Gold Ram Bully

Hi all,
Two weeks ago I got a Gold Ram and a male German Blue Ram along with a panda Cory (fish store only had one at the time but I picked more up today). For the past two weeks the rams have lived happily together in peace. So today when I got the new panda Corys I also got another gold ram and another German blue ram along with a blue balloon ram. Now all of a sudden the original Gold Ram is chasing around all the other rams but specifically the other Gold ram and the balloon ram. I can’t quite sex this guy so maybe someone can help me with that. But does anyone know why he all of a sudden became so aggressive to his own species???

Note: I have a 10 gallon tank and attached is a picture of the gold ram

 

Hi, the reason there is chasing is becasue you introduced new fish to the existing territories already set up by the old rams

Also your ten gallon tank is a bit too small for 4 rams.

 

Hi, the reason there is chasing is becasue you introduced new fish to the existing territories already set up by the old rams

Also your ten gallon tank is a bit too small for 4 rams.

That’s what I figured, will it stop after a day? I feel bad for the balloon ram and don’t want him to get too stressed out from the constant chasing
And ahhh ok, this was all I planned on getting anyway! Hopefully it’s enough room though

 

Yah, rams generally need at least 20g and that's just for 2 of them. I keep a 40g with only 2 rams (a m/f pair fwiw).

The female was added later than the male (his mate died), and it took about a week for them to stop fighting. Again, though, larger tank and they're also now showing some nesting behaviors. Yours are likely male (LFS almost always ONLY sale males) which in my limited experience need a bit more space for territories.

 

4 Rams even if it's 2m 2f you will probably end up with one pair by then end of 8t all. 10g will be way to small for that many rams. And getting 2m 2f would be lucky. You end up with 4m you will end up with one ram by then end

 

4 Rams even if it's 2m 2f you will probably end up with one pair by then end of 8t all. 10g will be way to small for that many rams. And getting 2m 2f would be lucky. You end up with 4m you will end up with one ram by then end

yah, dual pairs need no less than 40g, and that requires a very heavily planted tank to avoid territorial disputes.

Edit to add: It's harder for me to sex golden rams (I keep blues), but that one looks male to me. Smaller vent, slightly longer pectoral fins. Others with more experience please correct if I'm wrong.

 

Ahh I see, I know that the German Rams are paired male and female but I cannot tell with the Gold rams. Also there are 5 rams total - 2 German 2 gold and 1 balloon ram
what will most likely happen if I keep them all?
I attached a picture of the newly added gold ram

 

Ahh I see, I know that the German Rams are paired male and female but I cannot tell with the Gold rams. Also there are 5 rams total - 2 German 2 gold and 1 balloon ram
what will most likely happen if I keep them all?

They will likely fight to the death and kill one another via stress. I only wish I were joking.

 

German blue Rams need 82+ temperature. Those are the ones I would for sure re-home. They are not temp compatible with your other fish.

 

coralbandit breeds a lot of ramirezi. Your primary problem is that the 10 gallon tank is much too small for your Rams alone. The Golds appear to be two females, which would also be another reason for the first one to be chasing the new one. All 5 Rams are the same species, and would be healthier at 82-86 F. Panda Cories are cooler water fish, and need about 10 degrees lower temperatures. Going halfway between the two won't work, as all the fish would then be miserable.

Until you get them out of the 10 gallon tank, you will have problems and probably lose fish.

 

Okay thank you all, I had read on some websites that corys were good tank mates for rams so I had gone with that. If I need to remove one of the species how do I go about doing so? Will my LFS take them back/apply a credit?

 

Okay thank you all, I had read on some websites that corys were good tank mates for rams so I had gone with that. If I need to remove one of the species how do I go about doing so? Will my LFS take them back/apply a credit?

Most likely. Maybe not full price thou... I personally would take all of the Rams back...

 

Okay so I know someone said earlier that they can’t thrive at a temperature in between but my issue is that the heater I have (came with the tank I bought) keeps the tank at a steady 77 F / 25 C....I feel as I am a bit stuck now because neither of these fish will “thrive” in this temperature range

 

The cories will be fine at that but not the Rams....at all.

 

What do you suggest I stock my tank with once I remove the rams

 

Most fish are good at 77. what do you like?

 

Well I really liked the Rams ;( but colorful fish mainly. I like tiger barbs but have previously been told 10 gallon is too small for how many I need. I like neon tetras and guppy’s but my LFS does not have any

 

I know its hard. The Rams are cool. Neons and Guppies would be good. Maybe you will have to be patient and wait for some or order online?

 

In a 10g you could try a pair of the Rams. Be a little small but once Petco does dollar per gallon a 20g long for 20$ and the pair will be happy.

Here's my pair gaurding their babies.