What To Stock With German Gold Head Rams?

[Suleika]

Good morning

I have now got all the accessories for my Fluval Roma 125, see other thread: http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/383021-questions-about-setting-up-my-fluval-roma-125/

I have fallen in love with what are described as German Gold Head Rams at my LFS (look the same as German Blue Rams but more yellow/orange in colour), however I am still unsure about what to stock with them.

I used to keep Livebearers such as Platys and Mollies but believe that my pH of 6.5 is too low for them - is this correct?

So far suggestions have been Plecos to clean the sand (what about Zebra Plecos?) and a shoal of tetras (I'm not a fan of Neons though).

WHAT OTHER FISH WOULD BE GOOD TO STOCK WITH RAMS AND HOW MANY OF EACH FOR A 125L TANK?

Thanks!

Nicole

 

[Wills]

Sounds like a perfect tank for Rams they are actually quite hard to keep in most parts because they need the low ph that you have! Ideal tank mates are Rummy Nose Tetras and Sterbai Cories as they both like the high temperatures that the Rams also need. Discus are too big for this tank but if you have a look around for good sources on discus tank mates the same applies to Rams. I believe there are a few plecs that do well in the high temps and reasonably confident that one of them is the king tiger plec but you would need to have a bit of a read up - planetcatfish is great for this

I would possibly look at

4 Rams (any colour morph but try to get 2m 2f so you get 2 pairs in there)
15 Rummy Nose Tetras
8 Sterbai Cories
3 King Tiger Plecs (try to get a mix of genders if possible)

Wills

 

[snake007]

Have you cycled the tank?

 

[fluttermoth]

What's the nitrate level of your tap water, OP?

I find that low nitrate is one of the keys to keeping rams happy and healthy; it definitely needs to be under 40ppm at all times, IME.

 

[Suleika]

Nitrate of tap water is between 0 and 5.0 ppm.

snake007, I have not cycled the tank yet, if you look in the other thread (link above), fishprotector has kindly offered to donate some mature filter media!

 

[minnnt]

Sounds like a perfect tank for Rams they are actually quite hard to keep in most parts because they need the low ph that you have! Ideal tank mates are Rummy Nose Tetras and Sterbai Cories as they both like the high temperatures that the Rams also need. Discus are too big for this tank but if you have a look around for good sources on discus tank mates the same applies to Rams. I believe there are a few plecs that do well in the high temps and reasonably confident that one of them is the king tiger plec but you would need to have a bit of a read up - planetcatfish is great for this

I would possibly look at

4 Rams (any colour morph but try to get 2m 2f so you get 2 pairs in there)
15 Rummy Nose Tetras
8 Sterbai Cories
3 King Tiger Plecs (try to get a mix of genders if possible)

Wills

Basically... This!

That sounds great to me for a nice warm tank.

 

[Suleika]

Cool - thanks a lot

Would it be possible to keep Ember Tetras or Flame/Von Rio Tetras instead of the Rummy Nose? Prefer the look of these

Also, can I keep Cherry Shrimps with this setup?

How many fish should I buy initially, considering fishprotector has offered to donate 1/4 of his filter media? This is what he stocks:

It will be media from my Fluval 405 on my 300l tank. I have two filters running on it so I will give you between 1 and 2 trays, so around 1/4 of my media. It is a fully stocked tank with four 5-6 inch Cichlids, one 6 inch Plec and one 3 inch Plec, four 4 inch Pictus and 17 adult Barbs.

 

[minnnt]

Yes if you keep the tank at 28 degrees celcius. This is right at the top of their temperature range.

Embers share the lower part of the tank i believe so would be in contact with the Rams more often. Rummynoses are not my favourites either tbh... I would go for Cardinals... But you said you weren't keen on Neons so they're probably out too.

Cherry Shrimp would be food for your Rams.

 

[Suleika]

Thanks minnnt... Might get a shoal of Cardinals actually. I do like them more than Neons. Plus then I would complete the upper, middle and bottom dwelling fish combo.

 

[minnnt]

Sounds good. Would compliment the Gold morph well.

 

[Suleika]

So how many and which fish do you think I can start off with when I get the mature filter media? I'm worried that I'd get the fish and they'd die due to incorrect water conditions... But then again, just buying the plants and letting the filter run for a week with those alone wouldn't do much because no Ammonia is present to start the cycling process, right?

 

[minnnt]

I would be tempted to start with the Cories tbh. Rams and Cardinals can both be very touchy fish. BUT... Sterbai's are expensive. lol. Catch 22 i reckon...

 

[fishprotector]

Once you have the media, I would start off with the cardinals. Yes they can be fragile, but at least it is not too much money if anything goes wrong. Then the corydoras, then the rams, the plecos.

 

[fishprotector]

I am just looking through my aqualog L numbers book, and it states that the king tiger pleco (L066) prefers temps within the 22 - 25 range. It also lists the max size as 14cm and states that the min tank size is 200l. I have never kept that particular L number, but it does not sound like it will fit in with your plans. The only plecos that come to my mind that stay small and like warmer waters are some of the medusas, possibly the spotted (L255) and the gorgeous zebras (L046). I am sure that there are others. Best bet is to go up to pier and have a look. Watch out for tank busters though.

 

[fishprotector]

Oh and I dont think that the foot print of the tank is big enough for 3 plecos with the other fish you want who also like milling around the bottom half.