Blue Ram male bullying females (just need some general advice)

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lithe

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May 2, 2012
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I took everyone's advice and got some blue rams (a more peaceful cichlid). I have to tell you, I LOVE them. They are very beautiful, fairly calm, etc. I have to admit I was a little worried about them because they are such a sensitive fish and I do have them in the highest ph they will tolerate because I don't want to submit them to fluctuations in ph all the time. They seem very happy...

Long story short, I want to know if I should be worried about my 1 male blue ram bullying the 2 females in my tank. He doesn't bite them, just chases and pushes them. They lose their color when he does this and he gets much brighter.

I believe I have 2 females and 1 male. As of yesterday, the 1 male is becoming a bully. The females have at least 3 different pvc pipe homes with several outlets to escape in, a large set of rocks, and a rock hole so there are plenty of hiding places. The male ram doesn't bother the cory at all (there are 3 of those too and they crawl all over the place, even over the male and other fish). I know some bullying is normal behavior but should I be worried? I was considering getting 2 more of the blue rams or possibly 2 dwarfs instead. Will the other fish even out his aggression?

It's only a 15 gallon tank so I'm pretty much at my fish limit. I did plan to move the cories to another tank because they seem way too spazzy for a tank with fairly calm fish.
 

stormywendyann

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Apr 21, 2012
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Wendy Lubianetsky
One thing you could do is plant a few plants to help hide the females as they swim around. GBR love thick folliage and spend a lot of time hiding in it. I would not suggest getting anymore RAMS. I am maxed out at 3 and I have a 30 gallon tank. That might be one of the reasons he is chasing them around. He is establishing the borders of his territory. I think it will calm down if you can add some plants and play it out.
 

lithe

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May 2, 2012
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I'm curious how big your rams are if you only have 3 in a 30 gallon. Mine don't get any bigger than 1-2 inches. Are they dwarf blue rams?

Anyway, so far, I put in 2 small plants and 2 big plants. They seem amicable but every now and then, the male still likes to chase. It's quite strange really but it does look like he is doing exactly what you are saying because he likes to patrol that area once he's gotten everyone out. Sometimes he lets other fish in but only if he "escorts" them. He usually goes and finds them and they follow him.
 

stormywendyann

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Apr 21, 2012
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Wendy Lubianetsky
I have two regular GBR's. I unfortunaely had a couple of other males, but the dominant male harrassed them so much they died. So now I am happy and content with my 3 healthy ones. They are only about 1 inch long, but you have to remember the space is really only the footprint of your aquarium. Male RAMs pick a spot to keep a it is theirs and only theirs.

I hope my suggestion of the plants helped. I have quite a few plants in mine which they lilke to dart in and out of. Sometimes it makes me mad, because I can't see them. But they do come out, especially at feeding time.

Hope your male has stopped chasing those poor females!
 
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