Normal To Have Super Shy Rams?

Hi,

Just wondering if it’s normal to have super super shy Rams. All my other fish come say “hi” when I come to feed them and my GBR can’t hide enough just wondering if people have found that to be the normal case. Also wondering if I can put a pair of EBR in same tank as GBR. There are 2 “territory” areas in the tank “pic below” but I just redesigned the whole thing so none of my plants have grown quite yet. Just want to avoid aggression. The male GBR is very aggressive toward other Rams. I had another pair in there a long time ago and he killed them both. Just don’t want a repeat of that. Here’s a picture of the tank:




The floating thing is brine Shrimp I took this during feeding. And the GBR stay to the right side (makes sense, more live plants etc.) but I’m wondering once I add a sword to the left side if I could put in the EBR. there’s plenty of room + filtration

 

GBR and EBR are the same species. They will inter breed and would not be considered hybrids, but the offspring won't look that great without line breeding.

 

What size tank is it?

How long have you had the rams?

 

I am going to guess that is a 55G? If so you could give it a shot and watch closely. I see a dozen rams in a 20G at the LFS so it must be possible.

 

The dozen rams in the 20 gal is short term and overstocked, that's why it works temporarily.

 

GBR and EBR are the same species. They will inter breed and would not be considered hybrids, but the offspring won't look that great without line breeding.

Not planning on breeding just trying to avoid any aggression.

 

The dozen rams in the 20 gal is short term and overstocked, that's why it works temporarily.

He QTs for a month. I can see the date on the tank and sometimes the fish have been in there for two months or more. It would seem problems would arise in that time frame. So I will stick with my opinion that it is possible to have more than a pair in a large tank with proper precautions. .

 

What size tank is it?

How long have you had the rams?

55G. Had them for like 5 months

The dozen rams in the 20 gal is short term and overstocked, that's why it works temporarily.

That’s what I assumed. Should I try? Or will a GBR be aggressive toward a EBR too?

 

Then they should be fine, it will depend on the individual behavior of the fish. That can't be predicted you'll just have to see if they get along

 

He QTs for a month. I can see the date on the tank and sometimes the fish have been in there for two months or more. It would seem problems would arise in that time frame. So I will stick with my opinion that it is possible to have more than a pair in a large tank with proper precautions. .

Is it possible that over stocking stops aggression? I do agree tho I’ve seen tons in a tank for months and they r fine.

 

Is it possible that over stocking stops aggression? I do agree tho I’ve seen tons in a tank for months and they r fine.

Yes overstocking can help. But I see a half dozen in the tanks and they seem to do OK.

 

Yes overstocking can help. But I see a have dozen in the tanks and they seem to do OK.

Huh. Okay. Ever seen the Electric w the Normal Blue Ram though

Then they should be fine, it will depend on the individual behavior of the fish. That can't be predicted you'll just have to see if they get along

I’ll give it a shot. Thanks

 

And I'll know more shortly. I am buying a pile of rams next week and QTing them in just a couple tanks. GBRs, EBRs and Golds.

 

And I'll know more shortly. I am buying a pile of rams next week and QTing them in just a couple tanks. GBRs, EBRs and Golds.

Awesome let me know

 

How many rams do you have right now?

 

How many rams do you have right now?

If you were speaking to me I currently just have a breeding pair of GBRs right now. Manufacturing their water is a task for me but I love them so I am going to add a lot more for some winter breeding projects and will have as many ram tanks as they force me to. And if I have offended you in this discussion it was not my intent. I enjoy your posts.

 

No, sorry, I was asking OP. I can't tell from the original post how many are in the tank.

You didn't offend me! Just explaining why the store is different than someone's tank

 

Give them/hI'm more hiding spots, your tank looks pretty open. Give them some more space to feel secure and hide, you should see a happier GBR once he feels safer. Anytime I have had them they are very out in the open, but my tanks have all had a LOT of hiding places for them as well.

 

No, sorry, I was asking OP. I can't tell from the original post how many are in the tank.

You didn't offend me! Just explaining why the store is different than someone's tank

Cool, I still don't completely understand the difference. My LFS had a few dozen GBRs for a couple months which is clearly overcrowded. When I bought my pair there were a half dozen or so in a 20G and they seemed fine. When mine spawn their temperment is completely different. I thought they were going to bust the glass out of the tank chasing cardinals off.

 

How many rams do you have right now?

Haha I have 2. Male and Female. Not paired I don’t think but I can’t really tell sometimes they r glued at the hip other times they can’t care less

 

It's a big difference. A lot of fish in a small tank temporarily usually prevents them from having a final hierarchy, having a territory to defend, pairing off, and settling in. All of these things can be achieved in a properly stocked home aquarium, which is better for species like this one.

If you only have two, you might be able to add another few females or another M/F pair. Add more caves, rearrange the decor, and be prepared to rehome if aggression gets bad. Sometimes a pair is all you can have.

 

Give them/hI'm more hiding spots, your tank looks pretty open. Give them some more space to feel secure and hide, you should see a happier GBR once he feels safer. Anytime I have had them they are very out in the open, but my tanks have all had a LOT of hiding places for them as well.

What do you suggest I add? The generic Grey Cichlid home things? And get rid of some of the plants? Or rocks? Or taller hiding spots? I’m not really sure what to add
L

 

No need to get rid of anything - it'll help to break the lines of sight.

Clay pots from a hardware store (no glaze) will also work.

 

No need to get rid of anything - it'll help to break the lines of sight.

Clay pots from a hardware store (no glaze) will also work.

I’ll look into them. Thanks

 

Tall plants can help make a "wall" as well. Mine mostly used a sponge filter for their hiding spot. Pretty much used it to lay eggs away from the rest of the tanks inhabitants

 

What do you suggest I add? The generic Grey Cichlid home things? And get rid of some of the plants? Or rocks? Or taller hiding spots? I’m not really sure what to add
L

Don't get rid of anything, I would add a bunch more live plants and some of the pots that TexasDomer mentions. You can make pretty simple little caves out of them, break them in half, knock a slightly larger hole in them and the rams will quite happily inhabit them.

I realize it may sound strange, add more decorations in order to see the fish more. But, the safer they feel, the more out and about they will be. GBR's I have had would almost let me hand feed them, they would quite happily try and get things out of the gravel vac thinking it was food going up the tube etc.

 

Do you like the look of slate? Rams love the smooth surface and will stake out territory on it. Also if you stack the slate securely you will create hiding places for bullied fish

 

Do you like the look of slate? Rams love the smooth surface and will stake out territory on it. Also if you stack the slate securely you will create hiding places for bullied fish

Love it. Just don’t know where to buy it. Lol just a kid

 

Most LFS have a bin of slate. They sell it by the pound. It isn't real expensive. You might be able to go to a tile store a buy and piece that is close enough if you have to.

 

Most LFS have a bin of slate. They sell it by the pound. It isn't real expensive. You might be able to go to a tile store a buy and piece that is close enough if you have to.

Will do. Thanks

 

The lfs will charge you an arm an leg by comparison. Be a DIY disciple and get the slate from home depot, they have "raw" slate pieces with no artificial coatings. You can ge stacks of them there vs one piece at the lfs for the same price. Although, the lfs will have some uniquely shaped pieces with lots of character for an accent piece, I just wouldn't spend my whole budget at the lfs.

If you are really saavy, like on the fly said, the tile store might give the little broken pieces for free.

 

The lfs will charge you an arm an leg by comparison. Be a DIY disciple and get the slate from home depot, they have "raw" slate pieces with no artificial coatings. You can ge stacks of them there vs one piece at the lfs for the same price. Although, the lfs will have some uniquely shaped pieces with lots of character for an accent piece, I just wouldn't spend my whole budget at the lfs.

If you are really saavy, like on the fly said, the tile store might give the little broken pieces for free.

I'll have to checkout HD for slate. I haven't seen it. I live in limestone country and our water hardness is way too high to even think about putting that in the tank.

 

I don't know about ebr. But lots of plants in hiding spots are the key. I had 3 male gbr 2 gold rams in a 55 gallon with lots of plants and they got along. But I added 2 female gbr and it was like the Royal Rumble had to rehome my golds. Now my gbr is getting along pretty well except for when they lay eggs. Don't know if that helps just thought I'd throw it out there

 

I've kept a few varieties, it all depends on the individual fish sometimes, but I have noticed some traits and tendencies. The Super colored Asian variety are the dumbest and make poor parents, EB females are average but males tend to make poor father's and spawners. Regular colored rams are a crapshoot. All the Golds I've had are really good spawners and parents. But this based off of personal anecdotal experience and limited in scope to my own fish that I have kept.

 

I've kept a few varieties, it all depends on the individual fish sometimes, but I have noticed some traits and tendencies. The Super colored Asian variety are the dumbest and make poor parents, EB females are average but males tend to make poor father's and spawners. Regular colored rams are a crapshoot. All the Golds I've had are really good spawners and parents. But this based off of personal anecdotal experience and limited in scope to my own fish that I have kept.

Wow thanks a ton! Like I said my goal isn’t really breeding if it happens that’s awesome but I’m not going for it. Tht helps a lot. Thanks

I’ve noticed that the female is way ballsier than the male. Is this common

 

I’ve noticed that the female is way ballsier than the male. Is this common

My personal experience yes my female will push a male (not her mate) around here and there but when the females fight my her mate will try to get in the middle to stop it but she'll push him out of the way LOL. Usually only last a couple seconds and they go back in the plants again also only when they lay eggs

 

I had two EB girls they were inseparable for three months always swimming in formation. When I introduced a gold male the girls turned on each other to fight over the male. The dominant female killed her sister and the next day the pair spawned. Even if you don't intend to breed them, spawning will become a fun routine to observe.

Males will stake out a claim on a piece and guard it, but the females show true territorial aggression when they mate, more so when babies are around, she will cuss you out if you get too close to the glass and her babies

 

I had two EB girls they were inseparable for three months always swimming in formation. When I introduced a gold male the girls turned on each other to fight over the male. The dominant female killed her sister and the next day the pair spawned. Even if you don't intend to breed them, spawning will become a fun routine to observe.

Males will stake out a claim on a piece and guard it, but the females show true territorial aggression when they mate, more so when babies are around, she will cuss you out if you get too close to the glass and her babies

Ya the male tends to stay in the back right corners and the female will as well but her radius of where she’ll explore and come out is wayyy larger

 

In a 55 I would recommend 1 male and 5 females if you want a nice group and no real aggro problems. Maybe go 2 electric Blue, 2 Gold and 2 normal. The girls have pink bellys normally, they're pretty easy to sex. Your best bet is also to introduce all at the same time but if you already have 2 you should still be ok if you put the 4 in together, might be a bit rough for a few days. Add extra hiding places at the same time as the new fish.

 

Ya the male tends to stay in the back right corners and the female will as well but her radius of where she’ll explore and come out is wayyy larger

My ram experience is VERY anecdotal but my male is the guard dog during spawning. At least in a 10G where they were being quarantined with a small group of cardinals. He lost his mind until I got the cards out of their. If I was serious about spawning rams I would never have anything else in the tank unless it was a large one. As Kasshan mentioned I am not overly impressed with my GBRs parenting abilities so far.