Life span of german ram cichlids, and female to male ratio?

[cohazard]

Is it really as short as 2 to 3 years?

What is the secret to keeping them healthy? A few people over at MFK said they had no luck with them.

Also, what is a good ratio for male to female?

I have two males and two females I think. I have balloon rams, and it's a bit difficult to tell, I know two of them are for sure male because of the dorsal fin.

 

[jpappy789]

I think balloon rams will have inherently shorter life spans than regular blue rams because of their "deformities"...but I may be wrong. I actually was not aware that they only lived that long! I sure hope not...but for ratios, you should remove one of the males. When keeping multiple rams its best to have multiple females per one male...as for keeping them healthy, key is good water quality as usual. Feed a varied diet and give them some nooks and crannies.

 

[cohazard]

I had a feeling they might stress each other. I'll move one to my nephews 10g.

I'm going to add another piece of driftwood to 'complicate' the scape a bit.

 

[cohazard]

Thank you jpappy for the help

 

[jpappy789]

No problem. I am interested to see if more experienced ram keepers have something to add on the life span question...

 

[jm1212]

make sure they are not outcompeted for food.

it is usually best to keep them in a pair, but there won't be a problem if you have multiple females in the tank.

 

[jpappy789]

Pairs work well, but rams are harem breeders and so a male will breed with multiple females if given the chance. There is also the chance that a lone female will get stressed out to death by an over-anxious male ready to breed (which happened to me...). One thing I forgot to add is that if two do pair off for breeding make sure there is room for the lone female to retreat to without getting terrorized.

 

[cohazard]

Hmm, I read that they formed monogamous pairs. Sounds like I will have to stare at the tank at the LFS a long while trying to pick out a couple more females. :rofl:

 

[jpappy789]

Hmm, I read that they formed monogamous pairs. Sounds like I will have to stare at the tank at the LFS a long while trying to pick out a couple more females. :rofl:

You know that's what I first heard but I was corrected here by someone who told me that they are harem breeders...I have not witnessed breeding as I am still without any females () so I am not sure. I may be confused though...

 

[jpappy789]

I just read a few sources that say that males will leave a paired female for the next one willing to breed so they are not considered to be truly monogamous...but most say they form monogamous pairs. Hmmmm...somebody else? LOL