Pairs lay eggs on a flat stone or similar surface and share care of eggs and fry. Eggs take 2-3 days to hatch; the fry then stay mostly in one place for about five days before swimming freely and need microscopic foods (microworm, infusoria) at first.
Buy a group of 6 young fish and let pairs form. Choose wild-type, healthy fish from reliable breeders.
A 20 gallon (75 L) planted tank with a flat stone, 26-29 C, soft acidic water.
Warm, soft clean water and live foods. The pair cleans a flat stone.
Typically 150-300 eggs (up to 500 reported); they hatch in 2-3 days.
Feed baby brine shrimp and microworms. Many pairs eat eggs the first time, so move eggs to a hatch tray if needed. Keep water very clean.
One breeding tank for the german blue ram, drawn to scale from the breeding guide.
Water: 26–29 °C · pH 5–7 · soft water
A plan from the breeding guide and an adult size of 4.2 cm. Tank shape is a standard 2 : 1 : 1.2 box, at least 6 adult lengths long. Check each step in the guide above.
A 120 cm rack for breeding the german blue ram in numbers.
In total: 3 tanks, about 375 L of water. A litre of water weighs about 1 kg, so check that the floor and rack can take the weight.
Sizes are worked out from the breeding tank in the guide. Tanks fit a standard 120 cm rack when they can; bigger tanks go on their own stands.
Tip: Pink belly = female
From the checked notes: “Males grow larger, with more extended fins (the first dorsal rays are elongated) and stronger colour. Most females have a pinkish belly patch that males lack, and a blue sheen over the dark spot below the dorsal fin; the belly cue may fail in some ornamental strains.” Numbers sit on the part of the body each difference is about. Tap a picture to see it bigger.
Typical for open substrate spawners
Grow up a group and let a pair choose each other. Give them a flat stone or broad leaf.
The pair cleans the stone and lays rows of eggs. Both guard them.
Wrigglers hatch in 2–4 days and are moved to pits by the parents.
Feed baby brine shrimp several times a day. Parents often herd the fry.
Move fry to a grow-out tank before the parents spawn again.
A general guide for this breeding type. Days change with temperature and species.
Grow up a group and let a pair choose each other. Give them a flat stone or broad leaf.
Set up a virtual breeding tank and see what would likely happen.
An educational estimate from the breeding rules, not a promise.