German Rams... Specifically How Many?

[Staxx]

well i have just got 4 german rams as a birthday present. after trying to sex them myself i think i have 1 male and 3 females but im not too sure. im guna let them settle in and get some colour back

but anyways. i have fell in love with these little guys and i was wondering is it possbible to set up a german ram species tank? or keep my current stock(in my sig) and just add more rams?

im happy with the four i have now if its not possible. its just weighing up my options for future stocking. currently trying to find a home for the platy fry aswell.

 

[crazyforcordoras]

Once two pair off, the others will get bullied. If you want a species tank, Geta 10 gallon and add a pair, and keep the others in your current tank.

 

[Staxx]

mhmm kinda limited to choices now

 

[crazyforcordoras]

That stinks, hopefully you wll get all females. Are they still young, like an inch to an inch and a half?

 

[Staxx]

yeah about an inch. the man at the LFS had to check google to sex them for me. he said i have 1 male and 3 females. but he said he wasent 100% sure. neither am i up to now. ive only had them for a day so far so there still settling in. im hoping they colour up a bit in the next few days so i can sex with properly.

EDIT : to add pictures

this pics at a dogy angel to the fish but its the best i could get for now. il update once they come out a bit more.

didnt realise the sand was so dirty in the first pic loool. only been in a day aswell! luckily its due to a WC and vac today

 

[crazyforcordoras]

Please pdate once they color up as i had them and i should be able to sex them for you.

 

[Staxx]

thank you very much will update in a few days

 

[minnnt]

You do realise they do better in soft water with a temperature of around 28-29 don't you?

 

[Staxx]

You do realise they do better in soft water with a temperature of around 28-29 don't you?

i was waiting in the car when my mum brought them. what will being in hard water do to them? shorten there life?

i did a bit of reading and some guy bred german rams with a ph of 7.6

i dont want to breed them, im not interested in breeding fish at all

edit : the severn trent website says

Hardness Clark 10.00 No Standard Applies Degrees Clark
Hardness French 14.00 No Standard Applies French Degrees
Hardness German 8.00

 

[onidrase]

You do realise they do better in soft water with a temperature of around 28-29 don't you?

i was waiting in the car when my mum brought them. what will being in hard water do to them? shorten there life?

i did a bit of reading and some guy bred german rams with a ph of 7.6

i dont want to breed them, im not interested in breeding fish at all

Usually it kills them pretty quickly. Blue rams are rather finicky. My mom's been trying to keep them unsuccessfully in her 40 gallon ignoring my advice. She's been through about 6 in the past 2 months. Out water hardness is 150 and pH is 7.6-7.8

to my understanding, being in hard water limits the amount of water that can enter the fish's blood stream. Or being in too soft water will allow too much water into the blood stream. Some of your guys might be able to adjust to it, but try not to get too attached

 

[Staxx]

this is horrible.. i really dont know what to do.


how do i work out my water hardness from these numbers?

Hardness Clark 10.00
Hardness French 14.00
Hardness German 8.00


i think they are tank bred. the website ive just been reading said if theyre tank bred theyll fear a lot better in different wanter conditions?

 

[onidrase]

this is horrible.. i really dont know what to do.


how do i work out my water hardness from these numbers?

Hardness Clark 10.00
Hardness French 14.00
Hardness German 8.00


i think they are tank bred. the website ive just been reading said if theyre tank bred theyll fear a lot better in different wanter conditions?

Same goes for anything, that doesn't mean you can put them in tanks with drastic numbers in pH, hardness, and the like.

I'm no expert on hardness, I can't figure things out unless they say gH and kH. So can't help you there. You can ask your LFS what their water is if they use tap, and yours shouldn't be too far off.

 

[Staxx]

mhmm i dont know what to do

 

[minnnt]

Their lives will be more than halved usually. They can live up to 5 years, but will struggle to see out 2 if water is too hard/alkaline.

Alder cones, bogwood, peat, catappa leaves all help to soften it, but RO water would be your best bet. A 50/50 mix would be best that is gradually gained by an extra 10% per week or two. The temperature is also very important to adhere to. Lower temperatures can leave them open to disease and infection as their immune system can't function properly.

Agreed that tank bred GBR's are less touchy, but still far touchier than Bolivians.

 

[Staxx]

my current temp is at around 25'c. i dont know my hardness. ph is around 7.5.

yeah i went to a few shops yesterday to look for some wood. but the prices were way out of my budget lol


what would you suggest i do? also taking my current stock in to consideration lol