New young German ram

I added a single young male German ram to my 20 gal densely planted tank yesterday. Parameters are good and the tank has been running for months (temp 78 ph 6.8 ammonia 0 nitrite 0 and nitrate 0). I've seen really mixed reviews about whether they are shy or not. In the tank are 3 platies, 3 guppies and 6 neons. My ram has already established himself as alpha letting my fairly dominate platy know who's boss. That being said he isn't really coming up to eat. I've dropped some sinking pellets that's he's nibbled on and I see him foraging around the plants. New to fish owning and I'm not sure what to expect behavior wise of what is normal or not with this ram. I've heard they're hard to keep yet my LFS suggested to go with a German v Bolivian because he said they're generally hardier. The ram will swim the tank fairly slow during the day mid level and hids in the plants and cave when the moonlights are on. He's so young that he doesn't have the yellow fully on his head or the black spot on his body. He's basically this lavender color and about an inch long max. How long does it normally take Rams to acclimate to a new tank and what are the specific symptoms of stress in these guys? Thanks!

 

Hmmm... no nitrates? most rams will refuse to eat the first few days,and in some rare cases a week.
I would stop feeding him for a couple of days, and get him feeling a little hungry, then try feeding him something, if he still won't eat you could try feeding frozen bloodworms, brineshrimp etc... your LFS is right, GBRs are usually not as hardy as BRs. I'd wait, and see if your ram won't color up in a little bit... although, GBRs are usually nicely colored by 1"in. but maybe he's just different, along with the fact that he might have been mislabeled at the LFS.
some symptoms of stress are; turning a darker color, clamped fins etc...
my rams were usually all well settled in by a day or two.

 

Yes my nitrates are being sucked up by plants. After my tank initially cycled nitrates were at 20 ppm. As more plants were added nitrates slowly went down to 0. I have trace amounts but not enough to change the color to full orange. I'll add a pic tomorrow when he's swimming around. He's hiding and sleeping now. His fins are pretty open and he picks at the plants so I'm guessing it's a normal sign of being moved into the tank. After hearing how many people lose their Rams just wanted to make sure the behavior was fairly normal.

I say an inch but that's from head to end of tail. His actual body is probably only 1/2 inch maybe? He seems really really young to me. When I picked him up he looked blue/lavender and his color has pretty much remained that. I can see the signs of a dark spot on his body but it's super light right now which led me to believe he's a baby. Also I keep calling it a male but not entirely sure. His dorsal fin the black one seems like it's growing singular and pointy?

 

this what he looks like?

 

Yes my nitrates are being sucked up by plants. After my tank initially cycled nitrates were at 20 ppm. As more plants were added nitrates slowly went down to 0. I have trace amounts but not enough to change the color to full orange. I'll add a pic tomorrow when he's swimming around. He's hiding and sleeping now. His fins are pretty open and he picks at the plants so I'm guessing it's a normal sign of being moved into the tank. After hearing how many people lose their Rams just wanted to make sure the
behavior was fairly normal.

I say an inch but that's from head to end of tail. His actual body is probably only 1/2 inch maybe? He seems really really young to me. When I picked him up he looked blue/lavender and his color has pretty much remained that. I can see the signs of a dark spot on his body but it's super light right now which led me to believe he's a baby. Also I keep calling it a male but not entirely sure. His dorsal fin the black one seems like it's growing singular and pointy?

Oh, that's good... could you post a clear close-up picture of him/ her? I could try sexing it at the same time making sure it's a german blue ram.

edit: if it looks identical to the ram above it's a color morph of the german blue ram, usually referred to as an electric blue ram.

 

heres a pic of my guy. Difficult to get him sideways because today he's decided to be fairly active

 

Yes, that's a beautiful electric blue ram!
how much did he/ she cost you at the LFS? maybe later when it decides to sit still you could snap another photo or two? he looks a healthy youngster to me...

 

He was swimming so his dorsal fin is down. So he's an electric blue? Interesting. So he won't have the spots like the German?

He cost $12.
He seems active today so I guess yesterday he was still stressing from the move.

 

I got mine for $30 bucks! I felt like I was being scammed though tbh. But he is local bred. Yours is beautiful!

 

He'll have spots but they won't be visible... $12 is cheap for electric blue's, taking in the fact that their held in more value than regular GBRs by most.
their usually $20, and above over here... were you wanting the regular ones?

 

I was. If he does well he'll be added to the 55 gallon I'm working on setting up and cycling now. I can always get regular GBR though since I'll be stocking a 55. I figured I would see how I can keep one before getting more in case I don't do well. How old do you think he is? And when do they normally begin showing their full color?

 

I'd say he's a younger adult, and his coloration is in full display as far as I can tell! he may color up even more once he settles in more.
what else is, and will be in the 55 gallon with him?

 

Ah okay well that's good to know. I would've been waiting a while for him to color up!

I plan on some gouramis, Rams and Cory cats. The specifics I haven't decided; don't want to get too excited before the tank cycles!

 

View attachment 1470153060777.jpggot mine for 18$ he survived a cycle and had been with me for 2months. Took him forever to settle in and start eating.

 

Ah okay well that's good to know. I would've been waiting a while for him to color up!

I plan on some gouramis, Rams and Cory cats. The specifics I haven't decided; don't want to get too excited before the tank cycles!

Do you know what kind of cories, and gouramis you want?

 

Do you know what kind of cories, and gouramis you want?

Dwarf and some emerald Cory cats. Nothing too large.

 

Ok, sounds reasonable... you'll want only one DG though, because of aggression issues.
emerald cories can exceed 2"inches. there are some other corydoras species that grow smaller if your interested.

 

I had planned 1 DG and maybe 2 pairs of Rams??

 

No, only one pair of rams would work in a 20g.

 

Oh no this is a 55. My 20 I know only 1 pair. Sorry for the confusion.

Currently this ram is in a community 20. I am working on cycling a 55 fish less that would be housing hopefully DG, 2 pairs of Rams and some emerald cories.

 

Oh, ok, my bad... so just cories, rams, and a dwarf gourami? you could also fit in middle level schoolers.... aswell.