Hello Guys
Well the saga continues.....

I have been sitting watching the tank again and i saw my two blue rams squaring off at each other..

The were both in full colur with the all fins flaring. They are side by side to each other and were then lip locking with each other as well....

Do males and female do this??

I cant see any difference in their fins between the two of them other than one is smaller than the other.

No real distinguishing blue scale in the black patch on either of them.

Lip-locking is a cool little gesture as it is used during pairing off but also during territorial disputes. Basically its the cichlids equivalent to deer locking antlers to show who is tougher. In pairing, usually the female is testing the male to see if he is a strong male to protect the young and pass on good genes.

I'm sorry if you have posted another topic on this and I'm too lazy to look, but what size is the tank? and what are the other inhabitants. Do you have any decor like bogwood or plants to divide up the tank tank visually so they can't see eachother?

This post has been edited by ox5477: May 21 2008, 11:53 AM

Thats okay. I should have given my tank details...

I have a lido 120. It has been cycled about four months ago...what a nightmare that was!

other inhabitants include:-
5 full grown cories
2 danios (yes i am aware that i need to get more)
6 neon tetra
4 shrimp (when they feel like showing themselves!)

I have just added more live plants yesturday to try to make them feel more at home and in the process of soaking some more bog wood to add to the tank....they have hidy holes under slate and behind the plants....

It does need more hidy holes in there as they are all trying to hide under the pump still....just had a quick check and one has faded and appears to be sulking....

If they are just fighting over territory and not pairing up, the best thing to do, is when the bogwood is ready to go in, place it in the middle of the tank and arrange alof the plants around the wood. This should create a divide that the two rams can use to claim their territory.

Is a lido 120 = 120L? I am not familiar with this brand, or most brands of "box set" tanks. Thanks

Yeap it is a 120 litre tank....

I am abit worried that the fish shop had given me two males...i have spoken to them (the fish shop that is!) and they would be quite willing to take one back if they are still fighting in a little while..

Does anyone know how long it takes for a pair to pair up?

I am confused and the most colourful one chases the other one minute and the next they are swimming together...really confusing me!

Females have black lines on there bottom fins. If you're still unsure try waiting till they mature more, they color up more as they age. Be careful with the shrimp as Rams like them as snacks, your shrimp are probably in hiding.

Yes. I have lost one shrimp when he shed to the rams.

I think he probably was having problems shedding and so the movement of him trying to get out of his old skin attracted them....had one shed recently which hid until he had hardened up.

No lines of there bottoms fins that I can remember but they can change their colours really quickly...one minute really pale and the next all showing off with bright colours just like an octopus!!

just a question, do you test for alkalinity along with pH. If the alakalinity is high I believe invertas have trouble molting. I don't know if there is a freshwater buffer for calcium (or if you can just use the reef buffer) either, but they do need a certain amount of calcium to molt and grow new exoskeletons.

Cichlids are very good at changing their colors as fast as we change our emotions as this is how they communicate to others how they are feeling. Alot of the changes are involuntary. But, they can be quite drastic and a good indicator about tank conditions and their health