Entice Breeding

[Clb33]

I'm just curious if there are any ways to entice my cichlids (electric blue rams) to breed. I am willing to wait but I'd like them to start so they will gain experience and eventually breed successfully. Any tips? Here are pictures of my pair:
Female:

Male:

Pair:



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[Istrom]

Doing water changes has worked for me in the past. I use water that's slightly cooler than the tank water because it's similar to the rain they would get in the wild.

 

[Clb33]

I have been adding warmer water to bring my tank temp up from 76-78-80 degrees F. Should I be doing the opposite? I may have mixed things up but I've herd to add warmer water to the tank to stimulate breeding but I'll try the cooler water tomorrow. Thanks. Any other tips?


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[Fishdude3233]

cooler water for sure. brine shrimp or other live foods. could even try different light cycles. the light cycle thing is what finally got my GBR to breed

 

[Clb33]

Light cycles??


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[Fishdude3233]

Changing how long your lights are on.


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[Clb33]

Oh I feel dumb now haha but thank you


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[Sillyfishies]

They don't look very happy. It may just be the lighting/camera. Also, is that female a "butterfly/angel/balloon" ram? If so I STRONGLY suggest not breeding them. This is a mutation that causes their spines to be bent. Causes early deaths (rams already have a very short lifespan).

Now to be helpful. For breeding you need soft acidic water. When I was breeding I used 50/50 ro/tap. My ph was 6.8. GH was around 5. Next, have lot's of driftwood and and plants (real and fake). Feed bloodworms and occasional high quality pellet/flake. If they have already paired up, hopefully you will see the females belly get dark red. And shortly after you should have eggs!

 

[Clb33]

I have a video of what the male is doing now... Is this normal behavior I have had GBRs but they never did this. But how do I post it?


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[Clb33]

I believe she is a regular female just plump with eggs because all the other females in the tank were slim. Am I wrong?


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[Sillyfishies]

I would look up "Balloon Ram" on google and you tell me if it is!

And to post the video, upload it to youtube/photobucket and post the link. I think you can upload to photobucket. I can't remember.

 

[Clb33]

Ok will do


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[Clb33]

From what I'm seeing is the ballon variety is more boxy than regulars, mine is not boxy she is round and plump from the front...


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[Clb33]

http://youtu.be/jrkIYqBwx7U hope this works


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[MICEY]

rams like sand to dig nests in and very soft water , you may need to get a water softening pillow
lots of live food and good pellets
and make shore you have good food for the babies , newly hatched brine shrimp or micro worms , some fry will not eat food that is not moving and dry food and egg yolks pollute the water real easy

 

[himdie]

I've had good luck just feeding them good food have temp at 82f and having a flat stone for them too lay eggs on the water hardness doesnt seem too matter to much mines at 7.6ph

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[Clb33]

Ok thx for all the info any other opinions that my female is a balloon variety or just plump with eggs I have looked up pictures but all that comes up are males won't male balloon rams look different than female balloon rams?


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[Sillyfishies]

Ok thx for all the info any other opinions that my female is a balloon variety or just plump with eggs I have looked up pictures but all that comes up are males won't male balloon rams look different than female balloon rams?


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Nope. they'll look very similar.

 

[Clb33]

Nope as in there not or she is?


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[Clb33]

Oh that the females and males look similar in shape ok gotcha. I don't believe she is a balloon then


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