nitz

Hi everyone!! I started a thread about stocking my 29 gal tank but figured that this would be a good place to get advice about stocking a tank with rams since the ram owners probably visit here a lot.

I want to get some rams. Is it better to get 2 females and 1 male or to just get a pair?

I want to put in one of my female gold gouramis. One of them is pretty aggressive and the other fairly docile. Which do you think I should put in? I need to separate them since the aggressive one is stressing the other one out a lot.

I've heard cories are a good addition to a ram tank and I have one with my gouramis so I know they get along. How many cories should I get and is there any specific one you'd suggest?

Is there any other type of fish I could put in there? I was thinking cherry or rosy barbs but I'm not stuck on that so wouldn't mind going with another fish instead.

Blub

Corys and other bottom dwellers are not good for Dwarf cichlids, since Dwarfs make their territory on the bottom layer of the tank.

If you are starting, get Bolivian rams, they are MUCH easier to care for, most cases of Blue rams I've followed ended in mysterious deaths.

nitz

Thanks HatchetHaven. I've heard some things about the Blue Rams being sensitive too so I think I will go with the Bolivians. Do you think I should get a pleco? One of the ones that stay fairly small of course. Any other suggestions?

Amanda

A clown pleco stays small & are fairly wasy to find. Bristlenoses only get to be 6 in. max.

Butterfly

I have German blue Rams in a 55g tank with two angels, one bristle nose and a couple of mystery snails.
The usual ratio is 1 male/2 females. When they spawned they chased even the biggest angel all around the tank like they were playing tag. I took the angels out leaving the BN and snails. Daddy Ram knocks the snails off the glass if they gets too close the the fry. The BN doesn't bother them and they don't bother the BN.
Until the spawn they are great tank mates but while theres fry in the tank they don't want to share the space So I'm wondering how your Gourami and Rams would get along.
Carol

MissMTS

I had cories in with my dwarf cichlids and I didn't have any problem with them getting along with my dwarfs. However, I would also get other people's experiences because my rams didn't do well in my hard water, so they only lived for a couple of months As far as schooling fish, cardinal tetras would be really petty with rams Good luck with the new tank.

dking271

I have Blue Rams in several tanks with the following fish with no problems at all.

Angels, Cories, Pleco, Pearl Gouramis, Zebra Danios, Otos, Peacock Gudgeons

I would stay away from the Cories if you plan to breed them, as mine relentlessly went after the eggs, and my Rams punished them for it. Also, my experience is that 2 females to each male increases your odds of them pairing, but mine have done a better job caring for their eggs and fry when just one pair is in the tank. I am currently trying to get a mate the below pictured male, but have been unseccessful in my two attempts.

nitz

Thanks for all the help guys. I still haven't decided about what I'm putting in the tank but what you're all saying is helpful.
It's been mentioned that I could get a clown pleco or a bristlenose pleco. Which would be better to get in your opinion?

Also, if I got 2 females and 1 male, if the male paired with one of the females, would those 2 bother the other female?

Is there any way of discouraging breeding? I'm not saying that I necessarily want to discourage them from breeding but if after the first spawn they're causing too much trouble, is there a way (other than separating them) to discourage them from breeding?

Blub

Well, I'm just using logic here not experience, but my guess is if you don't provide a spawning site they won't spawn. From what I've heard they like to spawn in caves they did under rocks in the open.

Allie

Regular BNs only get 4" my clown pleco is around 4" at the most and she is 2 years old now.
I would get some sort of tetra to go with them...as dither fish to draw out the rams. Go with any dwarf cichlid you can find in your area.
Apistogramma
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/profile...ts.php?genus=9
Keyhole cichlids get no bigger than a 6" male at the most.
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/profile...s.php?genus=43
Rams
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/profile....php?genus=126

nitz

Thanks Allie!! I can't check the links at work cuz they've blocked most forums (surprisingly this one isn't...). I'll check them when I get home.

dking271

Clown Plecos are heavy wood feeders which tends to create a big bio load in relation to their size. They are average algae eaters. BN Plecos are a little bigger than Clowns, have a slightly lower bio load as they do not feed as heavily on wood. They are voracious algae eaters. It is essential to have driftwood in your tank if you keep a Clown as they need it to be healthy. From a cuteness standpoint, the Clown wins hands down.

nitz

Thanks dking271. I'm assuming that I should wait for an algae bloom before introducing either of them right?

dking271

You should introduce them before a bloom, but be prepared to offer sinking wafers and fresh vegetables. My Clown loves zuchini, cucumber, peas, and yams.

DK

nitz

Oh good to know!! I always thought that with fish that ate algae that you needed an algae bloom before introducing them.

How would I give them peas since you can't really put them on a veggie clip? Just defrost and cut into small pieces?

dking271

I let them thaw, peel the skin, cut them in half and just drop them in the tank.

Blub

Here is a link to an article about preparing peas: http://www.aquahobby.com/articles/e_...pated_fish.php

nitz

Thanks Hatchet! That was a great site!