Electric Blue Ram And Marbled Hatchetfish?

Hello! I am wondering if Electric Blue Rams and Marbled Hatchetfish are compatible. It seems like they are, as they inhabit different areas of the tank and are both from South America, but I'm wondering if anyone has housed these two together. Additionally, the Hatchetfish need at least 10 gallons, but since they like to be in groups would they need more? If anyone has housed these two together (successfully), then what tank size do you recommend?

 

Hatchetfish should be in a 20 gallon or larger, depending on the species. They're fine together.

 

Hatchetfish should be in a 20 gallon or larger, depending on the species. They're fine together.

Now temperature issues between the 2?

 

Now temperature issues between the 2?

Not that I know of, but it may depend on the species. I'm 99% sure that marbled hatchets are warmer water. I think silvers aren't, though I may be wrong there.

 

Marbled hatchetfish and blue rams would be fine together at 80 F

 

Not that I know of, but it may depend on the species. I'm 99% sure that marbled hatchets are warmer water. I think silvers aren't, though I may be wrong there.

Marbled hatchetfish and blue rams would be fine together at 80 F

Thanks. Was curious, I was thinking of getting those at 1 time.

 

Would you be able to put 6 hatchetfish and 1 ram in a 20 gal? If they were together, would you have to feed individually? Thanks for the help.

 

Would you be able to put 6 hatchetfish and 1 ram in a 20 gal? If they were together, would you have to feed individually? Thanks for the help.

20 long or tall? I'd do more hatchets than that.

 

20 gal high or long?

You could feed them the same foods, both frozen and flake. The ram could also eat sinking pellets.

 

I'd prefer long. I have not gotten any tank yet, as I wanted to be sure of the stocking, but I think overall I like long tanks over tall tanks. I'd like 6 hatchetfish and the ram as a centerpiece.

 

Long would be great! I would get 10-12 marbled hatchets. They're more comfortable in a larger group. Make sure to get a good lid!

 

Alright! Thanks for the tips! They are so pretty expensive fish ($18 for the ram at petco), and because it'd be quite a few I'm not sure I'd be able to convince my parents to let me get them all at once. I don't have a quarantine tank set up, but I do have a cichlid tank already cycled. I could put the ram in the (potential) 20 gal, and if it's sick I could treat it in there. After it's well, I could temporarily add it to the cichlid tank, and then buy 5 hatchetfish, and if they're sick treat them and add them, etc. When they're all well, I could add them back into the 20 gal in groups of three. Would that be a good way to add fish without a quarantine tank and prevent them from crashing the cycle?

 

Oh thank heavens its only $18

My experiences with Petco do not give me great confidence in the quality of their fish.

If your time means very much to you, you invest quite a bit of it setting up cycling and caring for the new aquarium.

To me all this time and effort far outweigh the initial cost of the fish, and so I tend to buy from a boutique seller who obsesses over the quality of his merchandise rather than Petco or Petsmart, where they just toss out the dead fish every morning and look the other way.

I never find myself paying more than 25 or 50% extra for fish which always turn out to be stronger and healthier.

 

What cichlids do you have in the other tank?

 

I have a divided tank. One side has an African cichlid from a couple of years ago, and the other side has two baby blood parrot cichlids, a ram (could just add this one), a bumblebee catfish, and a pleco. The parameters are fine with weekly water changes, although it's overstocked imo.

Also, I do see how investing in a breeder is beneficial, but the "local" fish store is over an hour away, so I doubt my parents are willing to buy a tank and then drive an hour for 1-3 fish once or twice every month or two. Otherwise, I'd definitely just go to a breeder. My petco isn't really horrible compared to many horror stories, although I've seen dead fish before. On the other hand, I've never had bad experiences where the fish have come sick or dead (they've all been healthy, even when my family and I didn't know about quarantining) so I trust them much more than other people trust their petco/petsmart. I do see your point though, and it makes total sense. It's just much more inconvenient then my parents would allow.

 

Is it a blue ram? You could always have a pair in the 20 gal long.

 

Yes, but I don't know how to sex it. Although having a breeding pair would be wonderful, I don't have any room for the potential fry and I don't want to end up endangering one should they be incompatible. My petco also has golden rams, which seem pretty cool to have as well, which is an alternative for either tank.

 

Can you take a pic of it? We may be able to help you sex it.

Most don't successfully breed, if that's a consolation. But you could always move that one over to the 20 gal if you wanted to save some money.

 

Ok. Is it okay if I send it tomorrow? All the lights are off right now so I don't want to disturb any of them.

 

You could always give it a shot? But the Bioorb tanks aren't really ideal for fish.

 

Huh? I don't have them in a biorb tank, I have them in a 50 gallon system.

 

That reply was meant for another thread! Got mixed up, sorry about that!

 

Oh, it's ok.



I think he is a male, but I'm not completely sure.

 

And how large is it? The dorsal spines aren't very long and the fins aren't pointed, and that makes me think female. But it could also be a young male.

 

I'd say around an inch right now. When I got it, it was slightly smaller, so it could be growing, but now that I look it up I think you're right. By the way, do you have any tips on how to convince parents to let you get another tank (the 20 gal I want) when you already have 2 tanks (when my sister's home it's four) and a dog?

 

Likely too small to sex then.

Nope, sorry! I started keeping fish after I moved out of my parents' house.

 

Oh, ok. I guess it's just if I'm a star child they'll give me a chance, but either way I love planning tanks! Hypothetically, would a planted tank be better? Also, would sand work for both species?

 

Planted tanks are always better.

 

Ok, thanks for the help!

 

And sand would be a great choice!

If you need some tips on setting tanks up on the cheap, let me know! That's how I am able to have so many tanks on my poor student's budget. It might help convince your parents if you can set this tank up cheaply.

 

Oh! Yes, I'll probably need some tips. How many tanks do you have?

 

I have 7 running right now, oops haha.

What did you want to know about?

 

How to get tank supplies cheap. I wish I could have seven!

 

Hundreds can be saved on lighting alone.

 

As far as convincing one's parents about anything, I always found my best leverage was a good GPA and money.

I had the biggest newspaper route in Duluth, and was making $100/month in 1968.
I froze my butt off! But that was a lot of dough for a kid back then.

For $100 You could buy a Fox minibike at Target. A 19" TV was $50. Gasoline was 26 cents.

Sorry....Old brain syndrome....
But my point is that it was that which worked.

My kids both graduated with honors, and I showed them my thanks for that too.

 

Any equipment in particular though? Or for everything? If you already have some supplies for it, no use going over those again