Rams
- Thread starter red_wall
- Start date
That looks pretty close, if not the same thing to what they have at the store.
Any other variants?
The only difference I can tell, is that the one's in the store are a lot less colorful. Their spots are there, but, the overall color is a bit darker. Could be from lighting, or just rough handling.
Another question
How well do the rams feed?
I read that they're finicky eaters at first.
Any tips?
Mine ate right away. If they are hesitant try frozen bloodworms at first. They will eat them. The fish will color up for you once they adjust their new home.
Mine get along just fine with my angels.
Mine get along just fine with my angels.
Yes, they'd fit in perfectly.
They will be fine. If anything the rams will be aggressive to the angels and not the other way around. Ever see a ram go after a 5.5" discus? I see it all the time in my tanks when they are guarding eggs.
Actually it's Microgeophagus ramirezi. The germans tried to change it to a "k" when reclassifying the species though the proper name is spelled with a "c".
Not necessarily. Most of the rams out there are of the Asian bred and hormone ridden variety. They are more difficult to keep alive since they are subjected to hormone treatments for faster coloring and growth. This makes them short lived, and generally they are less colorful as well. Some of them may never color up at all.
Compare the ones in the store to the ones below.
If they don't have colors like that or at least half as much I wouldn't get them. Those are two of my male breeders I used to have.
There are Colombian rams (Microgeophagus ramireze) and Bolivian rams (Microgeophagus altispinosa). The Bolivians aren't as colorful as the Colombian rams and they grow about 1/2-3/4" longer than the Colombians. Easy way to tell them apart if you have never seen either one before is to look at the eyes. Colombian rams have red eyes and Bolivians have yellow eyes. This alone will help you distinguish the species.
As far as variants there are wild Colombians, German Blue Rams/GBR's (which is a common term for this species as a whole), long-finned GBR's, Asian bred blue rams, balloon rams, gold rams, long finned gold rams, etc.
My advice is to take pics of the ones in the store and post them on here. I can tell you if they are Asian or not. If they are you won't want to get them since they will most likely die within 6 months of you bringing them home. The hormones take a toll on them.
Well mine came from a pet store and they are as colorful and long lived as you could ask for. A stressed fish at a store is going to color up in a safe and proper tank.
Would it be possible to keep both Bolivian and German blue rams together?
I Just picked up a 55, and want to consolidate my 29 and 30 into this tank. I have yet to purchase the rams, but my plans for the two tanks were to have one pair of german blue, and one pair of bolivian.
Mike
I Just picked up a 55, and want to consolidate my 29 and 30 into this tank. I have yet to purchase the rams, but my plans for the two tanks were to have one pair of german blue, and one pair of bolivian.
Mike
That's because yours aren't the Asian bred variety. Yours were most likely bred locally and sold to the LFS.
In a 55g tank you could keep up to 4 pairs of GBR's. I've successfully kept that many but wouldn't recommend more than 2 pairs to be honest. Bolivians and GBR's will require the same amount of space and I'd suggest that you stick with a pair of each or two of one species. One of the pairs will occupy one half of the tank and the other pair will occupy the other half.
I'll be setting that 55 up after all
I looked today at the specifications on them and they have "German blue rams" and "Gold Rams" for $8.95 each.
Next friday I think I'm gonna pick some up, I'll take some pics before I buy them too.
Next friday I think I'm gonna pick some up, I'll take some pics before I buy them too.
