Bolivian Rams

[alexhaydon]

Hello everyone! I currently have 2 Bolivian rams in my tank. male and female but they don't seem to be very mobile just seem to stay hidden away. the female is larger and seems to chase the juvenile male, when she sees him. my water conditions are nitrite 1.0, nitrate 10ppm, ammonia 0 but ph 8.
is this ph causing the lack of movement? and will the rams ever become a pair?

 

[meguro]

ur nitrite is way too high. do a 75% water change at least (or 2 50%'s in short succession) to get it below 0.25.

a pair require at least 2ft 80L tank and prefer pH 6-7.5, soft water (low hardness), temperature 24-27C, ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate <50ppm, sand substrate with leaf litter/wood. plants are optional

stable parameters are far more important along with zero ammonia/nitrite

 

[karin]

yea obviously you may lose your fish with a nitrite level that high. When you get the nitrite and ammonia under control I just wanted to add that while they may prefer a lower Ph all Bolivian Rams at lfs are tank bred and can tolerate a wider range of Ph. I have mine at 8 Ph and 25 and they are active and spawning. Just for reference.

Now get back to your water changes.

 

[ChilliPepper]

Yeah, as others have said the nitrite needs to be much lower - 0.

Also as regards to pH, I think fish are a lot more tolerant of different pH's than we give them credit for. Also if we buy them fairly locally, the chances are they have been accustomed to your water for a while, if not since 'birth'.

Mine are kept in a hard pH of 7.5 and 24c/75f. My current little guy is very happy in this water.

 

[alexhaydon]

Thanks for the info people i have done a 50% water change yesterday and I will do another today. hopefully the fish will be ok
thanks again!!