Need help with some Rams...

[val]

I have two questions. I have a 55g cardinal and emperor tetra tank and I was thinking about a pair of rams because I'd been told that they will not eat the tetras. I had planned on keeping a pair of keyhold cichlids in the tank, but they each ate a cardinal within 40 seconds of my introducing them to the tank. So, I'm thinking rams. Will they be good for the tank?

Secondly, I'm getting confused as too the types of rams. My LFS only stocks one type, that they call the dwarf ram which they are calling Papiliochromis ramirezi. This is the only species I have in my fish books, but lately I've read about golden rams, blue rams, Bolivian rams, (and vaguely at the back of my mind, German rams (?)). How do I differentiate them at the LFS and which type is least likely to eat cardinals?

Most of my tanks are GF, so this is my one diverse tank. I also understand that one of the rams is supposed to me more delicate, and I would think I can handle that. My water is in the 7.1 pH range, 79.1 degrees, 0 nitrItes, 8 dH, the water is aged several months with peat and aeration, and I do weekly 15% water changes. I feed a variety of prepared foods and am about to start with live foods for my tetras and the two keyholes that I had to move into another tank.

So, would rams fit in this tank, and if so, which ones?

TIA

Val

 

[Z Man]

I answered your same question on another post that does not get much traffic any more so I will answer it again here. (The busiest of all forums!) Gold, Blue, German & German Blue Rams are all Microgeophagus ramirezi. Just different color forms from selective breeding. The larger and less delicate Bolivian Rams are Microgeophagus altispinosa. With your water qualities, the M. ramirezi would be fine.

 

[Faramir]

Incidently, none of them will eat cardinals, albeit only because cardinals are too big for Rams to eat.

 

[val]

Thanks Z Man...

Well, you no doubt saw that I'd just cut and pasted the entire question. Thanks. I did see your reply there, so I do appreciate your taking the time...

Val

 

[Dwarfnut]

I agree with Zman that either the Blues (including the gold Rams) or the Bolivian Rams would be fine. The Bolivians would love the conditions and be spawning in no time! Not sure about the Blues... they seem to need lower Ph or something the breed as I have not had any success yet. I have both Blue and Gold in one tank and 3 pairs of Bolivians in another tank. In the Bolivian tank, semms like on of the 3 pairs always has eggs or fry swimming around...

The main problem I've seen lately is getting some good stock of the Blue or Gold varieties. They are much more prone to some illnesses that seem to only effect Blue Rams, so that is key. The Bolivians seem to not be bothered by these same problems. See the other Ram posts for more details.

Best of luck
Bill C.