Bolivian Ram questions

[rjaswift]

Hi guys,

So my setup is a 29g with a Marineland Penguin Biowheel 200. 10 cardinal tetras, 4 small corys and two pitbuull plecos. Live plants and driftwood/rocks. At the moment I do a ~30% water change every two weeks. I watch my nitrates and they really go up very slowly.

It's time to decide on centerpiece fish and I am attracted by the idea of Bolivian Rams. I have read that they are pretty hardy regarding tapwater etc, and they stay small which is obviously a plus. I have a cave set up under some flat rocks.

I am not interested in breeding - I don't have any other tanks set up and wouldn't be interested in selling offspring or anything like that. I do, however, want the fish to be happy. So I have decisions to make: how many and what gender?

And also, where from???

[Complexity]

I have never had any luck with Rams for some reason. I think it's our pH, but I'm not positive. They are definitely beautiful fish.

Unfortunately, my inability to keep them means I don't have experience with them so I can't advise you very well. There should be some good info on the net. I think you can only keep one male in that setup. I'm not sure if you can keep just one female or more than one female with him. They are not aggressive towards other fish, but can be aggressive among themselves.

Check to see if Fish Ranch has any. There was a guy selling one on here a while back, but I'm not sure if he still has it.

[troy tucker]

I have Rams and they do well in a community tank. But if you want to breed them. you need to be able to sex them. blue rams are the easyest to sex. but it's not easy. golds ( bolivian ) are even harder. I seen Blues at City Pets today and angel Ram at Fish land.
Good Luck.

[eklikewhoa]

I've kept them before in a community planted tank and they worked out great, they get a bit territorial when they start to breed(very unintentional but it happened) which I didn't do anything special to keep fry alive. Let them fend for themselves which never really worked out but occasionally you get a few that make it.

[aquabee]

I've had pretty good luck with them here, esp keeping them in tanks with driftwood and live plants. I think you'd be just fine with one male, or a pair, or just 2-3 females. I love the blue rams! Those are my faves.

[rjaswift]

Thanks for your help so far.So I am happy with the idea of two females as long as they'll be ahppy in each others' company. My understanding is that Blue Rams are easier to tell gender but a little more agressive and less hardy. Any experience there from Houston keepers?

[aquabee]

Thanks for your help so far.So I am happy with the idea of two females as long as they'll be ahppy in each others' company. My understanding is that Blue Rams are easier to tell gender but a little more agressive and less hardy. Any experience there from Houston keepers?

I had absolutely no problems with the blue rams I got from Fish Gallery. Be sure to ask whomever you buy your fish from what they've been feeding them so there's no surprises when you get home. I've never kept the gold rams so I can't compare, but I just love those blues! :) Best of luck!