Dwarf Blue Ram Cichlids

[fishfinderdave]

i have a 180 litre community tank and my fish contents include 2 blue ram cichlids.
1 male and 1 female.
i dont know if they are a breeding pair or not...i didnt buy them as a breeding pair.

they are both fine looking fish and are in very good condition...there fin perfect
only....over the last 2 days the female has turned very dark in colour....almost a blackish colour, but her blue colours are still noticable.
is this a bad thing....her changing colour....or isit something that just happens?

she does'nt look or act stressed and she's eating normally and swimming with the male and the other fish...
just a little worried about her thats all.
any advice wud be great thanks.

 

[jimv8673]

Fish in general, will change color sometimes based on mood swings, or perhaps you do have a breeding pair or at least one of them thinks so However it is typically the male that colors up at breeding time. If you dont see any other signs of a problem, i wouldnt worry about it and you may be about to become a grandparent. Which is Very Cooool

 

[fishfinderdave]

....a grandparent to fish! lol...what next

perhaps you do have a breeding pair or at least one of them thinks so
ther sexual relationship sounds alot like a humans by the sounds of things lol

 

[minxfishy]

What temperature is the tank water? Blue rams need higher temperatures than most community fish, 28c being the recommended lowest, the colour change could be due to breeding colours, but usually thats the natural colours becoming more brighter, not turning dark/black.

 

[ppipanman]

unfortunately in my past experiences with over a dozen pairs of GBR's almost every time the fish turned dark almost black... ... they only survived another week or so. Im not trying to say your fish will die just keep a close eye on them. they are VERY particular fish need very soft and warm water to thrive. GOOD LUCK!!

 

[Truck]

When they go dark and get dark stripes it is usually a sign of severe stress, what is the tank PH and temperature?

 

[fishfinderdave]

tank PH 7

and temperature is high.

the fish is showing no other signs of stress tho

i hope it dont die on me lol

what do they need in their tank to breed?

 

[fishfinderdave]

.....change of symptoms

both are very brightly coloured once again
eating well and staying with the shoals of other fish