Bolivian Ram? But Its A Firemouth Help

[CheniseMummy]

Yesterday i went to pets at home with the kids and as my tank beeen running without any problems for 6m i thought id add two more fishes to my tank. I saw what was labled as bolivian rams and i now reconise them as firemouth's from internet pics.

They are currently in a 15l QT with filter and heater from main tank so fully cycled working filter Fluval mini. Large priece bogwood with java fern atttached. water at 26c. They are hiding pretty much at the back but come out occasionally.

Obv my stocking plan was two bolivian rams how will they get on with other fish?

 

[Curiosity101]

They just aren't suitable in that tank full stop. As youngsters they'll be ok in the short term, but they will grow regardless of tank size and will then cause hell. lol.

Is it the 112l 2ft tank? All I can suggest is that you phone the petsathome shop and say you bought something that was labelled as a bolivian ram and that you realise now that it was mis labeled and that it actually grows quite big and is relatively agressive so can't stay in your tank. Can they swap them for 2 actual bolivians or give you store credit if they don't have any in yet.

Few other notes. The cherry shrimp might get munched on by the bolivians, mine always had a go at the shrimp but never actually caught them. Eventually they got bored of trying, but you never know.

Those corydoras really could do with being in a larger group. They tend to be very timid and quiet if they're not in a large enough group. I'd suggest 4 min, with my pref being for 6.

 

[CheniseMummy]

Arh thats a shame really i will give them a call and see what they can do. Otherwise what would there tank needs be?

How do you sex them? i did ask for male and female but im not sure as they look the same.

 

[Curiosity101]

I doubt they are sexable at the size they're at now (Although having never actually kept them I'm not sure). However males grow extensions on their fins and they tend to have pointier fins to begin with.
Perhaps post some pictures up in the new world section?

And for a pair you'd want a 3ft min tank realistically. These guys grow to 6" ish so they do need their room. And they may or may not live peacfully with tank mates. However if you wanted to keep them and could give them their own tank where they can be tried with tank mates that'd be fine. That way you can remove the other fish if the firemouths decide to be funny about it.

 

[Rynofasho]

Pics?

 

[CheniseMummy]

Ive now up the numbers of corydora to 4 and am undecided about the firemouths. MHA said they would buy them off me.

 

[Curiosity101]

Well when I say they'll cause hell when they're older. I only mean in a 2ft tank. Day in day out, with reasonable sized tank mates, the firemouths should be alright. However if you end up with a same sex pair/different non breeding pair then they will probably fight with eachother in such limited space. Not to mention a 6" fish in a 2ft tank isn't a good idea anyways.

My point being, don't let my comment put you off them. Plenty of people enjoy keeping them, and keep them successfully with other fish. It's just that you would need a bigger tank...and there is no getting round that part.

 

[CheniseMummy]

Thanks i will keep that in mind, ive not rally the space for a bigger tank but my step sister has a large tank with large fish in could they possibly go there when they got bigger.

My new cory doras look different like more white between the black spots can you get two kids of leopard corydoras

 

[the_lock_man]

Is it the 112l 2ft tank? All I can suggest is that you phone the petsathome shop and say you bought something that was labelled as a bolivian ram and that you realise now that it was mis labeled and that it actually grows quite big and is relatively agressive so can't stay in your tank. Can they swap them for 2 actual bolivians or give you store credit if they don't have any in yet.

Just a legal note, if P@H try to get funny, (if indeed you do decide to return them), then actually they are legally obliged under the Sale of Goods Act to give you a full refund of the purchase price. You contracted with them to supply you with Bolivian Rams, but they have supplied you with Firemouths, therefore they are in breach of contract. They'll probably be fine, but sometimes mentioning the Sale of Goods Act works miracles!