Compatibility of Blue Ram

[yhbae]

This is what I have in my 25g tank:

- 2 Ottos
- 3 Platies
- 6 Harlequin Rasboras
- 4 Panda Cories

Its been set up for about 50 days now with zero nitrite and ammonia.

Here's my water parameters: (no chemicals except stress coat during water change)

- pH 7.4
- KH 2
- GH 5
- Ammonia 0
- Nitrite 0
- Nitrate 5ppm
- Temperature 77F

Plants:
- Lots of Java moss and Java fern.

Light:
- Only 20w.

Water Change:
- 2 water changes a week, one at 20%, one at 10%. Gravel vac each time.

KH is kinda low and I've been monitoring it real close for over a month, but it stays very stable at 7.4... Absolutely doesn't move from that level. Few stones are river stones containing CaCO3, but I figured it might help keep KH. (In reality, there probably isn't enough of them to make any difference).

I've been letting tan leech out of drift wood for over 3 weeks now. I will add it in the near future... This will probably drop pH a little closer to neutral.

Given the above, would it be a good idea to go ahead and get a pair of Blue Ram (looks about 2 inches long), or should I go safe and just get a pair of Pearl Gourami? I am slightly concerned about the panda cories which have proven to be fragile so far and not sure if Rams will leave them alone...

Apprecaite any feedback!

[Dahlia]

I enjoyed my pearl gouramis quite a bit when I had them (assuming you mean Trichogaster leeri). Unfortunately, I took the LFS advice and added some blue and gold gouramis. When two of those paired they beat up and killed nearly everything in the tank overnight, even though it was an uncrowded 90 gallon with plenty of hiding places. I plan to get some more once I have another tank they would do well in.

I can't offer an opinion on your rams as I haven't kept them, but if you are worried about the delicateness of your cories I think the pearls would go great with them. Personally I think they are one of the most beautiful fish you can keep as well.

[The Gipper]

The Rams prefer soft water, slightly acidic pH (below 7.0). Many people use RO (reverse osmosis) water to assure soft water for these and other dwarf apistos, especially if they are interested in breeding

Will they do OK in your water and with your fish? We keep many fish in water that does not have conditions native to that species. Some fish do fine with this, others are very intolerant of this. Blue Rams are sort of in the middle of the scale. They would probably be OK with your water. The rams would do fine with those fish.

[yhbae]

I do expect pH to drop a little when I add driftwood. The water is already pretty soft. So far, I deliverately didn't add any fish that mandates acidic water (e.g. Cardinal Tetra). Most of these are supposed to be fine at pH of 7.4. Even Rams are supposed to be fine at this pH, so hopefully the water parameters won't be a problem for them.

So far, I found two conflicting articles - one says cories will be bothersome to Rams and eventually will fight, and the other one RECOMENDS cories as tank mates! Hmm...

I'm still debating over Pearl Grourami and Blue Rams....

[valerie]

I have apair of blue rams in my 15g tank with cardinal, amano shrimp and 3 BN plecos(jsut babies trying to grow them out). My ph is 7.8 kh8 gh11. So compared to my parameters your are good. All my fish are doing very well, I have had them for about 8 months now.

I think rams would be fine in your setup. They should do ok with the cories, unless you get a mean one(i mean they are still cichlids:p ). Your parameters are good. The ph is a bit high but if you get good quality rams that are used to your water already(my LFS aclimated the ones i bought, and they were from a local breed which helped) they should be fine. Dwarfs love a low KH and 2 is usually what is recommended. having a low Gh and kh is more important then the ph.

They should be fine, its only if you start to get into breeding dwarfs is the parameters realy important. Make sure you find good stock as there are alot of fagile rams out there.

[yhbae]

I found two at - believe it or not, Walmart (I didn't buy them!).

According to them, its been there for about 3 months and they both appear to be fully grown... Is that a good enough indication that they are healthy? The water, according to them, is 7.2 pH. If it can take 3 months of Walmart punishment, I guess it will be fine in my tank?

[somefinnfishy]

have 7.8 13/14 gh kh tap water and add 50%ro and cannot keep them alive to save my life.
Also on those rams they live like 3 yrs most are 9mo or older when you get them.

[yhbae]

Could it be that the source is more important than the water condition? Those who were lucky enough to get local-bred ones seem to do fine in wide range of water parameters, while those who got wild-caught ones (presumeably) have hard time keeping them alive regardless of the water condition...

I'll have to ask my local LFS where they get them from...

[Skippy]

If they've managed to survive in a WalMart tank set up for three months they may be some kind of mutant uberfish. heh

[Dwarfnut]

Please go save them from Walmart... and any other fish they have!! I cannot believe how bad the tanks are Walmart! If they survived three months there, they must be some kind of super Ram and then you needn't worry about your conditons!

Your water will be fine for the Rams... unless you intend to breed them and then I would suggest dropping the ph a little to under 7. As for the Cories, they should be fine... unless the Rams do spawn and then the tank will suddenly be too small and fish will start dying! I keep Cories in all my tanks but remove them if someone looks like they will spawn because they don't know enough to stay away and will try to eat the eggs also. Then the parents get really pissed!

I say all that with the assumption that these Rams are tank bred and raised... that is what you want. I'd stay away from wild caught Rams as they always seem to have internal parasites that will kill them and they are much more aggressive.

Good luck,
Bill C.

[somefinnfishy]

I have goten at least 10 from 5 diff breeders most tank raised from all over the country

[yhbae]

Originally posted by Dwarfnut
Please go save them from Walmart... and any other fish they have!! I cannot believe how bad the tanks are Walmart! If they survived three months there, they must be some kind of super Ram and then you needn't worry about your conditons!

Your water will be fine for the Rams... unless you intend to breed them and then I would suggest dropping the ph a little to under 7. As for the Cories, they should be fine... unless the Rams do spawn and then the tank will suddenly be too small and fish will start dying! I keep Cories in all my tanks but remove them if someone looks like they will spawn because they don't know enough to stay away and will try to eat the eggs also. Then the parents get really pissed!

I say all that with the assumption that these Rams are tank bred and raised... that is what you want. I'd stay away from wild caught Rams as they always seem to have internal parasites that will kill them and they are much more aggressive.

Good luck,
Bill C.

This walmart has rather large choice of selections - I will have to buy 100 more tanks to accomodate all of them... :D

I looked at them carefully, and am not convinced that one is a male and the other one is a female. They look somewhat different, but I don't see "shiny dots" within the black spot in either case (as one of the article I read suggested). It may be invisible due to poor tank condition, but seems not obvious... I'll have to read more articles about distinguishing ram sexes and look at them carefulyl again... (Anyone have any suggestions on easy sexing?)

I do have another tank for breeding purpose, so if they show any breeding behaviour, they will be moved out of the community tank fast! I hope to produce more ideal water parameter for them in the breeding tank...

[valerie]

I can tell the sexes of my pair quite easily. The female has blue speckles in her black spot(not always visable, sometimes they don't show any blue). The male has a very long first and second dorsal rays,, the feamels first ray is a bit bigger then the rest but no where near what the males is. The female also has a pink/lavender tummy.

[delmore]

Check out Bolivian Rams. They are hardier and might do better with your water. I have pearl gouramis in my 20g long with tetras, corys, etc. If you get good stock they are very hardy, and do well in most water conditions. Mine are kind of wimpy. They spook easily are very shy. The male picks on the female a little, but ignores the other fish. They are much mellower than blue/gold/opaline gouramis which can cause big problems.