Some Questions

[fish_keeper2]

first i would like to see some pics of male and female bolivian rams. i have 2 but im not sure what sex and i dont understand what to look for so i thought a pics to compare to mine would help me.

also will a pair of german blue rams be ok in a 10 gal all by them selves with no other fish.

your help will be appreciated.

 

[a.d.wood]

Hi there,


As far as sexing goes:

'Blue rams' can be sexed using a variety of characteristics. The males
are generally larger (most prominent in adults), have slightly longer
fins (dorsal) and lack the blue spangles in the black mid-lateral spot
found in the females. Wild fish are very easy to distingush, but the
cultured varieties may be a little harder, assuming both sexes are
present. If I were asked for one reliable difference, I would say the
blue spangles within the black mid-lateral blotch is the best method (it
also works on young fish and the cultured varieties).

Always worked for me!!

Andrew

 

[fish_keeper2]

thanks. i know how to sex the blue rams its just the bolivian rams im confused about.

 

[a.d.wood]

thanks. i know how to sex the blue rams its just the bolivian rams im confused about.

Apologies, the beauty of skim reading (with a glass of wine in hand) and missing the question!!!!

Unfortunately I do not think photographs will help, probably the only way you know you have a pair is when they succesfully breed. The problem is that the traits you would normally look for (fin extensions, body shape) are interchangeable between the sexes. One possibility is once they hit maturity is if the display the genital papilla (males pointed, females blunt).

Andrew

 

[fish_keeper2]

thanks. well the 2 that i have are generaly near each other at all times rarely going far from the other. would these be a good sign as to having a pair or are males that friendly with each other too?

 

[fish_keeper2]

sorry to double post. i just wanted to say that i did a bit of google searching and found several sites saying that determing the sex of bolivian rams is somewhat difficult and is best to get several juvinals and allow them to pair off.

so i have just one question now: incase both of my bolivian rams are male will this create any problems in the tank?

also i still need to know if i can keep a pair of german blue rams in a 10 gal with no other fish.

 

[SamUK]

i was told you could do it by looking at the length and boldness of the dorsal fin (think thats what its called. the one on there head neway).

i have 2 males and they look like they have mohicans when they see each other!


EDIT - check out the fish index. it says the minimum size for german blue rams. think it is 10G.

 

[a.d.wood]

Ho there,

Your pair of blue rams in the 10 gal should be ok (just have to be strict with your tank maintenance).

If the goal is to breed your bolivian rams, I don't see much problem with adding more juvenile bolivians to your existing 2 fish and then leaving things to develop naturally. Just change the aquascape around before you add the new fish so that there will be no squabbling over the teritories your existing fish have decided are theirs!!

If however you just want to stick with the 2 existing fish then I don't see any problems.

Andrew

 

[fish_keeper2]

thanks. i did want to breed the bolivians but if i add anymore i wont be able to add the other fish i want to put in the tank. so i decided to just set a 10 gal with a pair of germans and try with those.