Experiences raising blue ram fry?

Question

My pair of blue rams have graced us with another batch of babies
and I was wondering of any other blue ram breeders out there would share their experiences and methods of maintaining their blue ram fry. I'm going to get a culture of microworms, do I need vinegar worms as well? Will any frozen or freeze-dried food work? This is in a ten gallon, do I need to put the parents in another tank? Thanks!

Answer 1

I bred blue rams a few times, several spawns all from one pair. The first spawn I removed from the parents and after that I left them. They ate one spawn as eggs, but raised a few with no problems. I would say you don't need both micro worms and vinegar eels, on or the other will be fine. Do be ready to start swapping to baby brine shrimp before long though, as soon as they are large enough to take the shrimp ( a week or so free swimming) it will be best to swap them to it as the micro worms will quickly become too small for them to get full easily. I kept mine of live foods until they were about 1/2 grown and approach a sale able size. I swapped them first to frozen brine shrimp, then to other frozen foods and finally to flake so that it would be easier to sell them.

Like many baby fish and apistos in general, the babies do need plenty of clean water and frequent large water changes. I did about 50% per day in a bare bottom tank to insure I removed all of the uneaten food. When left with the parents in a regular tank with gravel, I did about 25% a day and only cleaned the gravel away from the fry at the time. They moved around a lot so eventually I could get the entire tank.

Not too difficult to raise really. Like so many others, getting past the first week and the first food transition are the hardest parts.

MM