Rams In 10 Gal

[Waterbox]

So Ive had a cycled 10 gallon tank for a while with 1 male dwarf gourami and 3 Cherry Barbs and they were all doing great. I went to my fish store the other day and they had some Blue Rams which i have never seen around here so I got one male. I have had him for about a week now and hes doing good, and hes so cool looking I would like to have some more rams. So I would like to know if i went back and got a female Ram, would the male fight her or become territorial? This would only be a temporary situation as I am getting a larger tank soon, but I am wondering if the rams will be Ok in there for 2-3 weeks or so until i upgrade? They are also not full grown rams, only about an inch or so.

 

[Mystix212]

They'll be fine. Add peices of slate and feed them good, you may get a breeding pair.
Rams cant hurt much

 

[stang1]

A male and female should be fine together, I've kept the same in a similar size tank.
Add a couple of plants and some bogwood as this will help keep the PH down. Rams prefer water with a lower Ph but people have had success keeping them at about 7.
You could also add a terracotta plant pot as this gives them somewhere to hide.

 

[Mystix212]

Theres not much to hide in a 10G, but what is the size tank your putting them into soon?

 

[stang1]

Rams like to have somewhere they can shelter or feel safe in, even if they are kept on their own. Also helps, if you do plan on breeding them. My female liked to sit under the plant pot sometimes.

 

[Mystix212]

Big leafed plants such as Java Fern works best. You attach it to almost anything. Cichlid condo rocks are great.

 

[Waterbox]

Ok great thanks alot guys. Yeah, I have alot of java fern covering about half the tank and a lava rock cave he goes into sometimes. I have some driftwood thats been soaking for about 2 weeks now and I hope it will be waterlogged soon. Also, ive found that my ram hates all the regular fish food I try to give him so he's been eating chopped earthworm. Is this bad for him to only eat this? Oh, and im looking into getting a 55 gallon tank soon so that's what they will be going into. I'll have them in there with a community of fish, and Ill keep the 10 gallon for a spawning tank for them. Ill probably start looking for some free tanks on craigslist or something and make some spongefilters for grow out tanks.

 

[Mystix212]

Spongefilters cost about 10 bucks for a good one. They're very cheap. Its easier to buy one than make one. Try feeding the rams bloodworms, pellets, algae wafers/dics. See if they'll open up to thiose foods.