New Fish

[TrainRek77]

I just got a Blue Ram. It's tiny! I've never had a Ram cichlid before, if anyone has any words of wisdom or advice let me know. Thanks.

 

[Rummynose]

It may just be the picture, but it doesn't look like there is any red in the eyes. My German Blue Rams have red eyes. I think you may have a Bolivian Ram there!

Blue Ram: http/www.aquahobby.com/gallery/e_German_Blue_Ram_Mikrogeophagus_ramirezi.php

Bolivian Ram: http/www.cichlidae.com/article.php?id=31

 

[TyriquePlanty]

flush them

 

[TrainRek77]

It's got two red spots on each eye. One in front of the eye and one behind. It's colors and markings are odd though, huh? I just brought it home so I'll bet it becomes more colorful in the weeks to come. I'm going to get it a companion as soon as my fish store get more in.

flush them

haha, I guess you don't care for rams?

 

[Rummynose]

Yeah, I got mine as juveniles also and they needed a few days to colour up too.

 

[Rummynose]

I'll try adding a picture of one of my GBR's (it's on the left hand side, at the bottom of the picture)

 

[TrainRek77]

ohh neat! That's a male huh? I read the wild caught rams have more predominant vertical black strips. I guess they all have seven, just some are faint. The strips on my fish are really dark. Maybe it's close to wild lineage?

 

[andyg81]

heres mine the day I got him home

 

[littlenemo]

i have 10 blue rams there awsome fish.
here is a few one day one

 

[Sammy1911]

i have 10 blue rams there awsome fish.
here is a few one day one

Wots ur water params? I was looking at getting gbr's but thought they prefer more acidic waters but i notice u have mollies...

 

[littlenemo]

ph 6.8
no they dont mind a normal ph. there great fish there happy

 

[Gilli]

Plenty of variety in diet apart from flake food to bring out their true colours. Mine wouldnt touch the special cichlid pellets I bought them!! They need 'meaty' foods such as frozen bloodworm, shrimp brine, glassworms etc . Mine enjoyed chopped mussels and prawn which I used to defrost from a bag of mixed seafood in my freezer that I use for pasta dishes!!

You will find they go very pale and lose their colours when stressed or unhappy. They also need frequent water changes as they are sensitive to bad water quality, and warm water for better color and longer life around 75-80. If you have 2 of the same sex they will fight.

 

[balajake]

looks bolivian

 

[Samuran]

Looks a lot like what a couple of my LFS' have started selling as Euro Rams, I dont think it's a Bolivian but that's just my opinion
In a mature tank they seem to do fine with the normal frequency of water changes for me. From experience I would say they do need acidic water and if you are going to breed them then a pH of about 6 seems to be needed to get a high egg hatch rate (and fry survival rate so says some research I've read on it - I'll let you know on that tho my fry are still young).
Ben

 

[Rummynose]

ohh neat! That's a male huh? I read the wild caught rams have more predominant vertical black strips. I guess they all have seven, just some are faint. The strips on my fish are really dark. Maybe it's close to wild lineage?

Yes, I think that's the male! The female is smaller. I've found this really nice video that helps to identify male and female!

I feed mine crushed pellets, 2 different kind of flake foods and worms from my worm culture and change about 30% of the water every 4 days!