Blue Rams?

[AnthonyRobinson666]

I have a jewel 180vision, which breaks down as a 180l bow fronted tank with internal filter. Currently holds; 8 precox rainbows, 3 zebra loaches, and a 2spot catfish. And the plan is to add several pairs of dwarf cichlids, with th understanding of blue rams growing to 2.5" 6 would bring the total to approx. 45" of fish all spread out throught the tank layers... my only worry is that two pairs of blue rams and a pair of golden rams may not only over crowed my tank, but terratories will over lap. resulting in constant fighting, possibly deaths! on the other hand i have been told that it may work if i can give enough features (caves, bogwood, plants etc.)? p.s. sorry about the massive essay

 

[pica_nuttalli]

is that 180 long or 180 liters?

 

[AnthonyRobinson666]

180 liter sorry )

 

[parker313]

180 liters = approx 48 US gallons...

3 pairs MIGHT be pushing it. Even though they're small fish, they can claim large territories. If you do get 3 pairs, I'd get all 3 pairs at once so they all have a chance to sort out their own territories. If you get 2 pairs, then add in another pair, the first 2 pairs might have picked out territories that don't leave enough room for another territory.

I would only get 3 pairs if I could return one of the pairs if it wasn't working out.

 

[AnthonyRobinson666]

thanks for the advice my lfs is quite reasonable plus know him quite well so i'm gonna give it a go... possibly even later today! is there any chance of inter breedin between the blue and the gold rams, no there kinda the same fish... not gettin them to pass on fry so would that be okay still?

 

[pica_nuttalli]

have you read the pinned topic on territory sizes? i would personally only get the two pairs so that if breeding erupted, you wouldn't have an emergency on your hands. i'd wait a couple of days to get more expert opinions before buying more than one pair... but that's just me.

 

[parker313]

thanks for the advice my lfs is quite reasonable plus know him quite well so i'm gonna give it a go... possibly even later today! is there any chance of inter breedin between the blue and the gold rams, no there kinda the same fish... not gettin them to pass on fry so would that be okay still?

Yes, there is a chance. Blue and gold rams are the same fish, just different color strains. I used to know what the resulting fry would look like, but forget now....

 

[AnthonyRobinson666]

have you read the pinned topic on territory sizes? i would personally only get the two pairs so that if breeding erupted, you wouldn't have an emergency on your hands. i'd wait a couple of days to get more expert opinions before buying more than one pair... but that's just me.

yes but like you said read around, and i have read several books sayin two pairs would take larger territories, but three would settle with smaller... plus i enjoy challenging my fish keeping ability! Was told killie fish were imposibly to keep in community tanks but i found a way... p.s. i am waiting tho

 

[AnthonyRobinson666]

While checking the net for help i found very help full site.
http/hjem.get2net.dk/Best_of_the_Web/blue%20rams.html
and reading "A 65 gallon tank has allowed for 2-3 pairs of agi's and blues. An alpha-pair will establish itself and declare themselves 'king and queen' of the tank and other remaining pairs will subsequently build a hierarchy hereafter. One interesting aspect of the hierarchies is to witness how they change in time - once the alpha pair gets old or less feisty, the other pairs will challenge and test them until successful."

i know no that i come up just short, with only 43 gallon!

My plan now is something like a ram, angel combo... Any suggestions

 

[parker313]

That sounds great! Rams and angels do well in the same tank b/c angels stick more to the upper levels. Really, with rams and angels you can go with pretty much any non-nippy (b/c of the angel's fins) fish that like softer water

There are many people who say not to keep angels with neons or other small tetras b/c they'll eat them but I've also seen references online that say that in a tank setting that's very unlikely to happen, especially if you get a juvie angel and raise them with the tetras and ensure an adequate food supply. Sure, an angel might eat tetra tankmates if it was hungry enough, but the angels I've seen aren't going to kill a tetra just for sport.

Other fish that might work well - another NW cichlid like a flag/festivum cichlid... Dwarf gouramis go well... You could even have a school of rainbowfish, especially if you went with dwarf rainbows like Praecox.

 

[AnthonyRobinson666]

b/c angel? could i keep all three, rainbows rams an angels?

Another question is my tank set up might not suit angels. it's basically a steep decline with a lot of bogwood, and thick veg. to back and sides...
try an get a pic soon as pos!

 

[parker313]

Yup, you can keep all 3. Rainbows, *when kept in a school* are very peaceful community fish. I had problems with my rainbows (boesemani and western/splendid/whatever you call them) b/c I had 3 of each and they were constantly picking at everything else in the tank. I also had all males, ideally you want a better male:female ratio than that. You can keep the larger rainbows like the boesemanis, but if swimming space is limited as you say, by the decorations, then you might want to stick to the dwarfs like the praecox.

Rams won't be claiming territory where the angel does and rainbows don't claim territory so it's not a problem. I've seen other people on here keep rainbows with angels with success.

Angels need about 18" of vertical swimming space in order to be comfortable as adults. If you don't have that much room, then an angel may not be best.

 

[FrAnK3333]

I would go for 2 pairs. Imo it should be a pair every 20 gallons.

 

[AnthonyRobinson666]

so how about... two black angels, four blue rams, eight precox rainbows, tanks 18" high so should be fine

also got three zebra loaches aswell is that a porblem?

 

[parker313]

Sounds great

I can't speak from experience about the loaches, but there *might* be a problem there as they are bottom dwellers like the rams. Hopefully they'd have enough sense to stay away from the rams during spawning, but I don't know for sure.....