so it spawned...
 

should I be really excited? my blue ram spawned, the male is guarding the nest. I'll post some pics later.

hopefully they will not eat the eggs.

Attachment 19048

Attachment 19049

Cool! 8-)

Very nice! Yu should be very happy. It's cool to see the parental behavior of cichlids.

bad, my otos ate the eggs and the Rams actually abandoned them even before.

Don't give up hope they will try again. practice makes perfect.

thats true but this time I'll be ready, I'm setting up a 10gal tank for the eggs to hatch.

I would remove the otos instead of the eggs. hatching eggs is bit more complex.

but i need my otos to eat the algae. oh well if the rams can hatch the egg so be it anyway i don't have the intention of breeding a fish, i just wanted to see and experience having a success in hatching the eggs.

thank you!

Well otos aren't very big. i would let them try a few more times with the otos and if the otos continue to eat the eggs I would remove them at least until the fry hatch. I have seen rams fend off plecos and discus so they SHOULD be able to fend off otos.