Blue Rams Behavior

[awol_lsd]

nver had rams before, got two small ones from petco, one i believe was too small and too stressed and died, water was fine i and petco tested it. (im partially color blind so i take water sample up there for re-assurance) but thing is i happened to buy them the day they was adding fish to the tanks and i think that + me taking it home and putting in new tank + it being soo small was just too much for it.
 
anyway all other fish was/are doing fine. but today (9 days after the one had died) re-got a second blue ram. i acclimated it and put it in the tank and very shortly after the first ram went to like as soon as it noticed it. it wasn't being too hostile (i think) but it is staying real close to it and like twitching it's head and occasionally bumping the new bigger one. i've been watching it and it hasn't bit him at all just the twitching and some bumping/brushing up against. while the larger (new one) hasn't really done anything like it's cool with the little one being like that.
 
anyway i'm just curious as i've been looking up things online and they say the twitching is signs of a parasite (though doubt that as it wasn't doing it till i put the new one in and instantly started it at that time) other things say it can be part of the matting (but again doubt that as it litteraly started within 1-2 minutes after introducing the 2nd to the tank...
 
would think it was for dominance/territory but neither is chasing the other just kinda hanging out doing this..
 
so curious...
 
tank is 30 gallon, 1 angel, 1 red flame gourami, 1 albino bristlenose pleco, 1 hillstream loach, 1 rainbow shark, and the 2 rams. 

 

[Akasha72]

the 'twitching' is a cichlid thing as far as I can tell. My Bolivian rams did it when they were coming into breeding mode. My Curvicep dwarf cichlid did it too when they were coming into breeding mode and now my female angel goes and does it in front of her mate when she's wanting to breed.
 
I think what you might have is a pairing happening. Watch for them locking their lips and slapping their tails together. There might also be some bumping into one another ... if you watch closely it's more affectionate than nasty. If you see all this and then notice one's belly is turning pinker (that'll be female) then you can pretty much say you've got a male and a female and they've paired up 
 
Hope that helps

 

[awol_lsd]

kk thanks, sounds good and i just didn't think it would be that given the fact that it started really like 1 minute or less from introducing the new one haha.

 

[Byron]

Akasha is on the right track.  This could be male/female interaction, but maybe not, or even if it is, it may not last.
 
Like most cichlids, rams must select their mates and bond.  Not every fish will accept any fish of the opposite gender; they may but they may not, and the demise of the fish rejected usually follows.
 
Sexing rams is not easy, especially when young; behaviours are sometimes the best clues.  I had a male Bolivian Ram, a closely related species to your blue ram, and I introduced a female (back before I understood the bonding issue).  The male seemed to accept her, though there was some of what you have described, but it went both ways.  They spawned, four times, before the male had enough and killed the female.
 
On other matters, you have or will have some issues with the named fish.  The blue rams need warm water, 80F is about as low as you want for this species.  The Hillstream Loach will not last at this warmth, it must have cooler water, no warmer than 75F and preferably a bit cooler than this.  It also need a good current, something the rams will not appreciate.  The angelfish and gourami will not want cool water either, nor currents.  By "current" here I mean fairly fast flow for the Hillstream Loach.
 
Byron.

 

[welshie]

Hi all. Sorry to barge into your questions. I have 2 blue rams from different shops. I originally had 2 from the same shop but the male died a few weeks later i replaced him with a new male (alot bigger!) As my female lost her colour and went lathargic so thought maybe she was lonely haha. Both rams get on well together. There not a pair but dont ever fight. There normally at seperate ends of the tank except during feeding. The problem i have is my female after regaining colour and life has gone back to being colourless and quite lathargic not as bad as before tho. Ive had her over 6 months now and she hasnt grown a bit she is exactly the same size. My male has got even bigger and so have the rest of my fish. She eats well and always gets her fair share. I have no clue why and hope one of you guys can help me out!

 

[Akasha72]

generally when a fish loses colour it's a sign of stress. There can be other reasons but stress is the most common reason. It's possible that she's feeling stressed by the male even though you observe them getting along. You could try upping hiding places (lots of plants, decor etc) so she starts to feel safer 

 

[Byron]

I agree.  I saw this with the male and female Bolivian I mentioned previously.

 

[welshie]

This is my tank setup. 14 plants in total 2 planted coconut caves a barrel and a rocky cliff like thing with overhanging ledges to hide under and a large poece of bogwood with a lilly attached and grass beneath.
And these are the rams as you can see a clear difference in size and colour. Ive been watching them closely these last couple weeks to check for signs of illness/disease but no change. She has been like it about 4months now and if anything she is the bully. She will charge and nip at him if he gets in her way otherwise there peacefull