To Ram or not to Ram....

[Redcom12]

Hi all,

Just trying to find out a little more about Rams cichlids. I have a very peaceful tank and I hoping to keep it that way… but the more I get into the hobby, the more cichlids are catching my attention. Currently this is my stock

Chocolate zebra pleco
Bumblebee golbys
Longfin zebra danios
Julidochromis marlieri
Siamese algae eaters
Stick catfish
Kuhli loaches
Hillstream loach
Amano shrimp
synodontis catfish
trumpet snails
ramshorn snails

So far so good with keeping the peace but is a Ram right for me and if not, what cichlids are?

 

[Redcom12]

Oh And it’s planted tanks. You can see a ¼ of the tank in my profile shot

 

[Piranha86]

If that's in a 55, you're already a *cough* bit *cough* overstocked as it is. Even in a big sufficient tank, I think your fish would mess with the rams.

 

[user_name]

I agree with pir, that really is overstocked IMO for a 55.

Now please repeat after me, bumblebee gobies deserve brackish water, and will die without it. :nono:

 

[Piranha86]

I agree with pir

:grinyes:That's a first.

 

[jpappy789]

I see some glaringly obvious problems with that tank already.

1) J. marlieri are the opposite of community fish. If you have a breeding pair they will terrorize that tank. My transcriptus, which are generally more peaceful, took half a 55 to themselves. Even a single will get way too unruly for a community tank.

2) hillstreams prefer cooler temps with lots of dissolved O2. They do best with high flow but sometimes can tolerate an average amount. Either way I do not think they would thrive in the temp range that rams thrive in (80-84ish).