Any tips or tricks to feeding German Blue Rams?

[ShadowMac]

I always find it a struggle to make sure my rams are being adequately fed. Despite my efforts some still show signs of not getting the nutrition they need.

I feed a mix of frozen live ( a freshwater variety pack with blood worms, brine shrimp, and some other things), flakes, sinking pellets, and the occasional algae wafer.

To me it seems like they do not each much before becoming disinterested, whereas my school of rasboras and cardinal tetras will probably eat themselves to death if I allowed it.

I feed quite a bit of the live food to ensure they get their share. However it makes a mess and I know it may feed algae and snails a bit. I need more shrimp, but they eat my fire reds so I will have to order some amanos soon.

Is there a good way to provide some food they can pick on at leisure throughout the day without make a big mess? any contraptions or techniques that might make feeding the frozen live less messy and easier for the rams to eat throughout the day?

Any thoughts or ideas are helpful...

I could just feed them my all my fire red shrimp like Left C I'm actually considering adding a good number when I rescape and hope that the population can out produce the rams eating them from time to time...

Thanks!

 

[jaafaman]

When you say they show signs of insufficient nutrition, could you be a bit more descriptive?...

 

[Aquadream]

One of the best ways for feeding German Blue Rams is live Blood Worms or Tubifex and a feeder. Small net attached to the tank glass, close to the water surface in which you can put a ball of live worms.
It worked for me in the past. When I was in the UK years ago I was interested breeding Rams. My record was 386 baby Rams out of a single nest.
I can post some pictures if you are interested.
Live artemia (brine shrimp) would be good as well. It leaves no mess if you can get rid of the shells.

 

[srusso]

One of the best ways for feeding German Blue Rams is live Blood Worms or Tubifex and a feeder. Small net attached to the tank glass, close to the water surface in which you can put a ball of live worms.
It worked for me in the past. When I was in the UK years ago I was interested breeding Rams. My record was 386 baby Rams out of a single nest.
I can post some pictures if you are interested.
Live artemia (brine shrimp) would be good as well. It leaves no mess if you can get rid of the shells.

Please do share, thank you!

 

[ShadowMac]

they are just bit thin, some are thinner than others. Nothing that would make me think they have a worm. Their feces are as they should be, but I can tell they are not getting enough food.

Thank you Aquadream, exactly the type of thing I was looking for. Some pictures would be helpful, but I do have a bit of an idea of what you mean. I will have to work on getting some live cultures.

386 is an incredible number! those were well fed very fertile rams!

 

[jaafaman]

they are just bit thin, some are thinner than others. Nothing that would make me think they have a worm. Their feces are as they should be, but I can tell they are not getting enough food...

The feeders he speaks of are still quite prevalent, and very useful. Here's a 4-way available on Amazon, for example.

They're even available at Tech sites like NewEgg - but I seriously doubt anyone would pay $12 shipping for a $1 item unless they need one very, very badly...

 

[Aquadream]

they are just bit thin, some are thinner than others. Nothing that would make me think they have a worm. Their feces are as they should be, but I can tell they are not getting enough food.

Thank you Aquadream, exactly the type of thing I was looking for. Some pictures would be helpful, but I do have a bit of an idea of what you mean. I will have to work on getting some live cultures.

386 is an incredible number! those were well fed very fertile rams!

Some of my experiences with rams.
[attachment=943:name]

 

[ShadowMac]

Very nice Aquadream.

I made something today similar to the cone feeders. I used an eheim intake and a suction cup with a plastic clamp to attach to the side of the tank. Since my worms are frozen they don't wriggle out and the fish haven't quite figured out there is food there. I will watch and wait to see if it works.

 

[Aquadream]

they are just bit thin, some are thinner than others. Nothing that would make me think they have a worm. Their feces are as they should be, but I can tell they are not getting enough food.

Thank you Aquadream, exactly the type of thing I was looking for. Some pictures would be helpful, but I do have a bit of an idea of what you mean. I will have to work on getting some live cultures.

386 is an incredible number! those were well fed very fertile rams!

More pictures.
[attachment=946:name]
Now the eggs and the babies.

 

[Aquadream]

they are just bit thin, some are thinner than others. Nothing that would make me think they have a worm. Their feces are as they should be, but I can tell they are not getting enough food.

Thank you Aquadream, exactly the type of thing I was looking for. Some pictures would be helpful, but I do have a bit of an idea of what you mean. I will have to work on getting some live cultures.

386 is an incredible number! those were well fed very fertile rams!

Eggs and babies.
[attachment=953:name]

 

[Aquadream]

Very nice Aquadream.

I made something today similar to the cone feeders. I inverted an eheim intake and used a suction cup with a plastic clamp to attach to the side of the tank. Since my worms are frozen they don't wriggle out and the fish haven't quite figured out there is food there. I will watch and wait to see if it works.

Some more pics.
[attachment=955:name]

 

[Aquadream]

Very nice Aquadream.

I made something today similar to the cone feeders. I inverted an eheim intake and used a suction cup with a plastic clamp to attach to the side of the tank. Since my worms are frozen they don't wriggle out and the fish haven't quite figured out there is food there. I will watch and wait to see if it works.

It should work.
Yers ago I was crazy about breeding Rams. It was my mania. I still love the Rams, but they do not fit with my current aquascaping ideas and I do not have tanks nor hands to take care of such fish.

 

[ShadowMac]

I really enjoy my electric blue rams, but they aren't kind to shrimp. I plan to rescape with some nice wood I got from Tom to create more territories for them. I will also try and incorporate some sand for the fish to sift through.

Scaping with fish first mentality.

 

[Aquadream]

I really enjoy my electric blue rams, but they aren't kind to shrimp. I plan to rescape with some nice wood I got from Tom to create more territories for them. I will also try and incorporate some sand for the fish to sift through.

Scaping with fish first mentality.

Amano shrimp do not take shit from Rams. I have seen them fighting with my Rams fearsly.

 

[jerrybforl]

Aquadream that is an amazing looking male you have there! You have anymore to sell?

 

[Aquadream]

Aquadream that is an amazing looking male you have there! You have anymore to sell?

Not anymore unfortunatelly. These pictures are from the time when I was in the UK years ago.
Those Rams can still be purchased from Germany.

 

[Florin Ilia]

Those Rams can still be purchased from Germany.

Do you have a couple of good pointers to reputable breeders?

Thanks,

Florin

 

[Aquadream]

Do you have a couple of good pointers to reputable breeders?

Thanks,

Florin

Not really. I guess information should be available on the fish forums or the German Google.
I have not been dealing with Rams for over 6-7 years by now.

 

[ShadowMac]

Amano shrimp do not take shit from Rams. I have seen them fighting with my Rams fearsly.

That would be something to see! haha! My amanos have done fine, although Left C said his were getting picked apart by his rams.

I'm really excited to get this new scape underway. Hoping to have soil and some additional plants here this weekend. My quarantine tank will be full for a couple weeks. I hope that this restart will erase some lagging issues left by the learning curve over the last year and a half.