Calling All Keepers Of Blue Rams...

[B2k2]

Hi,

I am very interested in owning some blue rams as I think they are the most beatiful fish I have seen. So much so I a have a beautiful male and female reserved at my LFS.

I've been reading lots on them and seem to have come to the conclusion that they like soft water, or at least for them to be able to breed.

My water has a GH of 240 or 13.44 degrees (converted by multiplying 240 by 0.056), I'm reading that this is fairly hard water. Do you think this will pose any problems for breeding?

Also I'd like to know what your GH is and whether you have been successfull at raising young

thanks in advance

 

[yvez9]

i've tried keeping them, very unsuccesfully might i add

My friend tried keeping some with keyholes as well. We both had the same issue: They did fine for a while then got diseased all of a sudden and all died, the other fish showed no sign of illness.

The thing they seemed perfectly healthy for months, then one day one gets sick, then they all get sick.

I have no clue why they got sick, and only them... IMO they are not very hardy. I keep bolivian rams instead and have had nothing but a good experience...

 

[B2k2]

Thanks yvez9, your starting to worry me now...

anyone else got any input into this?

 

[breezer40]

I have had no luck at all with Rams and just like yvez9 they are fine for a while then they just die Don't keep them anymore.

 

[pseud]

I have had no luck at all with Rams and just like yvez9 they are fine for a while then they just die Don't keep them anymore.

I've kept them, somewhat successfully. They're VERY sensitive to water quality. You need to be vigilant about your water changes, and keep to a very strict regime. They're very sensitive to stress. Don't go freaking them out by sticking your hand in the tank and moving stuff around too much, they'll just die from stress. And I also had a pair die for no apparent reason. First the male got septecemia and died, then the female disappeared overnight (died and got eaten - my ottos looked rather fat.)

As for hard water, so long as you acclimate them slowly, gradually adding some of your tank water to the bag so they get used to it, I think they'll be fine. Just spend at least half an hour getting them used to the water before you release them. And then cross your fingers, they'll take a day or three to settle in!

 

[benzonar]

My Rams don't seem to care about me putting my hand in the tank, in fact I would saythey are far too curious for their own good. Whilst my wild kribs will scarper my male ram comes over every time to see what is going on.

At the moment both my male and female ram are attempting to chase my wild kribs, very funny infact. My water is on the soft side and ph is about 6. I did lose my first female ram but she was sick when I bought her (thought I could save her) she died (hexamita I think).

Her replacement paired up with my male within a minute of being introduced and have lately been preparing nest sites.

Rams generally are sensitive to water hardness, and I also think hard water can cause the eggs to fungus up ifthey ever lay some.