How Long Till I Take Him Back?

[jonnyuk]

i bought a pair of golden rams on monday, i think i got a male and female. from the topics i have read on here i'm 99% sure they are.

my problem is tonight the male has started to really bully the female, chasing her off into the plants, it has also started on its tank mates, he swims round the tank looking for trouble, as soon as he catches a fish in his sight, thats it he goes for it, clearing everything from the middle of the tank. i had a similar problem with my ember tetra's until i rehomed them.

a little info about my tank
40ltr heavily planted

6 corries
4 galaxy rasbora
loads of cherry shrimp
loads of mts.

i hope its just a settling in period because i watched the tank for about 20 mins and chose this one because he did not show any interest in any other fish (other rams seemed abit agressive).

do i need to take him/both back?

any help much appreciated

 

[guppy love]

I think you have a major case of overstocking, 40ltr is a very small tank for what you have and not suitable. Personally I would return the golden rams and do some more research into the species, they need something like minimum 20 gallons. Do you have another tank, or a friend's tank you could put them in for now?

 

[Verminator89]

i bought a pair of golden rams on monday, i think i got a male and female. from the topics i have read on here i'm 99% sure they are.

my problem is tonight the male has started to really bully the female, chasing her off into the plants, it has also started on its tank mates, he swims round the tank looking for trouble, as soon as he catches a fish in his sight, thats it he goes for it, clearing everything from the middle of the tank. i had a similar problem with my ember tetra's until i rehomed them.

a little info about my tank
40ltr heavily planted

6 corries
4 galaxy rasbora
loads of cherry shrimp
loads of mts.

i hope its just a settling in period because i watched the tank for about 20 mins and chose this one because he did not show any interest in any other fish (other rams seemed abit agressive).
do i need to take him/both back?

any help much appreciated

This made me chuckle. The do's and don't of buying fish. Its advisable to avoid getting the dominant ones, and also the shy ones. The shy ones get put into a new tank and suddenly come out of their shell and cause havok because they can. I've seen this all too often with rams. Mine was exactly the same when i started in the hobby.

As has already been mentioned, i'd take them back. Then sit down and concider your stocking, 40L is a little on the small sside for what you have already without adding the rams.

 

[jonnyuk]

cheers for the advice, makes sense what your saying about getting the shy/dominant ones.

interestingly i wonder if its feeding time, this morning he is fine.

i thought my stocking was ok, they are all very small fish (except the rams), the corries swim in the lower parts of the tank, the rasbora in the middle/top.

i'll take them back today and see about maybe uping my rasbora to 6.

cheers

 

[Verminator89]

Corys can get big. Some vary in sizes, i had a variety few weeks ago and some got to 2", a couple big ones i had were 4".

 

[guppy love]

It's not so much the size of the fish that's the issue, it's the waste output. Even little fishies produce a lot of poop! It's harder to keep the water safe and stress and disease can be an issue. I think everyone has probably overstocked at some point though so you're not alone.

 

[jonnyuk]

Should of added they are pygmy corries,also have an external filter
But I take your point about waste, that's one reason why I went heavily planted and an external filter.

Would be a shame to take them back but if needs must

 

[BethK]

you need a bigger tank, 40ltrs with 6 cories and 2 rams (both bottom dwellers), is going to cause issues. Personally, to block out the aggression, I would up the tank size or rehome them or the cories

 

[jonnyuk]

Its just thje bullying of the female that's the problem,its not as bad but its not far on her.
Will this improve or once the bullying has start will it not stop?

 

[jonnyuk]

well i think it got the sexing wrong, i have spent hours reading up and i think the bullying is been done by a mature female, the smaller one could also be a female.

i'm taking them back anyway, i may go for some threadfin rainbow fish instead