Blue Rams

[fishboy619]

i have 2 males with a trio of platies, 3 ottos and a few shrimp
the guy at the fish store said they will ram heads sometimes, hence the name rams, and its nothing to worry about
after a few days since i brought them home, one male, the biggest one, but only slightly, is swimming with the platies and is very pieceful, the other male, however, is hiding in the planted area and chasing the other fish as they come near, him and the other male are also what i think are fighting, flareing up at each other, and ramming each other. the smaller male has a torn fins, but could have had that from the fish store, at the lfs, they had about 15 rams together in a tank.
so i assumed, and the knowledge of the man, that they could live together piecefully.
are they really harmless "ramming" or is it more serious and they are fighting.
what do you suggest i do, take one back?
they are both eating tetra prima and bloodworms.

 

[thegnu]

if they are both eating that is obviously a good thing. it might not stay this way and then it wont take long for one to become weak with hunger and if your tank has nitrates over 30PPM and slightly alkaline hardish water then they soon die from all these things. rams do better in one pair to a tank. LFS keep lots of rams in one tank so the rams hardly dare move from their chosen spot in fear from loosing it to a rival/neighbour

 

[fishboy619]

cheers for the reply,
just to add, my water quality is fine, and my PH is at a netural 7.
im almost certain i have 2 males,

 

[bleechme]

It sould become serious IMO. And they seem to like more acidy water so lowering the PH a little should help lift some stress. And RULE #1, NEVER LISTEN TO WHAT A WORKERS IN THE PET STORE TELL YOU. Doing some personal research ahead of time will help you more than what person at a LFS tells you. I've been told: Male rams have pink bellies, Clown Plecs eat ALL TYPES of alge, and many other false information. They only know the basics and are not taught in-depth things about a certian species. For example, they'll know that all plecs eat alge. not knowing that each diff type of plecs eat diff. type of alge. But this does not apply to all the people that work at Petstores, there are some pretty knowledgable workers. But it's just best to do your own research and sometines you'll catch them telling you false info or right info.

 

[fishboy619]

my lfs is usally very good and helpful.
should i take one ram back?
or leave it for now, hopeing things get better, what about trying to exchange one of the males for a female, would that be any better or them 2 fight aswell. to my knowledge, rams are suppose to be pieceful cichlids.

 

[bleechme]

my lfs is usally very good and helpful.
should i take one ram back?
or leave it for now, hopeing things get better, what about trying to exchange one of the males for a female, would that be any better or them 2 fight aswell. to my knowledge, rams are suppose to be pieceful cichlids.

Yea, return one for a female. It's the best. Once they pair up, the fighting should settle. Hopefully your LFS will take it back. I know the ones around here refuse to trade or return unwanted fish. Except Petco and Petsmart.

 

[fishboy619]

i'll sort taking it back as soon as i get a chance,
just one more question, how can you tell what a female looks like, it know she is suppose to have a pink belly, but sometimes you cant always tell, any other give a ways?
cheers