. However time will tell .

Thanks to Filet_O_Fish for the information you posted and Jody from Big Al's whom also made suggestions.

[Calico3]

Well this morning I saw very very very small fry that just hatched from my dwarf German Blue Rams. Boy do they get  back to work fast . I  thought  that they were getting ready to lay eggs last night and tried to see if there were some.  They were hidden well. Decided to put a flat rock in as a incentive to breed  however they beat me.    Saw lots this morning when the tank lights turned on. Not so many now however I started another batch of brine shrimp and put the fish net breeder box by the aquarium rim.

The parents seem to be snatching something and depositing them in a pot that I kept in the tank after  the plant died.  I left hoping to keep the beneficial bacteria. Honestly I looked carefully there  last night.
My retiree eyes are not as good as in my younger years.  Now hopefully to get to keep some. Fingers crossed as this will be difficult to do .

[Filet_O_Fish]

Nice! Keep us updated.

[Mike L]

Not sure how old the tank is but I think it's new. If so you are in a unique situation. New pairs will regularly spawn, however often fail. Especially if they are young.  It should be expected. Watch all three perameters closely particularly nitrate. Under 10 ppm if possible. Because your going to have to feed them often a decent syringe would be helpful. Mix bb with water and aim at the babies, gently. It will help to minimize water poultion because it will get to the fry guicker reducing how much you have to use. How big is the tank?
Mike

[Mike L]

 Not sure if you have  found this. It is thee most comprehensive place for cichlid knowledge on the internet for its library and articles.  Some of the experts and  fish lifers  plus fish company reps/lifers are on this site lurking too. Here is an example on blue rams. Great read.
https://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/breed_micro_altispinosa_pt2.php

[Calico3]

I am sorry to say all the fry were eaten before I could remove them.  The tank is 75 gallons and is over 3 years old and cycled.  I put the Rams immediately into this tank along with 2 small Angelfish expecting this tank to be the Rams home.    I really hope that they will lay again shortly and somehow I can recover some fry to raise.    I have read that these fish can be more difficult to breed with success.  The pair adjusted so well to the tank and are great eaters and they have now hatched eggs .All good.

I thank everyone for their response as I really would  like to raise some fry and more knowledge hopefully will give me success. I understand Rams do not do well unless  water conditions are kept pristine. I have thought about placing the adults in a smaller tank  and remove them after eggs were laid . Unfortunately all my  smaller cycled tanks are in use at this time .

If I am able to raise fry I will do my best to keep my water levels good.  I think my immediate challenge will be to remove the fry from their parents if and when eggs are laid again. I will keep any fry temporarily in the same tank in the breeder box until I have another tank opened after a quarantine is finished.

Any advise is happily taken. Thanks to all and I will read the information forwarded .

[Kalinkacat]

Turkey baster, great for sucking up small fry and removing them.