Electric blue Ram bullying

[Trixlock]

Hi, new to the forum so hello to evertime.

I just have a question with anyone experienced with Electric Blue Rams or similar. I went out yesterday morning and pursued 2 if these beautiful fish.

The first couple of hours they were fine, hanging around together and acting normal as far as I could tell. I then noticed 1 of them was consistently chasing the other ram about harassing it and charging at it. This would only stop when the "dominant" ram would lose sight of it's target. The "weaker" ram just seems to hide. This looks like bullying to me.

Now I wanted some advice on what to do. Also wether this is just a common thing after being put into a new tank, maybe establishing a territory?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Byron]

This is natural for the species, but sadly usually results in a dead ram before long. I'll explain.

Male cichlids are territorial, very much so, though this can vary from species to species and sometimes individuals within a species. But they establish a territory and defend it. Unless you have a spacious tank, and for this species that means 3 feet (90 cm) in length minimum, two males are not going to manage together. The male considers the entire space his territory; sometimes we can break the space up with thick plants, wood, etc, but that doesn't always work. Fish release chemical signals called pheromones that others in the species can detect, so they communicate in a sense. And the aggressor is sending out aggressive signals, and the other fish are reading those and sending out stress signals.

The ram is a cichlid that should either be kept singly (the Bolivian Ram is better for this than the Common Blue Ram) or in a bonded pair. Bonded pair means a male and female that have accepted each other and bonded. A male will not accept any female, and vice versa. It is best to observe the fish in the store tank and find what seems to be a bonded pair. Telling male/female by external appearance is usually difficult if not impossible in young fish, but their behaviours are a dead give away.

You need to separate the two fish now; the submissive will only become more weakened, susceptible to disease, and likely death.

Byron.

 

[Trixlock]

Thankyou for such an in depth reply.

I have a 180L tank which is 4ft long with quite a few plants, a cave made up of rocks and a very large piece of bog wood. Seems as if they would be able to separate themselves but they just seem to be drawn to each other now. I have just got home from work, checked on them and they are both now wizzing around the tank sparing each other.They are nipping at each other and trying to headbutt one another.

Do you think its just worth getting rid of one of them so the other can live on its own peacefully. If so should I remove the aggressive one of the more submissive one?

Again, thankyou so much for a reply.

 

[Byron]

Previously I wasn't sure if you had two males, or a male/female that didn't like each other (non-bonding), but from this latest data it would seem two males. I would return one, and keep the most aggressive as it will likely be stronger. If you want a bonded pair, return both and find a pair from those in the store tank.

 

[Trixlock]

Thanks Bryon, I will take your advice and return one.

While your here, do you have any experience in Electric Yellow Cichlids/ Yellow Labs. I was torn between the yellows and the blues. Maybe if the Yellow Labs are more friendly with eachother in groups and other fish I will try and purchase some of them.

Cheers.

 

[Byron]

Thanks Bryon, I will take your advice and return one.

While your here, do you have any experience in Electric Yellow Cichlids/ Yellow Labs. I was torn between the yellows and the blues. Maybe if the Yellow Labs are more friendly with eachother in groups and other fish I will try and purchase some of them.

Cheers.

You're entering very different waters (pun, intended) here with labs. These are African rift lake cichlids, and they are not general community fish, meaning, only African rift lake fish go into the same tank. The Blue Ram is a neotropical cichlid, and none of these can be mixed with the rift lake species; some neotropical cichlids work in community tanks, more or less depending, but these are all soft to moderately hard water species. Africans are hard water.

It has been years since I had a rift lake tank, back in the 1980's. So I will leave rift lake fish to those with more direct experience, but wanted to make sure you understood they are on their own.

Byron.

 

[Trixlock]

I understand, thankyou for time to explain.

I love the vibrant blue and yellows of these 2 types of fish. Shame they aren't compatible.