Building Stock Around Gbrs

[BluePhantom]

Hey everyone I need to figure out what some good stocking lists are when a pair German Blue Rams are the center piece in your tank. Anyone with experience on this? Tank 180 gallon 6ft L 2ft W And 2ft H. Any info is welcomed thanks!

 

[StandbySetting]

As you may or many not know, Blue Rams require temperatures that are higher than most fish should be kept in, 28-32[sup]o[/sup]C is recommended, additionally soft and acidic water is good. Sand substrate is essential as Rams are from the genus Microgeophagus which translates to mini-earth eater.

Cardinal Tetra's are generally a good choice and a large shoal will look fantastic.

 

[KkAaNnEe]

Dont you feel that you may struggle to make 2 gbrs in a 6x2x2 a centrepiece? They're only dwarf cichlids. They are beautiful fish but may look lost

 

[BluePhantom]

As you may or many not know, Blue Rams require temperatures that are higher than most fish should be kept in, 28-32[sup]o[/sup]C is recommended, additionally soft and acidic water is good. Sand substrate is essential as Rams are from the genus Microgeophagus which translates to mini-earth eater.

Cardinal Tetra's are generally a good choice and a large shoal will look fantastic.

yeah I have heard they like warm water but do well in like 75-78 is that not right?

 

[StandbySetting]

That's too low, 82[sup]o[/sup]F should be the minimum really, if you're building stock around Rams then you may as well keep them at the temperature they require, when kept at lower temperatures they become more susceptible to certain diseases such as Hexamita, fungus and bacterial infections.

 

[BluePhantom]

Dont you feel that you may struggle to make 2 gbrs in a 6x2x2 a centrepiece? They're only dwarf cichlids. They are beautiful fish but may look lost

Well its a big tank i know they need their room and can be somewhat territorial. maybe i used the wrong wording but I want to build around them so that they are compatible and wont be bothered. I really want to have this fish.I was going to make them own caves with all this fish stone i have a make a corner like house for them and i figure they would hide there and yes i will make a few more. but i think they would like fine in it. just want to make sure or get like a list of what fish do well with them and what fish I can out but may have to watch to see if they will be ok

That's too low, 82[sup]o[/sup]F should be the minimum really, if you're building stock around Rams then you may as well keep them at the temperature they require, when kept at lower temperatures they become more susceptible to certain diseases such as Hexamita, fungus and bacterial infections.

82 ok Im fine with that i just want to figure what tank mates they could have and not be bothered?

 

[eaglesaquarium]

You could also build around some apistogrammas, which are very similar to the rams in temperament but do not need as high a temp.


I would say in a tank that size that the idea of 3 pairs isn't crazy. I am thinking about 2 pairs in my tank, which is only 30" x 18" (just under 4 square feet of footprint.) You have a full 12 square feet of tank footprint. With 3 pairs, each would theoretically get a full 4 square feet of footprint to themselves.

 

[StandbySetting]

Well anything capable of withstanding the higher temperatures, research some of the species you like and see if they'll be compatible.

 

[BluePhantom]

Well anything capable of withstanding the higher temperatures, research some of the species you like and see if they'll be compatible.

yeah thats what i have been doing and a lot of sites seem to have crap info cause i never see blue rams as warm water fish when i keep searching google ts always the same ones. do you have any other sites that have good info?

 

[StandbySetting]

Fish base is generally quite reliable, anything that can be kept with Discus is generally OK to be kept with Blue Rams.

 

[BluePhantom]

Eagle yeah I might just do that. but prob like two pairs for now. ok thanks standby ill check it out!

 

[Tizer]

with a 6x2x2 tank i would be looking at something a little more "up market" to your bog standard community fishies As mentioned already, a couple of Rams as a center piece fish are erally going to be lost. That said, you got to start somewhere

 

[Randomitity]

I have 2 in a 48x18x20 and they consider the whole bottom of the thank theirs and they know where everything is and they defiantly act like they own it

Sadly my GBR are noticed faster then the female bettas I have.

 

[Tizer]

Thats because female bettas are not very interesting

 

[Randomitity]

Thats because female bettas are not very interesting

I don't agree lol most colors are dulled if you don't know what you are looking for but that is with any fish and they are just like plakat tails that seem to be more pricy then anything else here (and are bought quicker here for some reason)