Blue Rams

[toppman]

iv been looking at these fish for a while and really want 2 get some but from the research iv been doing some sites say they r relatively easy 2 care for and some say unless conditions r absolutely perfect they should be left alone, i have read aswell that they attack small fish such as tetras.
my 1st question is if i was to get 2 (male and female) would they be ok with 6 cardinals and 4 otos in a 15g?
2nd question is what water parameters r people keeping them at and r they living healthy?
Thanks 4 any help

 

[Mystix212]

I would add more rams to a 15 G, about 4 more. They only get 2". Males have the first 2 rays on thier dorsal much higher than females and are more colourful. With more you get more colour, probably more spawning pairs and more activity.

Rams colour best when kept in warm water so keep them at a stable 80 Farhenheight. A little higher may hurt your other fish.
They generally have 50-200 eggs.
These are excellent community fish. But can be pushy at breeding time.
Do weekly 50% water changes for optimum water conditions. Water doesnt have to be 100% perfect.
They love planted tanks along with several caves.

Hope that helps. Reply back if you want to know more.

 

[toppman]

thanks for the info, i only want 2 get a pair so it stays reasonably non-aggresive if they start breeding.
so the water conditions dont need 2 be perfect as long as the water changes r carried out.
if u have rams whats the temp and ph in ur setup?

 

[thegnu]

There seems to be quite a bit of interest in the blue ram on here at the moment. I think its because its an attractive fish. Lots of colour and character so will always get new recruits and its not very expensive but let me state here and now it is a very, very hard fish to keep alive for any length of time. It is not a long lived fish and if you can keep yours alive for one year or more you are doing very well. There is lots and lots of rubbish all over the internet about fish keeping and certain fish species and the blue ram is right up there at the top. If anyone is serious about keeping this wonderful fish you really do need to get a good book on them or south american species (amazon) as a whole. Look for a book that tells you that the blue ram is extremely hard to keep and it will cover everything you’ll need to know. people make the mistake of seeing this pretty little fish and just get some, put them in their tanks with no consideration of conditions it needs or tankmates or anything and when they die after about two weeks to a month they think its because of the fish. (stay away from fish from Singapore as these are fed antibiotics for health and hormones to promote colour and are generally poor fish that wont last long)
Look for fish either home bred (uk) or European. On the subject of sexing them they first need to be in good condition. If the colours are bright and the markings are well defined the best way I find is to study the black spot two thirds up its body. If it has blue spangles right in the middle of the spot then its normaly a female, if there are no spangles right in the middle but just inside the edge of the spot then it’s a male. I’ve got rams I have bred that are four months old now and none of the females have got any sign of the pink colour in the belly region (even when spawning) and I have females that have got extensions to their dorsal fins that are as long as the males. Its all down to experience in the end and the ram is a specialist fish. It needs to be kept in a species tank with the water it likes and the tank mates that like the same water. Some of the statements I have read I’m sure that the people who state them have NEVER even kept a blue ram. (or if they have they lasted two or three weeks)

 

[dirtydog]

your right they are beautiful fish and im basing my whole next tank around them but I dont want to add them too soon so the tank is a bit more mature.

 

[toppman]

pretty knowlegable stuff there from thegnu, if any1 was 2 say any piece of info that could possibly put me off these fish then that has 2 be it, its ruined any hope of buying them, i dont suppose any1 knows of another kind of colourful, small, peaceful fish, added bonuses would include relative easiness of breeding, and has 2 be ok with cardinals and ottos.
any info would be good thanks

 

[thegnu]

i don't wish to put anyone off trying them. there must be people out there that are lucky enough to have water from their tap that suit them and they thrive

 

[toppman]

could u recommend a fish that suits the things i stated in the post b4?

 

[thegnu]

Aequidens curviceps AKA sheeps head acara or flag cichlid.
Aequidens dorsigerus AKA redbrested cichlid
Nannacara anomala AKA goldeneye dwarf cichlid or lattice cichlid. all these could work as they are more forgiving

 

[toppman]

thanks for all ur help, even tho i consider them ugly after looking at them i will continue looking for a fish and thank u again 4 ur help

 

[toppman]

what about kribs? r they good 4 community tanks? any other info ?

 

[DarkEntity]

what about kribs? r they good 4 community tanks? any other info ?

Yes when not spawning, not at all when spawning.

Also all this about water stats for Rams etc is only relevant if they are wild caught. Id probably say 90% of most common Cichlids are tank bread thus any water types will do, just check with the supplier first.

 

[thegnu]

what are your water parameters, DarkEntity