Bolivian Ram Housing

[jimmyjazz1039]

Hi there I just have a couple of questions regarding these gorgeous little fish.

I currently have one on it's own in a tank with a few other fish but I plan on moving it into it's own tank (perhaps with a few Neon Tetra) in the next week or so and I was wondering if Rams have any prefered substrate and prefered plants? I want to try and get it as happy as possible before introducing a mate, which brings me onto my next question.

Is my Ram likely to take kindly to having another Ram placed in with it? It has been on it's own for a few months now, although there have been other fish in the tank none of them were it's own kind. She does have a habit of chasing my Black Sailfin Molly around, but in turn used to get chased by my Chinese Algae Eater (who terrorised everyone) and now by my male Colbalt Dwarf Gourami. I'm just a little worried that she'll either get bullied by a new Ram or end up being a bully.

Lastly what numbers are Rams best kept in? I've read pairs in some places and in others I've read keeping them in 3's is best, verying from 2 females and one male to 2 males and female, I can't see how the later would work myself.

Any help would be appriciated. Thank you.

 

[Inchworm]

Hi jimmyjazz1039

I'm going to move your thread to the New World Cichlids section. I think you will get good replys there.

 

[Truck]

you must have a sand substrate for rams...they are eartheaters as there genus suggests (mikrogeophagus)


they filter sand through their gills and pick out food through them

 

[Curiosity101]

You need a 20gal (80l) tank at least to keep a Bolivian comfortably as they get stressed in confined spaces.
As truck said, sand or aquarium soil is the preferred substrate. And any plants are good. Relatively dense planting in areas and some shadowy areas are all welcomed.

Your 'she' is most probably a juvenile 'he'. Most bolivian rams, as I have found from personal experience, turn out to be male. They should be kept alone or in pairs. A 80-120l tank will house up to one male and female (or a lone male). You're looking around 180l + to introduce a second male and/or female.
To get a pair the only definite way to do it is to buy a group of 5+ juveniles and allow a pair to bond naturally.
Whilst juvenile they will accept multiple others of their own species in the same tank which is why the method above is a good way to get yourself a pair.
However as they mature you WILL have to rehome all the 'spare' rams. Leaving you hopefully with a m/f pair.

 

[ZoddyZod]

you must have a sand substrate for rams...they are eartheaters as there genus suggests (mikrogeophagus)


they filter sand through their gills and pick out food through them

Hmmm, I hadn't read this before. This scraps my plans to keep them - having a small gravel substrate myself. <goes back to the drawing board>

 

[Curiosity101]

I disagree with truck saying it's 'needed'.
They don't 'need' sand or soil. They get fed artifically so don't need to feed as they would in the wild. And so long as the gravel is small enough then they can still move it around using their mouthes.

However if you want to see the most natural behaviour from your rams then you need sand or soil.

 

[ZoddyZod]

I disagree with truck saying it's 'needed'.
They don't 'need' sand or soil. They get fed artifically so don't need to feed as they would in the wild. And so long as the gravel is small enough then they can still move it around using their mouthes.

However if you want to see the most natural behaviour from your rams then you need sand or soil.

OK, so they're not going to cause harm to themselves if kept on gravel?

 

[Truck]

I disagree with truck saying it's 'needed'.
They don't 'need' sand or soil. They get fed artifically so don't need to feed as they would in the wild. And so long as the gravel is small enough then they can still move it around using their mouthes.

However if you want to see the most natural behaviour from your rams then you need sand or soil.

OK, so they're not going to cause harm to themselves if kept on gravel?

they can do...when they mimick this natural behavior they may injure themselves on sharp gravel

 

[jimmyjazz1039]

Thanks for the replies guys.

Yes I've seen my Ram scooping up gravel sort of chewing them and then spitting them out againg, I thought it was just hungry because I only feed my fish every other day as to keep waste down. So a sand substrate would be best then... but if I have a sand substrate will I have trouble getting my plants to grow?

I intended on getting some Brazlian Water Ivy and Amazon Broadleaf Sword in order to give the tank a bit of an Amazon feel to it so to allow the Tetra to feel at home. If I have sand will this cause a problem for potential plant life?

Actually reading through the posts again I've noticed you've also mentioned soil so I'm thinking that would probably be the better option here?

I really don't want to get a load of Rams just to guarantee getting a m/f pair knowing that I'll have to offload most of them, I don't see that as fair to the fish. Plus I don't really have room to keep 5 of them at the same time.

Is there any way of sexing the fish that I have? I've read somewhere that the bump near it's anal fin can be used as an indicator, but I can't find the website now! I may try and grab a photo of my fish and upload it if anyone is able to help in sexing it?

But thanks for the advice so far guys, I'm a novice of sorts but very keen on improving and my Ram is so endearing that she (or he if it turns out that way) thats priority over my other fish.

(Also thanks for moving this, I don't visit the site regularly so don't know all the ins and outs yet)

 

[ZoddyZod]

Thanks for the replies guys.

I really don't want to get a load of Rams just to guarantee getting a m/f pair knowing that I'll have to offload most of them, I don't see that as fair to the fish. Plus I don't really have room to keep 5 of them at the same time.

Is there any way of sexing the fish that I have? I've read somewhere that the bump near it's anal fin can be used as an indicator, but I can't find the website now! I may try and grab a photo of my fish and upload it if anyone is able to help in sexing it?

You can quite often buy them in pairs, or so I've seen at several lfs. £10 seems to be the average price.

*edit* oops, didnt read the post properly......ignore me!

 

[ALW]

Whilst juvenile they will accept multiple others of their own species in the same tank which is why the method above is a good way to get yourself a pair.
However as they mature you WILL have to rehome all the 'spare' rams. Leaving you hopefully with a m/f pair.

WRONG! You can keep Rams in groups they are social cichlids. Although in a tank that size i would only go with a pair or a trio.

 

[jimmyjazz1039]

Ok so these are the best images I could get, my fish apprantly isn't the biggest poser in the world. But if anyone could give me an idea as to the sex of this fish then I would very much appriciate it. I know it can be difficult to sex Rams and if they're juvenile its even harder but any and all opinions are welcome.

I think its female as its less coloured than a male would be, the tail fin isn't that pointed, and the bump near the anal fin is very rounded. But I can't be sure.

 

[Truck]

i would say thats a male, as the anal fin extends past the base of the tale

 

[meguro]

female

 

[ALW]

Young Male