capekate

Wish me luck! I stopped by the LFS that I got the German Blue Ram from today to see if they had any. Last I heard they were not going to carry them anymore because they were pretty sensitive and he didnt have much luck with them. I did loose two of them three months ago, within days of bringing the three home on Oct 4th. My lone guy in the 55g tank has had no other tankmates of his own kind for just about three months! I just on a whim stopped by and found out that they were willing to put them in the fish order that will come in tomorrow. I asked for one male and three females. Now Im keeping my fingers crossed that they call me early afternoon to come down and pick them up! My lil lone guy sure would be happy with some mates of his own kind!
Im really hoping it all comes through for him. Other wise I have to travel far and so far have not been able to do so. I have been wanting more GBR's for so long now..

~ kate

susitna-flower

Kate, Good Luck.....I have had about the same success you have with them...
All I can suggest is that you be SURE your nitrates stay low (5 to not as high as 10). If your ph is over 7, it is ok, just take a really long time to acclimate them - 2 to 3 hours of drip acclimation to get them used to your tank water.
Don't feed the first day, and make sure to keep lights off and have plenty of hiding places.....They get stressed SO easily, and I would be sure to keep the temp up to keep the ick out.....

I won't be getting any more myself until I can have a smaller planted tank that can be just for them.....But they are still on my wish list

fishiefriend

That's great news Kate It's good that the LFS will do that for you, I hope they are healthy GBR'S. I hope having the 2 males won't cause too much aggression?

It is much harder on the fish if you have to travel a long way to get them & they are in the bag for longer. I travel by bus which takes about 30 mins. to get all my fish as this is the best LFS in my area but further away.

All the LFS in my area won't stock oto's for the same reason your lfs won't stock GBR's but one shop will order oto's for me), it is very annoying for us but I suppose you can't blame the store owners if they keep loosing fish, I know most of the GBR's in the lfs here always end up with whitespot.

TheEssigs

Good luck Kate!!

I recently added 2 GBRs to my renovated 26g, and I lost one the first day... (I think it was sick to begin with because when the fish guy went to scoop him in the net, he just sat there... I remember saying "WOW that was easy"... little did I know) the other is doing well tho. I would like to get another one, but I need to wait it out as my 26g is going through some green/cloudy water issue.

Anyway = I hope the best for you and your new additions!

capekate

Hi Susitna-flower...
I will be putting them in the 55g with the Discus, and because of the Discus, I change the water every third day and really vacuum and watch the nitrates. For a week tho I will keep them in the 29g to keep an eye on them to make sure they have no ick. My Ph is at 6.4 and I know they like that low Ph. My survivor gbr for three months has done great and grown. I am hoping that these four I get will be healthy, as the last batch of three dwindled to one, the others were sick. And like you, I lost one the first day as well. They are so sensitive...
Thanks for the advise, I will acclimate them slowly over time.

~ kate

capekate

Hi fishiefriend...
thanks, Im hoping they are healthy too... Im hoping that with the tank big enough (55g) and plenty of hiding places, the two males should do ok. That is why I am getting three females as well.
The drive to this particular LFS will be about a 20-25 minute ride so I think they will be ok. Your lucky that you have a great lfs only 30 minutes away. The two that I use, one being a chain store and the stock is always weak, and this one where I am getting the GBRs is ok, not much stock but they do order what you want. At least they are not too far away from me. THere are a few much better places that I really would like to check out, but alas they are like 2 hours away... grrr.... and planning on that trip just hasnt happened yet and Im afraid to keep fish in the bag that long a drive.
The gbrs tend to develop ick easily and that is one of the problems with them, I will be keeping the temperature up to try and block that from developing.

~ kate

capekate

thanks teessigs...
Its too bad you lost one of the GBRs the first day, but that happens a lot with them, as they are so sensitive to changes. I lost one the first day too and also have just the one left. I know what you mean... the easy fish that do not attempt to get away or are not fiesty are usually symptoms of a sick or weak fish. Its all in the learning process of this hobby. One that I had to learn as well.
Good luck to you as well in your future plans for another GBR!

~ kate

susitna-flower

A discus tank will be about the best environment I can think of. You already have success with them the GBRs will be a walk in the park....AND you have to keep those temps up right? So hope they get them in soon!

capekate

Well, due to the weather, the GBRs were not delivered to the fish store til late today, which was fine with me, since I was not going to drive in this lousy weather today. But I did get the call that told me... they had the four GBRs waiting for me! I am soooo happy!... will be heading out in the am to go get them and bring them home. I feel like a new mommie lol...

~ kate

voiceless_kat

Good news, friend..tomorrow will be an exciting day! These fish interest me also, but I will have to enjoy them through the forum, since my water would never do,. Hope you will post pics!

Val

capekate

Thanks Val.. I will be sure and post photos of them tomorrow!
Now I better get off to bed....

g'night all!

~ kate

Tom

Well I don't want to wish you luck. Just kidding.
Tom

capekate

Well.. without really getting into the hard time I had with the shop owner... Ive been very steamed for a few hours. grrrrr.... but thats another topic..

I am now the proud owner of a sweet little German Blue Ram female.
Shes got a rosy belly... the black dot with aqua dots around it... and definitly a female ram.
After acclimating her for an hour and using a slow drip, I released her into the tank. It took awhile before my male noticed her.. but when he did! It was love at first sight lol...

He stayed about 3 inches away and just stared. I think he was actually dumbfounded that after being the only species of his kind in the tank for three months. I think he couldnt believe what he was seeing! haha.. and a female too!
But the strangest thing happened. He left her and came to the front of the tank where I had my nose. And it stopped in front of me for about three seconds or so. Then turned and went back to her. I really believe in some strange way he was saying thank you!

So he struted his stuff! Ohhh boy did he do the dance! And she checked him out and now they are hanging out together and he is following her around the tank, no problems.. no fighting. Now I am keeping my fingers crossed that she will make it.

I believe the reasons why the others died, is that they were not acclimated properly. The delivery was late yesterday due to weather and I got the call at 5:30 telling me they just arrived. He closes at 5:00. So I asked him to put them in a tank for me til today. When I went to get them, I found three in the tank. One dead on the bottom.. the other one on its way out and the female swimming around just fine.I believe he just dumped them in a tank without accilmating them first.
So I took the female and also picked up four brilliant Rasbora's that I saw last time I was there. Had a bunch of them and they all looked very healthy and active. I have them in the 29g tank with the sole killifish.
So still calming down... but I am very happy with the rasbora's and praying that the female gbr will make it.

~ kate

voiceless_kat

My Dear Friend...I am jumping up and down for you...so happy you were able to get the female at least. It is sad that the males died, but better to have it happen there then once you got them home and were feeling all tickled and happy! Will you be getting ones to replace??

I wish I could see what you described, sounds so neat! I saw on tv last night the weather was clearing your way, so was pretty sure you would get to make the trip.

Love the part about the "boy" swimming over to say thanks, of course that is what he was doing!!!

Hope you post pics soon....very anxious to see them!

Val

capekate

Hello Val

She is still doing great and exploring the tank with her new boyfriend lol. Ive tried to get some photos, but she see's me and backs up behind a plant... or a Discus gets in the way lol.. So as soon as I have some good ones to post, I will do that~
I will not do business with that place again. So talked to my husband and he said that he would take the 3.5 round trip to a great fish store the next time.
Ive had it with the chain stores too. So yes, I do want to replace the ones that I didnt get. But for now.. its a female and a male getting a long great. In about a month I will take that ride for more GBRs and maybe some very nice rasbora's. The fish shop I hear has some great fish and great variety. So will save up for that trip and make it worth while.
Keeping my fingers crossed still... but so far she looks great, strong and swimming fine.

I will get those photos up over the weekend...
Have a great one yourself, my friend~

~ kate

capekate

Here is a photo of the pair together... doesnt my guy look sooo happy!

~ kate
ps. I already posted this photo in the 'ram photos' section... but it probably is not the right place for replies. So thought I would show those that may have not seen them yet here.

Attached Images

GBR & Rasboras jan 4th 045.jpg (107.9 KB, 9 views)