DRock914

What type of fish food should I be feeding Bolivian Rams?

bolivianbaby

I feed mine high-quality tropical flake (Kensfish), cichlid flake (Kensfish), brine shrimp and bloodworms. They brine shrimp and the bloodworms are a bi-weekly treat. I also add some spiriluna flakes to the feeding twice a week.

jgon_

Mine will eat flakes, blood worms, brine shrimp, and occasionally fight the pleco for some nips at the algae wafers.

DRock914

I tried feeding them tetra colored tropical flakes, blood worms, and shrimp pellets but they didn't go for any of it. My loach and DG ate it all. Maybe they are still getting used to the tank seeing how I only got them yesterday.

bolivianbaby

They probably are still getting used to their new environment. They're not as delicate as blue rams, but definitely just as moody Mine have driven me nuts trying to get them set up in the same tank without aggression. that cichlid personality is part of them.

DRock914

Every now and then they will ram each other but it never leads to more then the initial hit. They spend all day schooling and are never apart. Every now and then they also school with my dg.

bolivianbaby

That's so cool! It sounds like you have a compatible pair, regardless of their sex, they get along and that's awesome!

DRock914

For now yes. Hopefully they stay that way because they are still young.

bolivianbaby

With mine, the drama started immediately and they came from the same store, same tank. I just have a VERY moody female. Honestly, I think she needs Mydol

DRock914

Haha, I found hikari sinking carnivore pellets in the closet. Do you think the rams would go for these?

bolivianbaby

They should. They are carnivores or ominovores by nature, at least the research I've done says they are.

DRock914

It's been just about a week since I picked up the Rams and every day I try to feed them and they do not react to the food. I've tried various flakes, small cichlid pellets, and blood worms. Whenever the food drops by them they do not budge, I think they are brain dead. Is there anything I can do to get them to eat?

bolivianbaby

Soak their food in garlic juice. It increases their appetite and boosts their immune system.

btate617

How big are they?
If they are over 2" or so I would suggest not feeding them anything for 2 days, then try feeding again. Amazing what not offering them anything will do. When you do this I would also suggest using the food you plan on using as a staple. You dont want them finally eating something like say bloodworms, then turning up their nose to anything else you try and feed. get them used to a staple then you can mix in other foods once they start eating regularly.

Brian

DRock914

They are just about 2". I plan on feeding them wardly cichlid crumbles. I have other fish in the tank too that I don't want to stop feeding. What If I just stop throwing in their food?

redlessi

How are you rams doing, are they eating yet?

DRock914

Not that I have seen. Do they eat vegetation? I do have a few live plants in the tank. They still have no reaction to food, it'll hit them in the head and they don't budge. They do not look unhealthy though.

bolivianbaby

Yes, they'll munch on live plants. They may be scrounging around when the lights are off, too. Once they get used to you though, they'll be begging for you to watch them like little puppy dogs

DRock914

My wisteria plant and sword plant are slowing deteriorating, maybe the rams are doing that.... In the past we have had catfish that lived for 8 years and you saw them eat maybe once every 3 months so I haven't given up faith.

bolivianbaby

That sounds about right. I think it's a cichlid thing. My angels are plant-eaters, too. I feed my tanks twice a day and my floating plants slowly disappear.

DRock914

As long as they leave my mutant banana plants alone they can have whatever they want. I don't know if it is because the bananas were exposed to high levels of ammonia but I have up to 4" leafs coming out of the plant. I've never seen a leaf above an inch or 2.

bolivianbaby

You may have to set up a barrier to protect your mutant banana plant. Once they knock out the others, that may be next on their list. Naughty little fishes, but they're so pretty and have a lot of personality once they settle in.

DRock914

That will take a while. My wisteria plant really grew big. I tried to get good pictures of the bananas. Do they seem larger then normal to you?

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bolivianbaby

Family friendly forum, family friendly forum.

DRock, you have some big bananas. However, I usually only see them at the pet store and of course they're much smaller there. And it could be something in your water, too. You said your wisteria was a good size as well. Are you fertilizing or adding any plant food?

DRock914

lol, I have not added any plant food and they are only rooted in gravel.

first shot was taken on 10/20 and 2nd one was taken today so thats the growth in a month. Do wisterias usually grow that fast? I also cut off a 6" piece to put in another tank last weekend.

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bolivianbaby

I would say not without help, if you get my drift. There HAS to be something in your water. I'm not experienced with Wisteria, but that's a lot of growth in a VERY short amount of time.

DRock914

The tank is cycled. Ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate 5. I guess there's something in NY water. After all it does make pizza taste better....

bolivianbaby

I knew it was cycled. You're an excellent fishkeeper. New York pizza is really big, too. Hmm...maybe there's giant juice in your water?

DRock914

Thanks, yea that's probably it lol......

DRock914

Going back to the rams, I noticed last night when I turned the tank light off that the rams became more active and their coloring changed. The yellowish tint became brighter and they had 3 or 4 black spots where as during the day theres only one black spot. Are they nocturnal?