AquaMom

I have a lot of experience with freshwater aquariums - outside of cichlids. I have never owned one and don't know much about them.

I have a 75 gallon well established tank. My water is always perfect and I do routine monthly maintenance. I have a lot of happy, healthy tropical community fish. I have a shoal of neon tetras, red eye tetras, zebra danios, a few platies, a couple mollies, a few cories and one male betta. My betta is very peaceful and never fought with the dwarf gouramis (they've since passed). The tank is densely planted, lightly stocked and has plenty of hiding places.

I wanted to add a pair of Bolivian Rams, German Gold Rams or German Blue Rams. I have read a lot that you can enter them into a tropical community with no issues and then I have read the opposite. Can I add them? Should I not do a pair and do one of each, would that help? THANKS!!!

TFA101

my only concern is about the betta, but he does seem like a peaceful little guy.

I think you could do a pair of rams (male/female). I like the german blue rams or bolivian rams.

David593

I beleive you will be fine with the rams. The betta fish will tend to not hang aroung on the bottom of the tank anyways.

IMO the best thing to do is to get 1 male and one female. Hopefully a mated pair. You may already know, german's are very senistive and bolivian's are more hardy. Other than That. It's up to you wich one you want. They will be a great addition to your tank.

Butterfly

A trio of Rams should be fine. 1 male and 2 females is the ideal, that way the male doesn't harass a lone female to death. But they will be aggressive to the Corys when they spawn if the Corys get into their territory.
carol

mathas

I have rams in a community tank, and they do just fine.

As Butterfly said, if they spawn they will be quite protective of their eggs, but when something does get too close the rams seem much more interested in just chasing the intruder away rather than trying to injure it.

You said you have a few platies and a couple of mollies... if the livebearers spawn, the rams will do their best to eat the fry.

David593

Personally, I have read that rams are almost completely harmless. They tand to chase not nip, just as mathas and butterfly have said.

URFisher35

for the most part, they are harmless...but when push comes to shove they will nip. for instance, i have a pack of serpaes that constantly harass any slow moving fish. my bolivian had no problem nipping back, so they will defend themselves, but will chase unless they are pushed.

jack--sos

i have a pair of Bolivians in my 65 gallon and they are the friendliest fish i have seen, the only time they chase any other fish is when they are annoying them. its quite fun to watch a 4 inch rainbow shark chase one of my 2 inch Rams away from his favourite cave and then have the Ram turn around and chase the shark back

Jess

I was thinking of getting a pair too down the road. They are so beautiful and I hear they are very entertaining. : )

cerianthus

Try putting you hand near their spawn!!!