ram behavior,

[pebbles]

ok, i've got two lovely rams,according to the lfs i have a male and a female,i cant tell a great deal of difference.. they have been fine with each other for the past three weeks, seem to just play.now it seems that they are turning to face[squaring up almost]and then charging and head butting each other.this is the only way to describe it.this is making me think i may have two males... is this male to male behavior?

 

[aernympha]

i dunno i have heaerd of afracan cichlid wrestling with there mounths but not rams doing anything ike that

 

[smb]

I know it's normal behaviour for some cichlids tolock lips as a preritual to breeding. Not sure if it's the same for rams tho. I would keep an eye on them and be ready to seperate them or put a divider in there if necessary. That sounds more like 2 males fighting than a male/female breeding.

 

[Moe]

I have 2m and one f and they get along well they do halfheartedly chase each other but that is about it. Here is a good site about rams
http/hjem.get2net.dk/Best_of_the_Web/blu...lue%20rams.html

 

[EMdina]

Hi
I have what two males and one female...the two that I originally thought were the males turned out to be a male and a female (I only know this because they layed eggs last week-but, to my horror, I think the female ate them)...and the other one has to be a male- now knowing what I know.
The papa male and female would square off as you say, but not attack eachother. I always thought it was odd, because they would both chase the other ram unmercifully...they do this little sideways flutter at eachother- that I once thought was them trying to show dominance...boy, was I mistaken...now, they're total lovebirds...perhaps, you have a male and female...is one smaller than the other? does the smaller one have a pinkish belly? The fins on top (I'm terrible with the names) are shorter on the female also and she seems to be more speckled than the male...the fins that hang down are longer on the male...maybe this will help you figure out if what you're dealing with is a pairing off of a 'couple'...
Hope that helps a little, at least...
Ericka

 

[pebbles]

thanks everyone for your answers....edina. i have looked at them and still cant tell!!.they dont seem to be harming each other but i will keep an eye open just in case..i have posted pics[two seperate ones of them in members pics forum.would you have a look[ram and ram no2].thanks pebbles

 

[EMdina]

Hi Pebbles,
The picture 'ram'- I would definitely say is female...her belly is very pink and the 'spangles' are on her black spot...I couldn't see the second ram too well, but I saw pink on the belly (not sure if was the lighting)- so I'm thinking you might have two females...but, like I said, I really couldn't tell on the second one...
Just watch them...if your water is to their liking- you'll find out the way I did if you have a couple or not...
Ericka