Another Stocking Question For My 55 Gallon..........rams This Time

[aparker2005]

Hey everyone. I'm making my final stocking list this week since I'm getting my new tank this weekend. I won't be adding all of the fish in at once, but I just want to get an idea of what I will be putting. I have discovered Bolivian and Blue Rams. I really like them because they're colorful and stay small. Anyways, do you think I could add 2 to 4 Rams with this stocking? I think I will only add 1 pair for a while just to get used to them and see how they do. Anyway, here's what I will have in my 55:

2 Platys
2 Swordtails
8 Dalmation Mollys..........they're actually pretty small and my LFS said they are adults at around 1.5 inches
4 Angelfish
12 Cory Cats


I also want 4 Angelicus Loaches, but I'm not sure. If I get 2 Rams, should I keep the loaches out? Any thoughts and opinions???

 

[iairj84]

I dont know how the rams would do with the angels, they're both new world cichlids and should be fine. I'm just not sure if it would work out well. I would wait for a few others to chime in.

 

[thegnu]

i will second that angels and rams will do fine together but to do well and live any length of time rams need soft acidic water. also they are not fish that do better in groups. kept in groups they fight and if the water's pH,KH and GH is wrong for them it doesn't take long to end up with only the strongest pair. even if you meet their waters requirements this will happen. it'll just take longer. and if your not prepared to get their water right for them it wont take long for them to die as well. finally i keep reading that rams are harem spawner's. they are most definitely NOT. to be harem spawner's, meaning a male fish will spawn with two or more females (as most of the apistogrammas do) the male needs to take no care of the eggs or fry what so ever. the male protects a territory that his females live in and his females wont let him near his eggs/offspring. the male ram on the other hand does more tending to the eggs and to a lesser extent, the fry, than the female ram does. the eggs are more dependent on him than the female. if he isn't up to the job the eggs are usually doomed.

 

[aparker2005]

thanks.........I think I will just add 1 pair of Bolivian Rams

 

[aparker2005]

So my final stocking will be:

2 Platys
2 Swordtails
8 Dalmation Mollys
4 Angelfish
2 Bolivian Rams
12 Cory Cats

Maybe 4 Angelicus Loaches.............................

Is this overstocked???

 

[iairj84]

I don't think it will be too overstocked. The cories will breed relatively easily in an aquarium setting, but the angels and mollys should keep any of that to a minimum, and the same goes for all of the other fish. The angels will find the molly fry to be a nice treat. If you have any issues with fry you could always add something like a gourami, they LOVE fry. I would stick with all females or all males for the swordtails and platies though, as a mixture would cause a little unnecessary aggresion among the fish. Platties and swordtails are best suited in a 1 male to 2 or 3 females ratio, and they will interbreed together if they want to.