Tank mate for Ram

[tomm10]

I had purchased a pair of male rams about a month ago. They had been sharing a tank about the size of mine (29g) in the store so I took the risk that they would get along in mine. They seemed to get along although there was definitely a more dominant one. After a couple of weeks of looking perfectly healthy and esting well, the less dominant fish all of a sudden lost his color and was dead (and gone completely) within a day.

I looked all over the area for a female to replace him since I feel adding another male would be a bad idea with the current male already established in the tank. It seems none of the local shops come into contact with female rams that look remotely healthy.

The problem is, I had hoped that the rams would be my centerpiece fish. They were the only slow swimming colorful fish in the tank and they filled it out nicely. One doesn't fit the bill as well so I'm trying to figure out what else I can get in there.

My only thought was an apisto of some kind but will one of them get along with the ram or will it cause fights?

Any other thoughts of another interesting, colorful fish? A rainbow maybe? (although I know nothing about them.)

Current Setup:
29g moderate-heavily planted
sand substrate with driftwood and slate caves.
pH-7.5
nitrates-5
nitrites-0
ammonia-0
phosphate- <.25
GH- 4mg/l
KH- 4mg/l

7 Zebra Danios
7 Pygmy Cories
6 Khuli Loaches
1 Blue Ram Male
1 Clown Pleco
Ghost and Amano Shrimp

[KarlskidMarx]

tomm, i'd be patient and look for a female ram(or 2) to house with your male. Any other male dwarf cichlid might cause some unwanted aggression in the tank.

I know it sucks having to wait around for a fish, but the patience pays off.

[tomm10]

My understanding from talking to the shops around here (when I say around here I'm talking about eastern Massachusetts and RI) is that if I decide to wait for a female ram, I'll be waiting for a long, long time. The breeders they buy from just don't sell females.

I'm not really in a rush (if I were I would have taken my chances with another male ram already ;) ) but I just wanted to check on compatability.

I have heard that apistos could possibly get along with other SA cichlids. In their case and that of the rams my understanding was that the aggression mainly comes from males of their own species so they may be okay in the same tank.

Tom