Ram Care Comparison

rainbowcharmer

rainbowcharmer

AC Members
Jul 30, 2007
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East Coast, USA
I *think* I'm going to go with Bolivian rams in my 75 gal setup, but I want to get some opinions on those who have had them and how their care compares to other types of rams - Blue rams, etc.

Are they harder? Easier? Less finicky? The same?

In all reality, I like the blue rams better as far as appearance goes, but someone suggested the Bolivian as a good addition to my tank, so that is what I am currently planning on.

But I'd like to get some input on them prior to making the addition. They will be last or second to last added to the tank (Severum is the one they'll be added either right before or right after).

Next week I'm adding either the tetras or cories (depends on what the LFS gets in), and then if all is well with water params, the following week will be the remaining school of fish. So I have a couple weeks to make my choice, but just want to be sure that I pick the right fish for my setup.

Also - I was aiming for 3 fish (2 female, 1 male) but i am not sure if it will be possible to sex the fish right off the bat - depends on how young they are when the LFS gets them in. Is this the right quantity? Should I have more or less and then return some to the LFS if a pair is established? Or is there room for two pairs? The tank is well planted, though not fully grown in yet, and there are two caves on opposite sides of the tank, as well as large quartz rocks and such.

Thanks for any help. :)

I want to go about this the right way and I'm hoping to do so with minimal stress and ideally no fish loss.
 
I think you'd be money ahead to order some off AquaBid or one of the vendors here. They're pretty expensive at an LFS plus they end up exposed to all the other fish. My Angel and Discus picked at my (Blue) Rams, I can't imagine putting either of my Sevs with them. They'd get hammered. I doubt the Bolivian Rams are all that much tougher. Has anyone kept them with Sevs before? Maybe both my Severums are just extra mean?
 
I've never had the two together either. I've had severums in the past (all very peaceful), but never rams. Originally I was thinking apistos, but then someone here suggested rams.

And my LFS orders special for me and their tanks are not filtered together like many LFS, so they are not exposed to other fish. And their prices are better than any I have encountered yet. Plus no shipping charges.

But if someone here can offer better, I'd definitely consider it.

I'm worried now about the rams though. I'm just not sure if they are going to work at all?? When I questioned my stock list, nobody balked at it, but maybe nobody with experience with them looked at it??
 
The Bolivian rams are more suited for a community tank. Which seems to be what you have set up. Bolovian rams aren't as finiky as blue rams are. Blue rams are pretty demanding on water parameters, and the Bolovian rams are a bit less picky.

Do you have the rams with the severum right now? I know nothing about mixing the two, but I do know that mixing angels and rams is a no no. How ever, severums seem to be less agressive than angels and more on the placid side.

Now on sexing. Rams are usually harder to sex as juveniles, but it can still be done. Males usually have the first few spikes on their dorsal fin elongated, while females do not. Males dorsal fin also extends past the base of the tail. Try to look for two fish that stay in the corner of a tank in the LFS when you go shopping. This is a good sign that they are paired up.

Any other questions, just ask!
 
I have had sevs and bolivian rams and angels with bolivian rams without a problem. Bolivians are much hardier and more forgiving than GBR. Keep in mind that they like their water a bit cooler than the GBR do as well (78F). In actuality they have beautiful colors, especially when spawning. I personally own 4 Bolivian Rams now and if you have the tank size, I would recommend getting at least 4. They do ok in smaller numbers or even by themselves, but you don't get all of their personality with fewer. They are quite funny to watch in groups. The average floor space needed for each ram's territory is about 12 square inches. They usually pair up and they choose their own mate, but occasionally you get a gigilo as my male is. He has a harem of 3 lovely ladies and spawns with each of them. I end up having ram eggs in my tank almost weekly. I have yet to get the eggs to hatch and am trying different natural ways to get my water softer so that my spawns are viable. Hope this helps some.
 
Thanks! That info helps a lot. I'll stick with the bolivians at this point.

I do not have any together yet. Right now the only inhabitants in the tank are mollies (and snails). I have 7 adults (lost one female this morning - she gave birth and then gave up the ghost), and I have a few fry still swimming (many have become dinner, but a few smart ones are in the plants). I am planning to add either cories or tetras next week. So far the water is perfect - Ammonia 0, Nitrites 0, Nitrates < 10. No spikes since adding the fish (I did a fishless cycle with liquid ammonia for about 2 months prior to adding any fish). After the next group settles in and as long as there are no spikes in ammonia/nitrites, I will add the 3rd group (either tetras or cories, whichever I didn't add the week prior), and then I need to decide between severum or bolivian rams.

Any suggestions on which should be introduced first? Are the rams more likely to establish territory and harrass the severum, or vice versa?

Also, I can return fish to this LFS to re-sell, so should I introduce a group of 6 or so rams and see if any pair up? I will see if I can find an already bonded pair at the LFS, but because of the fact that they'll just have arrived and may not even be in the tank yet (depends on what time they deliver and what time I pick up), they may not be in any shape to show pairings. I'll have to see. Normally I pick up the day of the delivery. The fish are guaranteed for 2 weeks, so if any illness shows up, I can return without an issue.

If any fry results from the rams, I'll be trading them back to the LFS for store credit, but I'm not really counting on that. I'd like to have them spawn, but that isn't my main goal.

Anyhow - suggestions on whether the sev should be first or rams (and how many assuming I cannot find a bonded pair) should be first would be great.

Thanks!
 
I will input here I have 2 female sevs at full size and I would never even think of putting anything under 5" in with them. When they want to lay eggs all heck breaks loose in the tank the plastic plants aren't even safe. Only thing not bothered by them are the Assassins, Nerites, and the Plecos.
 
How about you add them at the same time? I don't see the difference between adding athe reams first, or adding the severum first. I think it would be a personal opinion on which one you add first.
 
The LFS insists on one type of fish at a time when adding to one tank. I get good deals on them, so I'll play along with their one species at a time rule. If it doesn't much matter, then I'll let them pick whichever they want first.

I am still curious on quantity for the rams though. I'd like to get at least one pair, but since I doubt I'll be able to pick out a bonded pair at the LFS, how many should I introduce temporarily until I can be sure I have a pair? And should I keep more than one pair, or an extra female in the event that my male wants a harem? I was aiming for 3 fish - 2 female/1 male, but is that ideal?

Thanks!
 
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