How Many Bolivian Rams In A 180Ltr Tank?

[elisew]

As the title says really. I already have 2 really placid, lovely Rams in a community tank but was wondering how many are acceptable in a 180ltr tank?

I`ve seen some beautiful blue Rams for sale but I wouldn`t want to overstock or put the others noses out of joint. It`s also not necessarily something I would do straight away IF having more were an option but it would give me something to consider later on.

Thanks in advance

 

[Wills]

Bolivian rams do well in pairs but like all geophagus types they do good in groups as well. I would stick to even numbers and try to get as many females as possible. I would go for 6 in total as the group mentality will kick in and the hierachy will differ from that if you mix different species of cichlids.

I would stick to Bolivian rams though if thats what you have as blue rams are a different fish and have pretty different needs with regards ph and temperature which is really important with blues more so than most other community fish. Blue rams are more similar to discus in needs. Sams goes for golds,dutch,german, long finned etc all the same fish with the same needs.

Wills

 

[elisew]

Hi Wills, thankyou.

The blue ones I`ve seen are advertised as blue bolivian rams, I thought it was either 'Blue' or 'Bolivian' but not both??

I really don`t want to go mixing things up, especially as the 2 I have now seem quite happy but these advertised ones are really pretty.

The ones I`ve seen are here: http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320556780491&_rdc=1#ht_720wt_1139

 

[meguro]

thats just a standard bolivian ram. the picture was lifted from google images (its the first result...), its bodyshape looks weird and i doubt the ones they send u would look any different to the juveniles u see in lfs

 

[elisew]

Thanks meguro.

I won`t be bothering with them then. I`m better off waiting until my tank has settled more and then go to a reputable lfs if I`m going to add to the Rams I already have..

 

[ChilliPepper]

I'd steer clear of that seller. They have ripped off someone else's photo for a start, plus the price is a rip off. Bolivians cost £3 each in my lfs.

Personally, I wouldn't buy from someone who didn't spell check their advert first either. Shows a lack of care, and I'd worry the same were true about the fish. The quantity is also listed as 21-30 and he says they are German Blue Rams in the item subtype, yet the photo is of a Bolivian Ram.

I remember your other thread, and must advise you that I think GBR would be a bad choice. They are very sensitive and I think prefer soft water. Bolivians are much more tolerant and I actually think they are more attractive.

I really don't think you should get anymore bottom dwellers either, as if I remember correctly you have several fish who need to be in groups and Rams can be territorial if there isn't enough room.

Have you decided what you're doing regarding stocking?

 

[elisew]

Hi ChilliPepper,

I won`t be going anywhere near, as said earlier as much as I liked the look of the pic, I initially thought it was either blue or bolivian, not both.
I`d rather check with people who have a much better idea and who are honest and blunt with their opinions, hence why I posted here.

I`m going to stick with the fish I have now which is:

180ltr
2 Rams
3 Apisto`s
4 Cory`s
4 Loach
1 Plec
6 Danios
2 swordtails, (male died and 1 is a baby)
6 Rummy nose tetras
2 Neon tetras (will get another 4 or 5 at some point)



Smaller tank
3 small Mollies,
4 Minnow.
5 Harlequins

If the fish in the smaller tank survive then I`ll be keeping it going, but if the numbers begin to dwindle again I`ll look at having only the 180ltr tank going.

 

[ChilliPepper]

Hi ChilliPepper,

I won`t be going anywhere near, as said earlier as much as I liked the look of the pic, I initially thought it was either blue or bolivian, not both.
I`d rather check with people who have a much better idea and who are honest and blunt with their opinions, hence why I posted here.

I`m going to stick with the fish I have now which is:

180ltr
2 Rams
3 Apisto`s
4 Cory`s
4 Loach
1 Plec
6 Danios
2 swordtails, (male died and 1 is a baby)
6 Rummy nose tetras
2 Neon tetras (will get another 4 or 5 at some point)



Smaller tank
3 small Mollies,
4 Minnow.
5 Harlequins

If the fish in the smaller tank survive then I`ll be keeping it going, but if the numbers begin to dwindle again I`ll look at having only the 180ltr tank going.

Sounds good

 

[Zoepop]

I bought some German blue rams from the same seller...he had lots of problems..having no heat packs, getting his van stolen (so he said) and other things and then when he was actually ready to send me the rams he didn't have any of the ones I'd ordered left so he sent me the long finned variety which was fine as he had them listed as more expensive...well to cut a long story short the fish arrived a month after i initially placed the order (he sent me five pairs although I'd only paid for four because of the delay) They looked fine when they arrived but all ten fish were dead within a week.

Not very impressed.


I know you've already said you're not going to use him but just thought I'd share my experience of that seller too!

 

[walkers101]

I bought some German blue rams from the same seller...he had lots of problems..having no heat packs, getting his van stolen (so he said) and other things and then when he was actually ready to send me the rams he didn't have any of the ones I'd ordered left so he sent me the long finned variety which was fine as he had them listed as more expensive...well to cut a long story short the fish arrived a month after i initially placed the order (he sent me five pairs although I'd only paid for four because of the delay) They looked fine when they arrived but all ten fish were dead within a week.

Not very impressed.


I know you've already said you're not going to use him but just thought I'd share my experience of that seller too!

I hope you got your money back thats disgusting

 

[mark4785]

I bought some German blue rams from the same seller...he had lots of problems..having no heat packs, getting his van stolen (so he said) and other things and then when he was actually ready to send me the rams he didn't have any of the ones I'd ordered left so he sent me the long finned variety which was fine as he had them listed as more expensive...well to cut a long story short the fish arrived a month after i initially placed the order (he sent me five pairs although I'd only paid for four because of the delay) They looked fine when they arrived but all ten fish were dead within a week.

Not very impressed.


I know you've already said you're not going to use him but just thought I'd share my experience of that seller too!

You have to be very careful with GBR's. I've had mine for nearly 4 weeks now and they respond negatively to small water changes (due to PH fluctuation), I keep the nitrates below 15ppm and I try to feed them a balanced diet (which is hard as they are fussy eaters). You'd be better off telling such a seller to not sell GBR's because I don't know how he/she expects them to live without heat packs.

 

[ajs2294]

I've had mine for nearly 4 weeks now and they respond negatively to small water changes (due to PH fluctuation)

Aged water and a digital pH monitor really helps for that

 

[elisew]

Thanks for the info. I`m sorry to hear that your experience with that seller was a bad one ZoePop.

After Chilli had given me her opinion I decided against and have stuck to my guns, I won`t be going anywhere near that seller.


I`m still in a quandry about my BR`s, I don`t know whether or not I have a male and a female because it`s so difficult to sex them. I personally think I have 2 males, one is a bit of a bully and they tend to lip lock. Really don`t know what to do to ensure I get a male and female and it`s no good taking them to the LFS as they`re the ones who were meant to have sold me a male and a female