Blovian Ram Sexing ?

[moochy13]

i recently got lumbered with a blivian ram. not something i would have chosen, but i am starting to like it. the longer i have, the more i think i'd like another one, which means a pair. thing is i have no idea what this one is. are these photos any good to sex it ?

ill get some mre photos if they're not much use, doesnt stay still for very long though.

 

[KittyKat]

Looks like a starved female. If you want a pair, then you are best off getting another 5, then selling 4 once they pair off.

 

[moochy13]

i unfortunately dont have the cash, or tank space to drop another 40 quid on fish. im not too fussed about them actually breeding, i just dont want 2 males or 2 females. whats going to be best to get her nice and plump ? shes been eating well on tetra prima, tetra pro flake, and catfish pellets. ive not put any bloodworm in recently, i'll get some out now to feed today. so it might just be a case of keep fedding what i am and see how it goes. i tried some prawn last week, none of my fish were remotely interested in it.

 

[KittyKat]

Just a variety of different prepared foods, maybe artemia as well. The easiest way to get her to put on weight is to feed a few times per day (smaller amounts), but be careful as other fish will be eating too, of course. If you feed more often, you will probably need to do more regular water changes.

If you're not worried about them breeding, why are you looking to get one specifically of opposite sex?

 

[moochy13]

im assuming 2 males would fight, and thought the best chance of getting the best colours out of these fish would be if they were trying to impress eachother. unless i stumble upon 2 lesbian rams, they're not going to be itnerested in impressing eachother. or does the colouring not change regardless of whether a fish is trying to mate/attract a mate ? also, female fish generally seem to be the 'duller' of the sexes in fishy terms.

 

[KittyKat]

Two males will normally not fight, unless there are females around, and both sexed look almost identical throughout their whole life.

If the pair are not compatible, even with a male and female combination, you won't get them showing off to each other much, which is why if you want just the showing off, it is better to get a few fish to start with and let them pick their own partners.. but you might get lucky and get a compatible male. Sometimes, two incompatible fish will get so frustrated with failure to mate successfully, that one will kill the other.. but it's impossible to tell how much success you will have until you get the actual fish.

 

[moochy13]

ahh right, thats cleared that up then. in that i'll just go buy another one and as long as they dont kill eachother im happy. thanks for helping.

 

[Better-German-Blues]

Looks like a malnourished / underfed female. Looks pretty stressed. If there are two males in a tank - your tank will be plenty if you would end up with two males as they will find their own territory for when a female does happen to "wander into their territory" that they would pair up with. If you want to prevent fighting - charging/head butting/chasing - have some cave like areas for them or plants that surround some flat stones as they like to breed on smooth surfaces which is their territory. If they start chasing, when the other ram gets far enough away from the other pair's spawning area they will very quickly swim back to it to defend it and or keep eggs safe. Your tank will be plenty big for two rams even if they are both males.