Bolivan Rams On Sat

[Littlemonkey]

I'm off to Maidenhead Aquatics on Sat, I rang them today to see if they had some in. Apparently they have a few juveniles and some slightly larger ones that hadn't paired off yet. I know that it's difficult to sex them, but If I do decide to purchase some. Would two be OK, if I did end up with two males would this cause an issue? I'm leaning towards the juveniles as they will grow up the Ellioti. All tips and hints are welcome.

 

[star4]

Never kept bolivian rams so cant help there, but try Shirley Aquatics just down the road from Maidenhead (thats if you are going to the one on the Stratford road), they had a sale on last time I was in, you might get them cheeper (thats if they still have them in stock)

 

[minxfishy]

The larger ones maybe easier to sex, however, as with most fish, make sure they have no signs of disease and good colouration, arent skinny (or bloated) males will be more colourful, have more pointer anal fins, longer extensions on their dorsal fins at the front. Two males isnt usually a big problem, so long as you have enough areas of cover, they arent aggressive fish, if you do end up with two males, they may do the odd chase, but Ive never known them to cause damage, rams are more bluff than anything else.

 

[Littlemonkey]

Never kept bolivian rams so cant help there, but try Shirley Aquatics just down the road from Maidenhead (thats if you are going to the one on the Stratford road), they had a sale on last time I was in, you might get them cheeper (thats if they still have them in stock)

Sorry should have said Maidenhead's nr Stratford. Warc's. I've been impressed with their tanks. Just hoping I just bump into that guy who gave me the naff info regarding the otto's.

The larger ones maybe easier to sex, however, as with most fish, make sure they have no signs of disease and good colouration, arent skinny (or bloated) males will be more colourful, have more pointer anal fins, longer extensions on their dorsal fins at the front. Two males isnt usually a big problem, so long as you have enough areas of cover, they arent aggressive fish, if you do end up with two males, they may do the odd chase, but Ive never known them to cause damage, rams are more bluff than anything else.

Thanks minx, I was hoping you would answer. Great I will have a good look Sat, I may have to wear blinkers though, to stop me looking at others. If I get some I'll try and get some pics up for monday. Me, Aquatics centre just after payday

 

[Neesmo]

I have a few bolivians and they are quite docile as far as cichlids go. They chase eachother a bunch but dont do damage. Good luck!

Kyle

 

[fatheadminnow]

Yeah, rams are fairly peaceful fish. If there is enough cover, then 2 males will be just fine together.

R32 FTW! lol

-FHM

 

[meguro]

i'd be surprised if more then 2-3 bolivian rams would be colourful in an lfs, so u cant really use that to sex them. Two males will be fine sharing a tank with each other in an appropriately sized tank.

easiest way to sex mature rams is the vent and bodyshape. males vent is small, tapers backwards to a point and they have a rather flat belly. females vents are larger, round ended, usually point downwards and they have a rounded belly. But dont expect to be able to use the belly shape to help sex them, as some of them will probably be underfed.

juveniles are much harder but the same points apply. males usually develop fin extensions before females do, so look at the dorsal and tail fins.

 

[Paradise3]

I think i got this right.

Female.

Male.

Look at the vent in these and tell me.

Xxx~misscosmo~xxX

 

[philak]

Since you can't see the vent in the top fish it's impossible to be sure. The lower fish , from that angle at least, looks male.

If i had to make a guess based on other characteristics i would say they were both male and that's judging by fin shape and size mainly but it's certainly not that reliable. Colour, especially from photographs is also unreliable. My male rams look stunningly colourful when breeding but often washed out in pictures.

These are both breeding females :

You can see the vents have a definite tube like appearance.

 

[Truck]

Before you buy these make sure your substrate is of the fine sandy kind, Rams are mini earth eaters, hence their genus: Mikrogeophagus.

 

[philak]

Eating wise Rams do fine with gravel substrate (as you can see in one of my tanks). They do also sift sand but it's not a prerequisite for keeping them.

Having smaller size gravel helps when breeding as they make pits all over the place to home the fry once they hatch. My second tank has eco complete and sand with 50/50 of each topping and they never make pits in the sand for the fry.

 

[Littlemonkey]

Thanks to all for the info, will be well armed when I go in tomorrow. I will be getting some more plants too. I've also ordered today the black backing for the tank. Payday Ye ha

 

[Diesel Trout]

What exactly is the "vent"? I don't think I have heard this term before.

 

[philak]

It's the thing sticking down in front of the anal fin, from where eggs/sperm are deposited.