What To Stock With German Gold Head Rams?

[Suleika]

Went to Sanki Koi but I think they were all males too. Got 2 pairs of GBRs from the Abyss now Plus some large Vallis, some other plants and some JBL Ferropol plant fertiliser, see if I can get these to survive a bit longer Even though the Java Fern still looks really well.
The Cardinals and Corys are all well.

 

[fishprotector]

Good stuff, I have seen some nice GBR's recently. Dont forget to post some pics when its all in. Oh and Java Fern will survive in just about anything hope the new ones start to thive now aswell though. That Ferropol should help.

 

[Suleika]

One of my male rams keeps chasing the slightly smaller one, who is in one of the bottom corners most of the time now. Both females are with the dominant male, who won't let the other one come near them. Sometimes one of the females will chase the other one too. They are all eating, but I am a bit concerned about my smaller male.

 

[Suleika]

Also we have just noticed that the bullied fish seems to have a lopsided mouth/jaw

 

[Suleika]

Here are some pictures

 

[fishprotector]

The fish look nice, great colouration. It looks like you have got some Amazonian sword there aswell. They get pretty big when they grow but they do look nice. Not sure what to say about your fish. You seem to have enough hiding places and boundaries to split the tank up. You did mention that one of them seems to have a deformed mouth. I would consider taking him back and asking for a different one as as fish can often pick on an injured fish which is only ever going to lead one way.

oh and why dont you fill your tank to the top? That water line would drive me mad lol.

 

[Samuran]

I love that piece of wood!
Ben

 

[Suleika]

My bullied fish died last night I want to get another one, but will it be alright to introduce another male when this one is obviously very territorial? Is my 125l tank even big enough for two pairs? I recently read somewhere that you need 75l for each pair of rams - don't want any more fish to die because I'm getting it wrong.

 

[fishprotector]

sorry to hear about that. I would honesty say no. I do not think that the footprint of your tank is big enough for two pairs. I would wait until he pairs up with a female, rehome the other female and buy a plec or increase the numbers of your other fish.

 

[balajake]

Abyss have the best coloured GBR's i have seen and they separate males and females

 

[Wills]

Hi I got your message.

Sorry to hear about your Rams, for me 2 pairs should be able to coexist in this size tank, in a 3 foot tank people often mix 2 or 3 pairs of dwarfs. However if you have an extremely dominant male I would leave it as is. That is a really stunning male you have there though

Wills

 

[Suleika]

Thank you, just wanted to hear another opinion. I think I'm going to return the other female to the Abyss, don't want to risk getting another male and then having the same problem.

I'm also taking back the artificial rock, I rubbed it with a sponge to wipe off the brown algae today and it had little white bits coming off and clouding the water. Surely that is not right - will see if they will give me a refund. Think I'll get some clay pots as caves instead.

I also want to get a Zebra Pleco - are we all happy to add this to my current stock of

16x Cardinal Tetra
6x Corydoras Sterbai
2x German Blue Ram

?

It is a Fluval Roma 125 80 x 35 x 45, pH 6.5, 26 degrees Celsius/78.8 degrees Fahrenheit, Ammonia & Nitrite 0, Nitrate 5 ppm

Thanks!

 

[fishprotector]

A Zebra plec would be nice, they are quite shy though so do not expect to see it a lot. I might be tempted to leave it a few more weeks for the tank to mature. Mind you though, they eat meaty products just as much as algae so you might be alright now. I would get some prawns and cockles in for it / them. Are you just getting the one or are you going for a group? Oh and yes to taking the rock back, that does not sound good at all.

 

[minnnt]

Hi Suleika, also got your message.

I would raise the temperature to something like 28 if it was my tank Suleika and stick with one pair. The male has obviously claimed the tank as his, so adding any kind of other Dwarf Cichlid would probably have the same result. As Wills said, in theory you should be fine with 2 pairs, but you can never be certain of how things are going to work out.

The fish you have atm will all tollerate the higher temperature and will help to preserve the Rams health, condition and colour. Lower temperatures usually result in GBR's having drastically shortened lives.

The Zebra Pleco would a nice addition, but an expensive one. They would also be very happy with a temperature of 28. I would add a small group though rather than just a singleton. Maybe consider a group of Leopard Frog Plecs instead? Would still be happy in those temps and can be obtained for a lower price. With a small group of say 3 you stand the chance of having them breed... Eventually.

Good luck.

 

[balajake]

They have a zebra pleco in abyss , it's in the small tanks in the middle, left side as you walk in. It's very small and well over £100