Bolivian Rams in 20 Gallon

[aleksbergen]

HI i just joined this site as I just took down my 75 gallon saltwater and i'm looking to get back into freshwater. I have always wanted to keep a pair of bolivian rams and i've been able to find very little info on them other than they need slightly acidic pH, soft water, and lots of plants. Any recomendations on some tank mates would be greatly appreciated, along with any experiences with them:)

[crazycanuck]

they are a fairly hardy species,and a pair would do pretty well in a 20,maybe even a couple corys for some bottom action,and to clean up.. i assume you will get a male female pir?? they will most likely breed,but it will probably take a few trys for them to stop eating the eggs.. :)

[Fishfiles1]

ok they get about 3in and love brin shrimp, and they love drift wood with live plants, a pair would do great, i have one male bolivan ram and one male gold ram in my 20gal. long, because i want them to show there full color, but a breading pair would do fine, look at my sig, ohh i also have a pair in my 35, there not breeding yet, and a bit if info, if you go with one male and one female, then i would sejest fating her up to so she can fend off the male, the males tent to be mean to the females when they cant breed. good luck

[aleksbergen]

Oay so maybe go with just the male bolivian then? I really don't want to deal with aggression among the pair. I would like to put a maybe a small school of tetra's, 2 guppies, and 3 corey's with him. would that work?

[Canuck]

http://www.cichlid-forum.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=138543

I think this thread must be long enough now to contain all known info on the fish :)

[Fishfiles1]

ok you could go with one male bolivan, but you do want more than one ram for company, so get a gold ram, make sure its a male, some good campanions would be some panda corys, or some dwarf goruamis, some harlequin rasboras or maybe neons or cardnels

[BoredAgain]

http://www.cichlid-forum.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=138543

I think this thread must be long enough now to contain all known info on the fish :)
I was going to post that as well...it definitely contains the info you will need.

[wataugachicken]

ok you could go with one male bolivan, but you do want more than one ram for company, so get a gold ram, make sure its a male, some good campanions would be some panda corys, or some dwarf goruamis, some harlequin rasboras or maybe neons or cardnels

they do not need company. two males of any cichlid species are more likely to fight with each other than a mated pair is.

[Mgamer20o0]

maybe look into the blue ram since its a little smaller i think might give you more stocking options.

[Cathy G]

I'd be worried that a single male Bolivian will not color up much. They color when they need to impress that certain someone and if they are alone they stay pretty gray.

Cathy

PS 20g long would be better than a regular.

[aleksbergen]

Has anyone kept these with marbled hatchetfish? I just read up on these and they have the same pH and tank requirements, how would 2 bolivian(or maybe gold rams due to there smaller size), 5 marbled hatchetfish, and 4 neon tetra's work? I'm thinking sort of an Amazon biotope:)

[Fishfiles1]

i keep my males to gether any my bolivian rams is more colorfull than yours

[Cathy G]

i keep my males to gether any my bolivian rams is more colorfull than yours

You seem to be confused. If you are saying that the tank you have with 2 Bolivian rams in it has colorful fish, fine. We are in violent agreement. I said a male kept ALONE probably won't color up as much.

Bolivians don't need as soft a water as you all think. Mine live, spawn and raise fry in about 7.4-7.6 pH. They are not from the same ecosystem as their cousins the Blue rams and don't need the same water.

Gold rams and Hatchets are a great combination. The neons might like a bit more company...

Cathy

[Fishfiles1]

You seem to be confused. If you are saying that the tank you have with 2 Bolivian rams in it has colorful fish, fine. We are in violent agreement. I said a male kept ALONE probably won't color up as much.

Bolivians don't need as soft a water as you all think. Mine live, spawn and raise fry in about 7.4-7.6 pH. They are not from the same ecosystem as their cousins the Blue rams and don't need the same water.

Gold rams and Hatchets are a great combination. The neons might like a bit more company...

Cathy
no need to fight i just simply said that i have one male bolivian ram with one gold ram, and it told him to do that, and my bolivan ram is more colorfull than yours, and i have a honey gourami to put him in his place, and they dont evan fight (that is the rams dont fight) and like i said my bolivian ram is WAY more colorfull than yours.

[Star_Rider]

fishfiles,
I think you need to re-read Cathy's post. I don't think there were any course words conveyed by Cathy. who btw, is very knowledgable in regards to keeping and breeding rams.

simply Bolivian rams will color up more when in the company of other Bolivian rams. you will also discover that the more dominant males will 'display' more at spawning time. especially in the company of a female ram(bolivian)

saying yours is more colorful is a matter of perspective.

I keep three Bolivians in my 75 with my discus..they patrol the bottom..they are more colorful than my pairs.

I have seen pics of cathys from previous posts when they have 'colored up' to vibrant(for bolivians) spawning colors.

please don't think these are personal attacks on you or your fish..I am sure they are as you say.
;)

[Fishfiles1]

i dont mean to Personal attacks, sorry for fighting, and i guess i should say, somethings work from somepeople somethings dont, looks like i got the good side.

i think you should go with some golds