Dithers For Rams?

[fluttermoth]

Hi all; looking for some ideas!

I've got a pair of rams in a 36" x 12" x 15" (100l/23 gallon) with sand and a few plants/rocks/bogwood. They've been taken out of a 48" 15" 15" as they were being too aggressive to the panda corydoras and the female has previously killed some green neons.

They've been in there about a week, but they've become really, really shy. It was set up with mature media and is pH 6.8, ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate 20.

Anyone got suggestions for some not too delicate shoalers that might go in there? I though of silver tips, but I'm not sure they'll be happy with the pale substrate. They need to be okay with higher temps (82°F/28°C) as well. Oh, and I don't want bottom dwellers either in case the rams ever spawn and want to hog the floor space.

What about red phantom or serpae tetra?

 

[KittyKat]

I've had wild rams with serpae, neons, cardinals and another serpae-like species without any problems. Mu current batch of German bred rams are with harlequin rasboras.

Having said that, I have always kept rams at 23-26C with success, so from that point of view, almost any tetra would work for me.

How planted is the tank? I have found that just heavily planting it is enough in some cases.

 

[minnnt]

Your suggestions seem like a good plan to me fluttermouth. Would Zebra Danio's be ok with the temperature? I think their stripes and colours are so effective, especially when in a group.

 

[KittyKat]

Your suggestions seem like a good plan to me fluttermouth. Would Zebra Danio's be ok with the temperature? I think their stripes and colours are so effective, especially when in a group.

Zebra danios need much lower temperatures, they do best in the 18-22ish C range.

 

[minnnt]

Your suggestions seem like a good plan to me fluttermouth. Would Zebra Danio's be ok with the temperature? I think their stripes and colours are so effective, especially when in a group.

Zebra danios need much lower temperatures, they do best in the 18-22ish C range.

Thanks KK, i will bare that in mind.

 

[Whitester]

I say get a few harlequin rasboras. I have 15 of them in a tank. They stay together most of the time. Its neat to watch them swim.

 

[StandbySetting]

Some Tetra species will be fine, Ember Tetra's, Cardinal Tetra's etc, fishbase will be of help to you, you can search for species based on their requirements.

 

[fluttermoth]

I've had wild rams with serpae, neons, cardinals and another serpae-like species without any problems. Mu current batch of German bred rams are with harlequin rasboras.

Having said that, I have always kept rams at 23-26C with success, so from that point of view, almost any tetra would work for me.

How planted is the tank? I have found that just heavily planting it is enough in some cases.

It probably could do with some more plants actually and maybe some more bogwood too; I'll do that, thanks.

I might get 6 or eight harlequins if they look nice next time I'm in my LFS.

 

[KittyKat]

I've had wild rams with serpae, neons, cardinals and another serpae-like species without any problems. Mu current batch of German bred rams are with harlequin rasboras.

Having said that, I have always kept rams at 23-26C with success, so from that point of view, almost any tetra would work for me.

How planted is the tank? I have found that just heavily planting it is enough in some cases.

It probably could do with some more plants actually and maybe some more bogwood too; I'll do that, thanks.

I might get 6 or eight harlequins if they look nice next time I'm in my LFS.

I can definitely recommend going for at least 10: my harlequins do not bother the rams when they breed, they don't even go after the wrigglers.

p.s. let me know when you get the snails! I'm away for the next few weeks so might not reply quickly..

 

[tenohfive]

I'll roll out my stock answer when talking about dithers in anything more than 2 foot tanks: praecox rainbows. Beautiful fish, I've kept them with various Ram pairs with no issues and they'll be okay in temps that high.

 

[fluttermoth]

p.s. let me know when you get the snails! I'm away for the next few weeks so might not reply quickly..

I will, no worries

I'll roll out my stock answer when talking about dithers in anything more than 2 foot tanks: praecox rainbows. Beautiful fish, I've kept them with various Ram pairs with no issues and they'll be okay in temps that high.

Oh; good thought! I'll have a look at those too. What about featherfins, Iriatherina werneri? I liked the look of those last time I saw them.

 

[roadmaster]

I kept the Thread fins with Discus and Rams at 82 degrees F and they lasted but a few months before dying one by one.
Cardinal tetra's and rummy nose did much better in warm water.

 

[fluttermoth]

Oh, really? I'll forget abut them then. I don't like cardinals that much; I've got 3 dozen green neons in another tank already; I'd like something different.
I've never been a fan of rummy noses much either! But thanks for the ideas anyway

 

[fluttermoth]

Well, in the end I went up to my mum's and raided her 5x2x2 for a load of Crypts, and got another lump of bogwood and some silvertips. If the sand turns out to be too pale for them, I'll replace some of it with something darker!

I've decided to turn the heat down to 26°C as well.