Silly German blue rams

[MarineEdge]

Just wanted to share the ridiculousness of my gbrs. Perfectly good flat rocks for them to spawn on and they decide to make a pit in the back corner of the tank instead -_-

[hydrosparky]

Well, rams are quirky.

[DBlauj]

My rams have decided to dig up pits all over my tank. Funny thing is they really don't care to spawn also.

[pandamonium]

my rams did the same. they dug up all the nice straight substrate i made for them til 3 am. next morning looked like a meteor shower hit. and their first spawn? it was on a leaf...which died and caused them to abandon the eggs. they are known as substrate and rock spawners so i dont know why they did that on my leaf. but congrats on your spawn!

[LB79]

Cichlids are cichlids and will do what they please. It's one of the exciting things about having them.

[MarineEdge]

i love em lol. They have such character, before i got the male, the female layed a couple batches of eggs and it was so funny watching her try and chase anything away. Even when i did a little maintenance or rescaping from time to time shed nip my fingers when they were in there

[150EH]

They all love to spit substrate, my Kribensis spit flourite and pull up my DHG!

[MarineEdge]

pretty sure they are about to spawn, god knows where tho. they have a spot by some driftwood they are protecting and a pit in the back of the tank. Her vent is really extendded and she looks as if she is trying to clear debris from the driftwood. Im gonna expect eggs in the next 2 days

[150EH]

They will sometimes move the eggs until they find a comfortable spot.

[Aquaticfan]

When Rams spawn they do several things. Ive had mine spawn on flat rocks, Amazon Sword leaves (big plant), My large Tiger lotus leaves and even my drift wood. Its about feeling secure for them. So they go where they can and feel the best. Female lays eggs, male fertilizes. Male stands guard close and female further. They dig in the substrate not to spawn there but its where they will want to move the young once they hatch. This is where the babies (wigglers) will live as they grow. It takes a few tries for Rams to "learn" how to become a parent. Ive had them get it done as little as 3 spawns or as many as 5. GBR are also Monogamous.

[Drowki]

most rams prefer to build the nests on the ground... are they related to sunfish? they seem almost the same.

[Aquaticfan]

Originally Posted by Drowki

most rams prefer to build the nests on the ground... are they related to sunfish? they seem almost the same.

There is a difference between a spawning site and a nest. This was what I was mentioning before. The nest is usually a pit dug in the substrate. It's for the baby rams after they hatch.

[ThatGuyWithTheFish]

Mikrogeophagus. Mikro = small, geo = earth, phag = eat; Small eartheaters. Why shouldn't they dig?

[robbowal]

Originally Posted by Aquaticfan

When Rams spawn they do several things. Ive had mine spawn on flat rocks, Amazon Sword leaves (big plant), My large Tiger lotus leaves and even my drift wood. Its about feeling secure for them. So they go where they can and feel the best. Female lays eggs, male fertilizes. Male stands guard close and female further. They dig in the substrate not to spawn there but its where they will want to move the young once they hatch. This is where the babies (wigglers) will live as they grow. It takes a few tries for Rams to "learn" how to become a parent. Ive had them get it done as little as 3 spawns or as many as 5. GBR are also Monogamous.

this is 100% correct my jewel ciclids did exactly this for every spawn. tank looked like a mine field after they were finished with it.