2 new blue rams and 2 algae eaters

[BigFishSmallPond]

So i picked up two blue ram and 2 algae eaters. The lfs said its not PC to call them chinese algae eaters so they are just algae eaters. (i had to press him just to get the chinese part) He also said the blue rams are cichlid. My question is: Would they do ok in a cichlid tank(40g)? Or should i just put them in the 25 gallon as planned. The algae eaters are in the ten allon with the gouramis for now =]

 

[Raechal]

Are they chinese algae eaters? What do they look like? How big are they? What else is in the cichlid tank?

 

[BigFishSmallPond]

the cichlid tank has a pleco and these guys:

all of which are mbuna i believe.

Oh and the yellow in my avvy


as far as im told they are chinese algae eaters. But when i asked the lfs he was adimant that algae eaters is what they are called. I said thats its just algae eater? I find that hard to believe. and he said that it was not PC to call them chinese algae eaters anymore sop thats what he has to clal em so i assume they are. But they had no otto =[

 

[BigFishSmallPond]

Just to clarify im asking bout the blue rams not the algae eaters =]

 

[BigFishSmallPond]

Hmm I notice my blue rams have one or two white dots on them hope its not ick =[

They are quarantined in the 25 gallon for now. =]

 

[rdd1952]

The blue rams are peaceful. I am planning to have 4 in my new tank. I don't know how they would do with the other cichlids you have though. I think the ones you have can be pretty aggressive. BEWARE of the CAE if that is what he is. After he gets some size he will decide he prefers the slime coat off the gouramis (or what ever else is in the tank) over algae.

 

[BigFishSmallPond]

Heres a (poor) pic of my new algae eater:

hopefully someone can id it from that.

 

[sylvia]

That's a CAE and you must move them out of the gourami tank. Flat-bodied fish like gouramies are especialy prone to being sucked on and very bad tank-mates - even for young CAEs. The CAEs are also unsuitable due to their potential size (10") besides their aggressive behaviour as they mature. BTW, I get why the LFS would not call them 'Chinese' as they actualy come from Thailand

BTW, the zig-zag stripe and spotted caudal/tail fin (which I assume is there though I cannot see it in that pic ) are what can be used to easily distinguish this fish from all other 'algae eaters'. Also note that they lack barbels as they are not from the cyprinid family like the others (except otoncinclus cats of course - those aren't barbs either ).

The rams will not go with malawis. Besides the different levels of aggression (and rams are also only about half the size of most malawis), the water requirements are very different - the malawis need hard, alkaline water, while the rams are the exact opposite, preffering soft, acid water. Rams also preffer planted tanks - something a malawi tank cannot ever truly be.

 

[BigFishSmallPond]

=[ im glad the lfs is so well educated on their fish*sarcasm*

they sold em to me specifically for the gouramis tank.

would they be ok with the cichlids? If so maybe i can trade the pleco in the cichlid tank for the CAE. Or how bout with the blue rams?