2 Of My 5 My German Blue Rams Are Chasing The Other 3 Around The Tank.

[Jamfish]

I have 5 German blue in total and they are in a 70lit tank which according to many sites its okay.

2 of my 5 my German blue rams are chasing the other 3 around the tank. I don’t know why?
I got them on July 19th 08 and the first few days they where ok. But I have noticed that 2 of them are chasing the others 3 around. I think they have formed a pair, the 2 which are chasing the others around are a male and a female I’ve checked.
They are backing the other 3 into the corner what should I do. I think it’s for territory but I may be wrong. I feel worried for the other 3 German blue rams I haven’t got a other tank to move them into.

The tank has hiding places which include:
Live plants
Rocks
Sand for the bottom surface
And Driftwood

But still they are backing them into the corner, they are stopping to do this a bit but will they stop it completely?
Are they breeding or is somthing real wrong I have heard that cichlids are proctive parents.

What should I do?

 

[ox5477]

Well despite what the other sites may say...70liters is not big enough for 5 rams. especially when two of them pair up (which it sounds liek two have). To be sure that they have paired, you should see them swiming together, do short bouts of lip-locking, and possibly cleaning off any slate you have or digging a pit in the substrate.

If they are a pair, the other three must go. You see how it is right now and they havent even layed eggs yet. When eggs and fry are present, the parents will not let the other three move from that corner and that is no life to give your fish.... even if the pair had not formed, I wouldn't have more than a single ram in a tank that size. IMO, you need atleast 20G or 75liters per ram for territorial space. anything less than that and your going to have aggression issues.

Ox

EDIT: Just realized, you posted something about this over on the New to the Hobby sub-forum too... What happened to the other four rams? You said in that post that you had 9 rams....

 

[Jamfish]

I went to check the tank and saw that the 3 in the corner have moved into the tank again.
But are staying clear of the other 2, hopefuly this has stopped.

Please still give me infomation it may happen again

After all I don't know if its stopped!

Well despite what the other sites may say...70liters is not big enough for 5 rams. especially when two of them pair up (which it sounds liek two have). To be sure that they have paired, you should see them swiming together, do short bouts of lip-locking, and possibly cleaning off any slate you have or digging a pit in the substrate.

If they are a pair, the other three must go. You see how it is right now and they havent even layed eggs yet. When eggs and fry are present, the parents will not let the other three move from that corner and that is no life to give your fish.... even if the pair had not formed, I wouldn't have more than a single ram in a tank that size. IMO, you need atleast 20G or 75liters per ram for territorial space. anything less than that and your going to have aggression issues.

Ox

EDIT: Just realized, you posted something about this over on the New to the Hobby sub-forum too... What happened to the other four rams? You said in that post that you had 9 rams....

Typing mistake about 9 rams

 

[ox5477]

It wont stop if the two have paired. If you see them doing the three main behaviors I mentioned for paired cichlids, then you will have to remove the three other rams.

Ox

 

[minxfishy]

This thread: http/www.fishforums.net/content/New-Worl...-Are-Breeding-/

http/www.fishforums.net/content/New-to-t...Acting-Strange/

And now this thread. Please believe us when we tell you, you have too many in the one tank and to rehome the remaining fish as they will be bullied and stressed which will more than likely kill them in the long run.....if not sooner.

 

[Jamfish]

This thread: <a href="http/www.fishforums.net/content/New-Worl...-Are-Breeding-/" target="_blank">http/www.fishforums.net/content/New-Worl...-Are-Breeding-/</a>

<a href="http/www.fishforums.net/content/New-to-t...Acting-Strange/" target="_blank">http/www.fishforums.net/content/New-to-t...Acting-Strange/</a>

And now this thread. Please believe us when we tell you, you have too many in the one tank and to rehome the remaining fish as they will be bullied and stressed which will more than likely kill them in the long run.....if not sooner.

because I have no where eles to put them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[minxfishy]

Ask your LFS if they will take them, Im sure they wont mind. Although they may not give you anything for them, but it would be best for the fish.

If you do get fry, if you do have a pair, they will need to be re-homed also, so speak to your LFS, get a good relationship going and you may find they are very helpful.

 

[piranha_tim]

It sucks as it is how it goes ... If you get regular breeding you might be able to make a little $$ on the side.

 

[ox5477]

Ask your LFS if they will take them, Im sure they wont mind. Although they may not give you anything for them, but it would be best for the fish.

If you do get fry, if you do have a pair, they will need to be re-homed also, so speak to your LFS, get a good relationship going and you may find they are very helpful.

I wish everybody realized this is what fish keeping is about. You should take pride in having happy and healthy fish... not just trying to fit 90 different species in a tank that can fit on their mantle.

And Jamfish.. this wasnt directed towards you specifically, just that I've seen some pretty bad tanks and what people do to their fish... and its just rediculous

Ox

 

[Leedsboi86]

It's 20G per pair, 10G each, So your tank should be at 50G Min.

Heres some info I found for you.



Scientific Name: Microgeophagus ramirezi, Papiliochromis ramerzii, Apistogramma Ramerzii

Common Name(s): German Blue, German Blue Ram (GBR), Ram, Butterfly cichlid, Dwarf cichlid. Ramirez's cichlid

Care Level: medium-difficult, mostly because it needs a well established tank

Size: 2 - 3 inches (5 - 7.5cm)

pH: 5.5 - 7.0

Temperature: 72 - 77F (22 - 25C), should do fine with temps around 80 °F too

Water Hardness: Soft-medium hard

Origin / Habitat: The rivers of Columbia and Venezuela

Lifespan: 3 years or longer

Temperament / Behavior: Peaceful, but when breeding, the male guards the eggs and can and will be very aggressive. If there are 2 males in a tank smaller then 30 gallons and without plenty of hiding places, they will show territorial disputes between them.

Compatible Tank Mates: Many except for large fish big enough to eat them or other male dwarf cichlids

Breeding / Mating / Reproduction: The eggs are laid on a pre-cleaned area or a depression they made in the substratum. The female can lay up to 200 eggs and the eggs hatch about 4 days later. After the first spawn, you can almost guarantee a spawn every month.

Diet: Omnivorous, will accept a wide range of foods, but frozen/live foods preferred.

Tank Size: A minimum of 20 gallons for each pair

 

[tenohfive]

Jamfish, if you're looking to rehome them stick a post up in Buy and Sell saying they're free to a good home. If two of the remaining 3 you have are female I may take them off your hands, depending on where you're located.