Tank Mates For Danios And Rams

[AndrewNicol]

I have 4 blue rams and 4 zebra danios in my tank and was wondering what would be suitable tank mates? Dwarf Gourami? Any bottom feeders?

 

[mitch70]

What size tank do you have? I think those 2 are also the opposite end of the temperature scale but someone with more experience will be able to give advice about that

 

[fluttermoth]

Hmmm....
 
Really and truly, the rams and the danios aren't compatible. The danios really want bright, neutral, very fast flowing, fairly cool water, wheres the rams want slow moving, very warm water that's acidic and stained with tannins.
 
I would decide which species you want to keep and design the tank around them. How big is the tank and what's the pH, hardness and nitrate level of your tap water? What temperature are you keeping the fish at?

 

[AndrewNicol]

Tank is 20gallon and ph is around 7.2. Temp is 25. Had the fish for a couple of weeks not problems have occurred.

 

[fluttermoth]

No, maybe not, but rams are a notoriously difficult little fish to keep, and they really do need the right sort of conditions if you're going to have any chance of them living more than a few months.
 
They often, just to make things worse, don't show any symptoms (although they're also prone to white spot, fungus and other stress related disorders), just dropping dead

 

[AndrewNicol]

Ill take this on board. But what tank mates would you recommend?

 

[fluttermoth]

I can't honestly recommend anything Fish that would go well with the rams won't mix well with the danios, and vice versa.
 
I really think you're going to have to commit to either a temperate fast flowing set up for the danios (and perhaps some white clouds and/or hillstream loaches), or an Amazonian black water style, with the rams and some tetras and/or coyrdoras.

 

[Blondielovesfish]

I really think you're going to have to commit to either a temperate fast flowing set up for the danios

I'm by no means saying your wrong, but where did you read that danios like fast moving waters?
I'm only asking because I read an article the other day about someone visiting their natural habitat and finding that they live in almost stagnant water and he couldn't find them anywhere fast flowing. Apparently they swim so fast so they can escape predators, not to fight against strong water current.

I do agree that Rams and Danios need different water conditions. You're going to have to choose between the two

 

[ncguppy830]

 

I really think you're going to have to commit to either a temperate fast flowing set up for the danios

I'm by no means saying your wrong, but where did you read that danios like fast moving waters?
I'm only asking because I read an article the other day about someone visiting their natural habitat and finding that they live in almost stagnant water and he couldn't find them anywhere fast flowing. Apparently they swim so fast so they can escape predators, not to fight against strong water current.

I do agree that Rams and Danios need different water conditions. You're going to have to choose between the two

 

They have been found in both water features stagnant and fast moving areas, there hardy never the less, theres some danio populations in the US also!

 

[Blondielovesfish]

Okay, was just wondering

Huh, never knew they were in the US. Did some people let captive ones into the wild?

 

[ncguppy830]

Okay, was just wondering

Huh, never knew they were in the US. Did some people let captive ones into the wild?

yea, even research labs have

. never seen them though.

 

[Blondielovesfish]

 
Its people like them that are the reason so many fish/plants are illegal to import into NZ. They ruin it for everyone