Choosing Cichlids....slowly but surely

[AngelThoughts]

I am starting to pick out some cichlids I'd be interested in housing...
A lot of people have recommended looking into rams for my first cichlids.
What is the difference between German and Bolivian Rams? Which ones do you prefer? I noticed (if I remember correctly) that the German seem to have a bigger variety of colors etc.
What else could I put with them?

 

[~*LuvMyKribs*~]

yes german blue rams tend to have more color.... irredescent blues and yellows. although, thats not all your looking for in a fish, right?

try searching up german blue rams and then bolivian rams on google's image search.

see which ones you like better. i have a bolivian ram, and his colors have really grown on me. he is a gorgeous fish...

most rams can be kept with community fish. what size tank is it you want to put them in? current inhabitants? they tend to bicker with other cichlids and therefore really shouldn't be kept with them. my angelfish and ram fight all the time.

i would suggest rams or kribensis as a 'beginner' cichlid. however kribs can be aggressive at times.



hth
-Diana

 

[AngelThoughts]

Thank you for the advice!!!
Well of course color is not all i'm worried about, just curious as to behavioral differences etc.
I have one post prior to this one... basically I have a 36g bowfront that isnt set up yet....willing to do extra work etc and am just trying to research possibilities as i know with that size i'm limited for cichlid choices...

 

[AngelThoughts]

Thank you for the advice!!!
Well of course color is not all i'm worried about, just curious as to behavioral differences etc.
I have one post prior to this one... basically I have a 36g bowfront that isnt set up yet....willing to do extra work etc and am just trying to research possibilities as i know with that size i'm limited for cichlid choices...

 

[Hound]

For the most part both the bolivian rams and german rams will act in a similar manor. I have heard that bolivian rams are easier to keep being a bit more hardy, but I'm not overly convinced of that. Both bolivian and german rams can be kept with most tetras, harlequin raspborra, ottos, and corys without too many problems. Just don't load up on a lot of bottom dwellers just in case you have a pair of rams that mate. Also both species of rams generally do fine with planted tanks.