Tank mates

So, if I'm going to set up a tank to have a go at breeding what tank mates can I put in that wont eat the fry? I saw a lovely pair of blue rams in the fish shop the other day and they are supposed to be very peaceful community fish and they don't grow large (5cm), I think they would look nice, but no point having tank mates if they are going to eat the babies!!

What fish do others keep with their breeding BNs?

High GrubbyGirl , Blue rams are a beautiful fish but can be very sensitive and fragile, if you like the way they look you could try Bolivian butterflies

They don't develope the heavy duty blue like the rams but are just about bullet proof and great to keep with B/N fry, I can't say I've ever noticed them chasing down babies - unlike my mean as hell little Angels.
J

I have a couple of those in my community tank and they are lovely fish indeed. Regarding the blue rams the fish shop did say that they are very sensitive to pH changes and although they come from low pH environments they do well in high pH as long as its consistent.

So, what do you keep with your BNs?

What have I got :
Community tank: with spawning B/N's
1X L001 ( Goldspot pleco) @ nearly 30 cm
4X Glo-light neons
3X Rasbora- Harlequins
2X Black Angels
2X Reticulated loach
A pair of breeding sword tails (which had more babies last night and I think I've got my head around saving the babies)
1X Pearl (Lace) Gourami
2X Bolivian butterflies
3X female common B/n's
1x "James Brown"

Peppermint tank: not spawning at the moment
1X Royal Whiptail
2X Black neons
5X Female pepps
1X Pepp male
+ loads of snails.
J

I have Angels too in my community tank and you're right they can be brutal when it comes to food, they look so slow but they are absolutely the fastest in the tank. I'm pretty sure you must lose fry to them. I also have a pearl gourami that is looking very full of eggs, I don't have a male though so I hope she'll just reabsorb them. I must admit she is a close second when it comes to food!

I understand that after spawning some people remove the male and the eggs to another tank. I'm suprised this doesn't stress the male into abandoning the eggs after a move like that.

I think I have much to learn!!

You're probably right about the Angels having a quick snack -if they can catch em
As far as moving the male B/N and eggs, I only move mine into a breeder net (cave and all) in the main tank just about a couple days before I think the babies are going to get mobile - I do this because I'm lazy and really can't be bothered chasing sloads of juvies, when they look like they are leaving the cave - just flip the male back into the main tank and all the babies have allready been caught.
J

Now that's a good idea - the only problem I'll have is knowing when that tiime is!! I've ever I get to that stage (and I am a long way off that!) I'll come back for more advice

My new tank will have
Sterbai Catfish
Electric Blue Rams
Assasin Snails

When you get to the spawning stage- it takes approx 5-7 days for the eggs to hatch, a further 5-7 to absorb the yolk sacs and another 5-7 days to get some colour and think about running from the cave - day 4 or 5 of this last period is when you want to move them.
You'll have it down pat once you've done it a few times.
J

And I really need to get my hands on some Assassin snails

I'll probably go grey doing this........I'll have to get a calendar!

Kurosaki J wrote:

When you get to the spawning stage- it takes approx 5-7 days for the eggs to hatch, a further 5-7 to absorb the yolk sacs and another 5-7 days to get some colour and think about running from the cave - day 4 or 5 of this last period is when you want to move them.
You'll have it down pat once you've done it a few times.
J

And I really need to get my hands on some Assassin snails

Mine are generally 2 days quicker than this but there are in my discus tanks at a temp of 29deg