I Got Blue Ram's!

[kribensis12]

I got a Blue Ram today. It was 7.99( E 15). It was the only one there. I am posotive it is a male, becasue the first 3 ray's are black a pointy. Do you think it is a male? Also, i am thinking about ordering some female's, do they breed in harem's? I heard that somewhere, but wasnt sure. He is in a 20g flat hexagon with:
2 pieces of slate, a bunch( whater ever they give you at the lfs) of plants, around 5 pieces of PVC Pipe, adn 2 coconut caves. I also bought O.S.I. Cichlid Flake for 5.99( E 3) it is around 2.24 oz. What do you guy's think? He is very pretty, but not right now due to stress. Got any info from past experiences? Thanks in advance!
Krib

 

[Mr._Fishy]

Congrats on the purchase! Do you have a picture? If you do, then we could positively identify the sex. In past experiences, they are more sensitive fish, but with the right care, they will do well. The tank size you have is fine. They are one of the fish that really like a lower Ph level (around 6 or so) and hardness. They breed in pairs, and if you want a pair, the best way to do it is to get about 6 juveniles and let them pair of on their own. When they spawn, they spawn on a leaf or a rock (like the slate you have in the tank). They are very good parents. They will fan the eggs and after they hatch, the male will look after the fry until they can eat on their own. I know nothing about the food you mentioned, but just about any high quality cichlid pellet or flake will do. They will also accept frozen foods. Oh, and a 20 hex flat tank? What is that? Do you have dimensions?

Ryan

 

[kribensis12]

Here is the description i use for my tank. A half a hexagon and the back is flat. Here are the dimension's: 24 inch length by 12 inch width by 15 inch height. It is a strange and unusual tank, and is supposed to be really expensive. My water is around 7.8 I have tryed to resuce it, but they were raised in our hometown water, so they should be used to it. I cant post a pic as our camera is full adn mom wont let me use it! Also, here is a link to O.S.I. Cichlid Flake: http/indoors.pricegrabber.com/fish-food/m/34636859/
I use O.S.I. Flake all the time( includiong Blood Parrot Pellet's, Angelfish Falke, Vivid Color, Spirulina pellet's, and Cichlid Pellets). My fish love it, adn it is dead cheap, plus, it has a awsome container, and good description on the container!

 

[Gremily]

I was about to say you were ripped off but I noticed you were from America so I'm guessing you mean dollars!

 

[kribensis12]

I meant dollars, but that is still expensive. We hardly see theese fish, and when we do, they cost alot. He is settling in well, he hasnt colored up yet, but i just fed him, and he ate.

 

[dollfaced]

Rams are sensitive and can get sick more easily than other fish. I have three myself, two females, and one male. I found that they do better in 1 male with 1 female. The male and female started to chase the other female so I moved her to my 20 gal. My male has more dark area on him as well as a longer protrusion of his fin on the top. Mine will eat flake, dried bloodworms, and dried brine shrimp.

My male:

My female:

They are usually found in fishstores that are not chain stores. So you won't find them in petsmart or petco. I've seen them in quite a few places by me but they were around 12USD.

 

[kribensis12]

I Live in Peoria, and chicago, chicago is way big with lots of fish stores, Peoria is dinky with 4 fish stores. That is why they are so rare here! I am thinking he is a male as when i first got him he was alot of different color's, and now he is dull, but half his body is gold, and his ventral fin's as elongated. I feed hime brine shrimp this morning and he ate it, but i have been trying flake adn he wont. He will repeadtley" mouth" t he flake, but then spit it out. He does this until all the flake is miniscule, and then leaves it alone Why? My water ha:
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 30
Ph: 7.8
Kh: Dosent even read on my liquid test strip's
Gh: Dosent even read on my test strip's.

 

[kribensis12]

Bump!

 

[Mr._Fishy]

It should be fine in your water, especially if it was raised in that water. If you can get him to eat the flake, it should be fine. He may just need to get used to the flake. Try to find out what he was eating before and feed him that, then try to gradually change his food. Maybe try to supplement his diet with frozen and maybe live foods, especially if you are going to try to breed him. If possible, try to get the nitrates below 20. If he is the only inhabitant in the 20g, then 10% weekly water changes should be fine.

Ryan

P.S. How big is he?

 

[kribensis12]

He is around 1 and a 1/2 inches. maybe 2. As far as sexing goes, here are why i think he is a male:
elongated ventral fin's
3, tall, sharp, light black dorsal fin's
no pink on his stomach
also, the tip's of his fins round off with a point

What do you think? I think he came from chicago, but he has been in the lfs for a month or so, so he should defo be used to this water. I am going to try to get him a female, the reason i cant get more than one for him to choose is im 14 and am not old enough to get a job, adn theese fish are comming out of my christmas present's. They were feeding him New Life Spectrum Flake. They gave me samples to use on him, as he ate there, adn they said i might have feeding issues. So i tried the New Life Spectrum Flake, and he did the same spit it out. It isnt like he dosent want to eat, he will come up to the top for food and everything, but spit's it out every time. I will try some other flake's, i just wanted him to get hooked on theese, as i bought a giant container!

 

[Mr._Fishy]

Sounds like a male! If you can only add one female, wait until you get more money, then get more females. If there is only one, he will beat up on her too much and may kill her. Try adding maybe three or four others, then return the ones that don't pair off or keep them in another tank. Or just take them back to the store. Even stores that don't except returns will usually accept them if they are prearranged, like in cases like this. He should be fine living by himself. Also, it is a good idea to use up flake food within 3-6 months. Much longer than that, then they start to lose its nutrition. He may just be sulking or stressed out after the move, but he should be fine in a little bit. If he is not eating after a few more days, then you might have a problem.

Ryan

 

[kribensis12]

He eat's brine shrimp, and baby brine( those are for the leftover baby con's!) shrimp with out problem's. I have tried: O.S.I. VIvid color, Cihclid Flake, Angelfish flake, and Blood Parrot Pellet's, Omega One Freshwater flake's, Tetra Min Color, and SuperSoft Spirulina!!!!!! It looked like he ate alittle of the cichlid flake earlier, but then it couild have been my imagination. My lfs said that ram has been there for 2 month's, adn they have been ordering them for a month, and no more have come in! How long will it take him to get all his ccolor(s) back? He is already pretty, but is nothing compared to what he looked like at the store! I am working on a female, but if i can only get one, i will get like a CHEAP school of tetra's, to keep him preoccupied. What do you think the chances are of him breeding? If he does stay alone, will he get lonely? And yes, my lfs does do trade in's/ store cerdit! They are great!!!!!!!!!! Thank's in Advance!
Krib

 

[Mr._Fishy]

I would not start to worry about him not eating unless he doesn't eat in the next few days. He should start to get his color back a little while after he starts eating. He will not get lonely by himself in that tank. If you wanted to put something else in there, you could have a school of neons or something else small. My knowledge is quite limited however, when it comes to small schooling fish, so you might want to ask someone else. If you give him a choice of females, then I'd say that the chances of him breeding are very high. If you do breed them, be sure to post pics! You could also probably get a decent amount of money for them if you sold them to your LFS.

Ryan

 

[kribensis12]

Thanks!!!!!! I wil deifnaltey get a female or 2 for him to choose. I know my lfs would definatley take them as i know about every who work's there, and they have been trying to get them for a month. I have a question. Last night my ram was just sitting at the top of the tnak, and wasnt moving, i put flake in there, and he didnt even move. Is something worng? I did a test and here are the result's:
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 30
ph: 7.8
gh+kh: to high to know

 

[kribensis12]

NO!!!!!!!!! Just went to check on him, adn found him laying on the gravel, DEAD! Good thing i have my recipet, they have a 14 day garuntee! I dont think i will be trying ram's for a while, obviously i wasnt doing something right! Do you have any idea what could have gone wrong?