Bullying Bolivian Ram - Updated With Pics Of Both

[ZoddyZod]

*UPDATE*

Better pics of the smaller ram now in my latest reply.

I've had two BRs in my tank for around 5 months. One is almost twice the size of the other and constantly chases the smaller whenever they are in line-of-sight.

I feel sorry for the smaller one as you can constantly see him/her tentatively appearing from some plants only to be spotted and chased again.

Should I add another to disperse the aggression?

I have a 125L tank with quite a few plants and objects for them to hide in.

 

[ChilliPepper]

Rams can be little s0ds to each other. I guess you have two males, and one is the 'top dog' and pushing the other around as the tank is his territory.

First off, have you got some pics so some people in the know can sex them?

 

[ZoddyZod]

First off, have you got some pics so some people in the know can sex them?

sadly only of the larger one, have tried many times to get a decent one of the smaller but have always failed.

Large one

'best' of the small one (see what I mean???)

 

[Littlemonkey]

Top one looks like a female to me, almost identical to mine, cant tell on the 2nd one without seeing them side on I'm afraid.

 

[karin]

Given the breeding tube on the top one I would guess female too. I'm not an expert but the top one looks stressed too with the dark flecks.

I have a pair that has spawned twice. They were getting along pretty well. I moved them to a bigger tank and now the smaller female is totally harassing the male. They are staying at opposite ends of the tank now. Go figure. Not easy to figure these guys out.

 

[ZoddyZod]

Given the breeding tube on the top one I would guess female too. I'm not an expert but the top one looks stressed too with the dark flecks.

The dark flecks come and go almost constantly, the fish is hardly ever the same appearance.

The smaller one does see so show dark strips regularly though so I wonder if that's a symptom of the bullying/stress.

 

[meguro]

they both look female, but i dont understand why they would be harassing each other. perhaps add a male and take back one of these females (provided theyre both female as bottom pic is a wild guess). i would suggest keeping the larger female, despite its aggression, since it appears to be thriving

 

[ZoddyZod]

Just grabbed some snaps of the smaller ram. Any ideas what the sex is?

more pics are here but the two below are probably the best

http/s706.photobucket.com/albums/ww67/ZoddyZod/Tank%20and%20Inhabitants%2013th%20July/BR%20pics%20Aug%2008/

 

[PDSimon]

looks female to me buts its difficult to tell when they're so small so i'm not sure

 

[ZoddyZod]

looks female to me buts its difficult to tell when they're so small so i'm not sure

they have both been in there for about 6 months.....I dont think the little one has grown at all.

 

[PDSimon]

Do you try to feed her specifically?

 

[ZoddyZod]

Do you try to feed her specifically?

I dont, but I do see 'her' feeding regularly. Took so much tubifex yesterday that she did a good impression of a chameleon firing its tongue in and out.

I'm worried that the slow growth may be due to stress, is that even feasible? The dark markings are pretty much constant and whenever in line-of-site of the larger one it is quickly chased into hiding.

 

[PDSimon]

her colouring looks good which would make it appear although she isn't stressed. Dark stripe across the front, good general colouring... could be a bit more orange but shes only little! maybe someone else will know

 

[ZoddyZod]

nobody else able to hazard a guess on the smaller ones sex?

Happy that the larger one is female though....might get a couple more and hope they pair off.

 

[kaivalagi]

The smaller one looks female to me, but it is early days. I'd try and fatten the smaller one up a little if you can