Gbr Aggression?

[Dazzler666]

Hello. Ive just added two young GBR's and two young Bolivians to my 5ft tank also housing a pair of kribs that are spawning, lemon & beacon tetars & tiger barbs. The rams have been in two days and appear happy and active although now my GBR's seem to have 'claimed' a decorative cave and are chasing all the other fish that come anywhere near it!! Im new to ram ownership and though they are cichlids didnt expect them to be so dominant/territorial hence, is this normal?
Not sure if has any bearing but temp is 27 and PH is 7.2 (also LFS PH was 7 and they have apparently been in their tank for around 4 weeks prior to me purchasing).
Cheers for any advice.

 

[Peter C]

im just new to rams myself and have 2 GBR's. what i do know is they become territorial when spawning, so im guessing the cave they have claimed is going to be their new breeding ground and you could be the owner of some baby blue rams soon!

 

[Dazzler666]

Thanks for the reply bud. Yes was thinking that altho im not sure if they are old enough tho im aware they are aexually mature at around 4-6 months. On closer imspection it would appear that they are actually guarding .... Wait for it .... My little airating diver!!! . Its a little diver with a small stream of air bubbles eminating from the bottom and the rams, particularly the male appears to standing guard over this!! Also, he seems to 'eat' the bubbles and then sort of 'burps' releasing an air bubble!! I know this sounds totally ridiculous but it is what i have witnessed him doing numerous
times. I have even placed some little gem stones over the indentation in the sand where the air comes from to try prevent him eating the bubbles so now he stands guard over them chasing everything, even my kribs!! (i thought that maybe they were claiming the gem stone to spawn on so i moved them but he still remained guard near the bubbles!!!)
Im hoping that its part of the 'getting settled in' routine and will calm in due course as after all, they are cichlids so will have to assert some authority in the tank!!
This is sooo bizarre and no im not mad and i haven't been drinking!!! Lol.
If anyone can shed some light would be much appreciated.
Cheers.

 

[Dazzler666]

Also PeterC, are/were your rams shy? Are they showing any signs of aggression or dominance? What do you have them in with, etc?

 

[Peter C]

they were quite shy at first, hiding in the same plant the fry were

in a tank with about 10 neon tetras, 5 guppies, 7 bronze corys, 7 or so harlequins and some guppy fry but i sold a load, the rams ate a few and iv got 7 fry left

now they are swimming about at all levels in the tank. at first they werent bothered with each other but now the male is swimming with the female, following her about etc

 

[Dazzler666]

Well now due to the aggression the GBR's have shown to my pair of bolivians i have moved the bolivians to my 120 litre tank my other half is using. Unfortunately the GBR, especially the small female was constantly harassing them to the point where as soon as they came of the corner in my 5ft tank as soon as the female GBR sighted them she wod barge over and chase them back into the corner.
Looks as though my GBR's have made a well in the substrate as if getting ready to spawn but no eggs as yet ... Watch this space!!!

 

[balajake]

I had a gbr and it was one of the meanest cichlids I've ever kept. The other one is my male firemouth.

 

[Dazzler666]

Uep i can understand that now!!! Lol. From researching on the net it states thatthey are fairly shy & peaceful!! . That shy & peaceful ive had to remove my pair of bolivians due to bullying ... Not that my other half is complaining is they in her tank now!!
Are GBR's better off in a group, hareem or just leave as pair? Any ideas?
Cheers

 

[balajake]

They are just bad tempered and miserable from my experience. They will gang up on anything, even if it is a bigger tougher fish. Mine used to lock lips with my firemouth and really go at it. It would zip around that tank like a angry bee on steroids attacking anything that dared make eye contact with it lol

Anyway I keep more well behaved, well mannered cichlids now like texas, dempseys and green terrors