Plz Help: 3 rams in 20g - Bad idea?

Hi all,

My Tank:
20g (12x20)
2.5 caves
sand

I have had one lone ram in my tank for about 3 months, and he's been living alone (there was a brief period before that when he was with a few other cichlids, who beat him up pretty well, but they are long gone). I've given him free reign over the tank b/c i had to nurse him back to health from being on the brink of death. He's made a full recovery. I'm so happy

I've been searching for rams for a while, and finally spotted some at a LFS. Today I went back, and not knowing the right number to buy, ended up buying 2. At first I thought they were blue rams, but now I'm thinking they are actually gold.

In any case, I floated the 2 newcomers, released them, and after about 10-15 mins, they began to explore. Maybe 5 mins later, the more aggressive of the newcomers and my original ram began "kissing," opening their mouths, which i assume is actually more like 2 stags bucking horns. I could be totally off base there, I am a cichlid n00b.

The two newcomers get along fine it seems, and stick near each other. My orig. ram is on the opposite side of the tank, just hanging out in one spot. However, sometimes my ram and the dominant gold will pick at each other's sides/fins/or "kiss"

I dont wany any harm to come to any of them, but I will get rid of the newcomers in favor of my dear ram.

Do you guys have any input?
I plan on adding some tetras (cardinal or rummy) later, but i didnt want to add too many fish at once.

[btw, i have done a search and have read quite a few of the existing threads on rams]

I will post some pics in a bit...I've got to take them first

Thanks so much!!

Disclaimer: I'm sorry about the pale colors, I just couldnt seem to get any decent pics. Practice and a new camera might help.


Here are all three, my orig ram in is the middle


My ram to the left, new gold(?) to the right


Mine to the right, new gold to the left, about to kiss attack


Shot with flash, to help show the differentition of colors, but it really didnt turn out. They look so different in person.


thanks for looking, and your help

Being the overprotective guardian that I am, I put the more agressive of the new rams into a quarantine tank overnight, and he is still there.

For the most part, the other new (gold?) ram and my orig German (i think) ram get along, but the gold still pecks at the German a bit, shoeing him off, so to speak.

I keep reading that having a pair of males is a bad combo, so I think I will either take the newcomers back to the LFS, or find another tank for them to go into.

On a side note:
My other 20g is a fresh water planted tank, with 5 white clouds and 6 (very very shy and skittish) amano shrimp.

I was wondering if it would be safe to put my fairly tame German into the planted tank without causing my shrimp to utterly freak out, or get killed. OR, I could move my shrimp into the cichlid tank with just the German, and put the 2 golds into the Planted tank.

Any thoughts?

thank you for your help, I really need it

hmmm, thanks for the info guys. ill do some research about Bolivians, but i trust your opinions.

As for my tank, it is in fact a 20 gallon. i previously had a 10, but upgraded to a 20.

anyway, an update:
I got rid of the two rams, and picked up 2 cardinal tetras (well 3, but one was DOA), and 2 bamboo shrimp. nice and mellow, just the way i like it.

thanks for your help guys!