alright will try it tomorrow.. maybe will lightly soak the flakes and mix in a bit of the powder.. Thanks
Do Bolivian Rams eat??
- Thread starter maxthedog123
- Start date
Plecosterone
We don't need no stinking badges!
My rams never seem to eat much either. They seem to pick at bottom stuff more than anything else. Every few days I see them chasing sinking cichlid pellets but other than that I never see them eat and they are healthy.
These fish are generally foragers.
In my experience with Bolivian Rams this is just how they behave. If kept in a large enough group, or a comfortable enough environment they will stray nearer the top at feeding time, but most often you will witness them peck only at a few pellets, then scoot off somewhere. A lot of things affect their feeding habits.
What substrate do you have?
Bolivian Rams prefer a sand substrate - their name Mikrogeophagus translates to Small Earth Eater, they are sand sifters much like Geophagus and although they will happily live in a gravel based tank, sand brings out behaviour that is otherwise missed. This is relevant because they prefer to swim around the tank foraging around picking food from the sandy substrate and sifting it. It is very enjoyable to watch this natural behaviour in the tank.
What is your choice of feed?
I find that they didn't take too well to regular flakes, I prefer to feed them a small sinking pellet (NLS is my choice) as it is denser and higher in nutrition (assuming you use a good pellet) so less is more and I find it easier to keep them well fed with minimal wastage this way. Again this type of feed is well suited to them as it sinks straight to where they will be more relaxed and willing to eat.
They generally don't seem to eat as much as other fish of similar size, but that changes once they're into breeding routines, trust me.
Blairo.
In my experience with Bolivian Rams this is just how they behave. If kept in a large enough group, or a comfortable enough environment they will stray nearer the top at feeding time, but most often you will witness them peck only at a few pellets, then scoot off somewhere. A lot of things affect their feeding habits.
What substrate do you have?
Bolivian Rams prefer a sand substrate - their name Mikrogeophagus translates to Small Earth Eater, they are sand sifters much like Geophagus and although they will happily live in a gravel based tank, sand brings out behaviour that is otherwise missed. This is relevant because they prefer to swim around the tank foraging around picking food from the sandy substrate and sifting it. It is very enjoyable to watch this natural behaviour in the tank.
What is your choice of feed?
I find that they didn't take too well to regular flakes, I prefer to feed them a small sinking pellet (NLS is my choice) as it is denser and higher in nutrition (assuming you use a good pellet) so less is more and I find it easier to keep them well fed with minimal wastage this way. Again this type of feed is well suited to them as it sinks straight to where they will be more relaxed and willing to eat.
They generally don't seem to eat as much as other fish of similar size, but that changes once they're into breeding routines, trust me.
Blairo.
My German Blue Ram does the same .. he scares the other fish to get his piece of meat. Although my bolivian just waits for food to come into his mouth; eats the least in the tank - I always thought he was stressed since its always tannish black color.
I do have a gravel bottom. I've only had the rams 4 days, and I've given them 2 types of flake and frozen shrimp & bloodworms. They weren't too excited about flakes and pretty much just ate what sank to the bottom.
I haven't tried pellets since the rams have been in there, so I might try that again. I fed pellets a couple of times previously, thinking it would be good for the corys, but I got quite a few out during vacuuming during a water change. I'll try a mix of flakes for the rainbows and tetras and some pellets for the corys and rams.
Will they forage in gravel to find pellets?
Mine have trouble feeding from the surface since they are natuarally "bottom dwellers" and the danios are too quick but they go nuts over the sinking pellets I put in mainly for the cories...
both times i tried bolivian rams they did not eat at all and died due to internal parasites that did not respond to treatment.
Well after having a ram for about 2 weeks and it barely eating.. its finally giving up on life..and is slowly dying...
Guess next time when im at the store i will have to ask the employee to throw in some food and see if they go for it.. if not im staying away from that fish. 2nd female im having problems with.. What the - i just want to have a pair that spawns...
Guess next time when im at the store i will have to ask the employee to throw in some food and see if they go for it.. if not im staying away from that fish. 2nd female im having problems with.. What the - i just want to have a pair that spawns...
I put in some pellets this morning and they seemed pretty interested in those.
The one obvious male chases the one I wasn't sure about into a corner every time food hits the tank. Other times they seem like they hang out together.
The one obvious male chases the one I wasn't sure about into a corner every time food hits the tank. Other times they seem like they hang out together.
