Bolivian Ram lack of color

F

Flower1982

AC Members
Sep 29, 2005
769
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Pennsylvania
Real Name
Jess
I have 2 Bolivian Rams and the smaller one doesn't have the colors as the other one. He's well....plain. He's been like this since I got him. I thought he would get his color over time. I haven't noticed anyone picking on him. I tested my water Thursday night and the water is ok. (I use the api master test kit for freshwater.)

Here are the results from the test.

Ph: 7.0 to 7.2
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrates: 30

Now I know the nitrates were a little high but I did a water change the next day. I took about 40% of the water out and gravel-vaced. I'll retest my water tomorrow. The smaller ram swims with the larger one. Now the fish do chase each other every now and then but I think that is normal. None of the other fish really chase the small ram.

Here is are pictures of the rams:


biggerram.jpg

The larger Ram


rams2.jpg


rams.jpg

The larger ram and the smaller ram
 
Any idea how old the fish are? Also, they can take some time to settle in. I have a gold ram that is just starting to get comfortable in the tank after 3 months. He was very skittish from the time I got him, but has slowly come out of his shell. At this point he has colored up nicely, and will only hide if something really scares him.
 
Well I've had the rams for a while now. At least 6 to 7 months now...maybe be longer than that.
I got both of the rams at the same time from the same store.
Also how can you tell the difference between males and females?
 
Looks like you have a male and a female. They may "hook up".
They look healthy overall, just keep an eye on the nitrates and try to keep them below 10ppm. After one of my water changes, a pair formed and layed eggs.
Females get a red glow around their mid section when they are ready to spawn. The males fins (sorry, don't know what they're called) also are longer than the females. Males tend to be more colorful and larger.
If you look closely, when and if they pair and get ready to pair up, the females "depositor" will become quite apparent and protrude from under the belly and is roundish, (compared to the male.). The males "sperm ejector" (as you can tell I am very scientifically advanced! :headbang2:), protrudes as well when he is ready to fertilize the eggs and is more "pointy".
Anyways, hope this helps.
Good luck!!
 
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Thanks for the advice guys.
I'll make sure to test the nitrate levels either tonight or tomorrow.
I've never seen the smaller ram change color before. That's cool that I might have a male and female.
 
I think it is a matter of time, quite the size difference in those two.
 
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