Does Anyone Have A Buyers Guide To Rams/apistosgramma

[thefubar]

A couple of people have mentioned in my tank setup thread that a pair of Rams or Apistosgramma would look good. Now i've had a chance to have a good scroll thru images and especially drool over Mark1979's beauties in THIS THREAD i am totally convinced they will be a future addition.

I was hoping for a "buyer's guide" which is always useful before going into fish shops...

I realise that these little guys aren't going to be these colours in the LFS tanks (or maybe they are!?)
So what do i look out for? any warning signs? (like i found out to avoid cherry shrimp that had a "cloudy" body) this sort of stuff is so useful.

I would prefer to buy an established pair, or should i really be looking for Male + 2 x Females? Is one combo better than the other?

I've read up on habitat and i think my tank is going to be clean enough and i am very strict on my 25% a week + 33% once a month. I add profito and easy-carbo to the water, what food should i have in the larder? veggies or flake etc.

Ok i am going to take a breath before i list out a world record number of questions , can you tell i am getting a bit excited already!

just one more, anyone know a good place to look in SW London/Surrey? thanks (i went to Maidenhead Aq in Morden on monday and they didn't even have any Cardinals .)

 

[bagu]

hey!

ask questions please then i shall answer all XD i got a pair of apisto's today

make sure the fish looks happy, may sound stupid, but if you see a fish that looks thin, or very timid or clouded eyes etc, stay away.

I would go for 1M 1FM personally, but you could try your combo, all depends on the fish i believe.

Rams and i think apistos need a nice diet, like beefheart, shrimp, bloodworms, veggies, pellets and dried foods etc

as long as you are strict on water changes you should be fine, i have had a pair of rams for around 2-3 months, and they seem great with a 30-40% water change weekly, you can do 2 water changes a week, but i think thats excessive =/

If you are looking for color, then go for Rams, unless you come across a stunning Apisto specimen , Rams are also more needy on water qualities etc, apisto's are not as demanding!

GOOD LUCK AND done woory about questions! i can upload some pics of my rams and cockatoo cichlids tomorrow, the cockatoo's are only 1 inch ^^

 

[thefubar]

I've found someone who breeds Rams from Wild caught but that is going to require postage (which i am not a big fan of TBH ) £10 for a pair + P&P, i'll have a think about it.

I need to get a cave sorted too, i know the spot but i want to plant some moss over the top and i don't want to disturb them too much when they are in the tank.

It also seems they will eat some foods i was planning on getting for the Sterbai Corydoras (which are also on my shortlist )

Plus..getting the 1M 1F will mean i can get another Cory instead or maybe a pair of BN.

So the prep work is: let plants grow more (to help my natural high nitrates), develop cave, add cardinals and in the mean time look for a local supplier.

Is there anything else i should know or do in advance of getting them? BTW it looks like its going to be a pair of Rams now.

 

[mark1979]

I've found someone who breeds Rams from Wild caught but that is going to require postage (which i am not a big fan of TBH ) £10 for a pair + P&P, i'll have a think about it.

I need to get a cave sorted too, i know the spot but i want to plant some moss over the top and i don't want to disturb them too much when they are in the tank.

It also seems they will eat some foods i was planning on getting for the Sterbai Corydoras (which are also on my shortlist )

Plus..getting the 1M 1F will mean i can get another Cory instead or maybe a pair of BN.

So the prep work is: let plants grow more (to help my natural high nitrates), develop cave, add cardinals and in the mean time look for a local supplier.

Is there anything else i should know or do in advance of getting them? BTW it looks like its going to be a pair of Rams now.

what rams were you thinking of?

gold,german blue or bolivian?

this is 1 of my golds staring me out,lol

 

[thefubar]

Firstly that i a great photo, i haven't trained my fish to pose yet.
Secondly, i saw your Rams in another thread and they look great - the main reason i have altered my original stockng list!

So i was planning the German Blues, because they are the colours i like best. But i have never seen any of these fish in the flesh (so to speak) and i get the feeling the colours and shimmers are just something you can't capture on film (or digital media!)

I think when i find a LFS that stocks these varieties it'll make it easier or indeed alot harder to choose.

Is there any difference between them...other than colour? You seem to have all three.

 

[mark1979]

bolivians can get bigger if i remember correctly,dont quote me on that though.

in the LFS they wont be overly colourfull,mine got more colour as they got used to there surroundings.

Its nice to get them very small,and watch the colours grow on them as they do!!

 

[thefubar]

What age are they likely to start breeding?

I am unsure whether this is a particular goal i have, only because i know i'll have cardinals and corys in the tank. Both i believe are egg/fry eaters. I was planning on trying out an internal fry tank , does anyone here use them or do you tend to have a seperate tank running for such occasions?

I have cherry shrimp and i am hoping they will multiply too, but i've given them a safe "moss house" which they have taken to very well.

I've checked alot of google images/flickr and other galleries and it seems the Blues are coming out on top. I've even watched a few vids and i can't believe i haven't stumbled across these little lovelies before. They really are special.

I am making a shopping list for aquaessentials already which includes:
Hikari Crab Cusine (for the shrimp)
Algae Wafers (for corys eventually)

RE: bloodworm, should i continue to get frozen or are people happy with freeze dried?
Also does anyone use these? Tetra Fresh Delica Brine ?

 

[Rikster23]

If you already went to Maidenhead Aquatics, try Living waters in Beddington.

They are very good and friendly. Im sure they will be able to help ya.

Providing you havent already bought some As I notice this article is a month old.

 

[thefubar]

Hi, no i don't have them yet. I wanted them to be one of the latter additions. I have more cardinals and some corys to add first. Plus i wanted the plants to be a little more established so there are some more natural shelter and places i can "develop".

I really want them to be special, i see some of the pictures on here and the internet and they look amazing. I just know how much my little boy would enjoy watching something like that swimming around.

Very excited and just want to get it right and find a good pair. I've been reading that the captive bred (far east imports) are prone to losing colour once in the tank. I was hoping to find someone who was breeding from wild pairs if poss. How difficult would that be to find do you think??

I will check out living waters when i'm next over croydon way. Thanks.