40G - German Blue Ram Tankmates

[Callileo]

Hiya, new to this forum as getting back into tropical aquariums after several years out of the hobby. Looking for a little advice, sorry if this is the wrong section of the forum to ask!

I’m currently in the process of cycling a new 40G (145L) planted aquarium and would like the focal fish of the tank to be a pair of German Blue Rams (although I understand this may need to be reduced to a single individual if they don’t get along!)

Do you guys have any suggestions for tankmates, I was looking at stocking the remaining space with small schooling fish and maybe a group of 4-ish Oto’s.
Originally I was looking at maybe 5-6 Cherry barbs and 5-6 danios (zebra or Celestial) but it looks like the danios won’t suite the temperature range of the rams. I was thinking of keeping the aquarium at 79F/26C, is this okay for rams as I know it’s slightly cooler than the 80F that’s recommended

I guess my main question is, what are some good schooling fish that go with German rams? I know they have a peaceful reputation for community tanks but should I have any concern with keeping smaller fish alongside rams? Will Oto’s be okay alongside rams?

Here’s what I’m picturing in my head:

145L Planted Aquarium
Fine Gravel Substrate
Stock:

2 German Blue Rams (1/1)
4 Oto Catfish
5/6 Schooling Fish
5/6 Schooling Fish

Would this be okay stocking-wise? My mind was going towards cherry barbs and a danio species but I was wondering if more experienced keepers had better suggestions for schooling fish that would better suite a temp of around 79 degrees!

Thank You ?

 

[Guyb93]

If I was going dwarf cichlids I know I couldn’t stop with European blue rams I’d have to get cockatoos as well because cichlids are too cool , schooling fish I would be looking for a mid sized tetra smaller than a Colombian but bigger than a neon lol

 

[Fish4dawin]

Cardinal tetras is an obvious choice. Along with maybe pentozona/five banded barbs.

 

[Callileo]

If I was going dwarf cichlids I know I couldn’t stop with European blue rams I’d have to get cockatoos as well because cichlids are too cool , schooling fish I would be looking for a mid sized tetra smaller than a Colombian but bigger than a neon lol

Would two pairs of dwarf cichlid get along in a 40 gallon? I’d be concerned about having enough space for both pairs without stressing them out too much!

Would a fish neon-sized be at risk of predation to rams in your opinion?

 

[Callileo]

Cardinal tetras is an obvious choice. Along with maybe pentozona/five banded barbs.

I’m considering cardinals, would their small size be an issue with rams?
I’ll take a look at the barbs too thank you, at first glance they look like an ideal fit in terms of temp!

 

[Fish4dawin]

I’m considering cardinals, would their small size be an issue with rams?
I’ll take a look at the barbs too thank you, at first glance they look like an ideal fit in terms of temp!

Cardinals get to 4-5cm so won't be eaten. Same with the barbs.

 

[Guyb93]

Would two pairs of dwarf cichlid get along in a 40 gallon? I’d be concerned about having enough space for both pairs without stressing them out too much!

Would a fish neon-sized be at risk of predation to rams in your opinion?

Is it a 40g long or tall I’d think you would have room for 4 dwarfs as long as there is plenty of wood ect to hide

 

[Callileo]

Is it a 40g long or tall I’d think you would have room for 4 dwarfs as long as there is plenty of wood ect to hide

It’s a 40 tall so the footprint is a bit smaller, hence why I’d be nervous to put both in together. There’s a decent amount of driftwood and rocks but even so, I’d probably have to try and make more caves etc.

Think I’ll start off with the smaller fish and see how I feel after a few weeks. Still not 100% on which schooling fish I want yet and open to more suggestions! Cardinal tetras seem like a colourful choice for one of the species, still trying to decide whether I’d like to keep this as a South American-only tank or whether barbs are the way to go!

 

[Wills]

Few things on this sounds like an exciting project but Blue Rams are super hard to keep and I think you have be really dedicated to them in order to make it work so if you are unsure of other tank mates and have other interests maybe an other dwarf would be better suited?

For Blue Rams you want a ph of 6.5 and soft water. The temperature is pretty non negotiable they will likely become sickly or not make their expected lifespan (approx 5 years but there are some older out there). It would be worth researching Discus tankmates as they have very similar requirements - a few I can think of are Rummy Nose, Lemons, Cardinals and Sterbai Cories.

If you dont want to be restricted by the temperature requirements but want a dwarf cichlid what about something like Apistogramma Panduro? Steel blue males with red stripe on the dorsal fins and black and yellow bumble bee females Nice cool looking fish but you just need the softer water and a ph less than 7.

Wills

 

[Callileo]

Few things on this sounds like an exciting project but Blue Rams are super hard to keep and I think you have be really dedicated to them in order to make it work so if you are unsure of other tank mates and have other interests maybe an other dwarf would be better suited?

For Blue Rams you want a ph of 6.5 and soft water. The temperature is pretty non negotiable they will likely become sickly or not make their expected lifespan (approx 5 years but there are some older out there). It would be worth researching Discus tankmates as they have very similar requirements - a few I can think of are Rummy Nose, Lemons, Cardinals and Sterbai Cories.

If you dont want to be restricted by the temperature requirements but want a dwarf cichlid what about something like Apistogramma Panduro? Steel blue males with red stripe on the dorsal fins and black and yellow bumble bee females Nice cool looking fish but you just need the softer water and a ph less than 7.

Wills

Definitely have the parameters for Rams but Apisto’s seem like a simpler species so am up for considering those guys instead.
Rummy Nose are another one I’ve looked at quite a bit!

Think I’m gonna take the rest of my cycling period to work out the schooling species I’d like best as they’re gonna be the first step. Am I right in thinking some apisto species are happy at slightly lower temperatures. If so danios could be a good match?

Thanks for all the help!

 

[Wills]

Apistos are more typical tropical temperatures but a bit higher than I would like danios at. Danios are 21/23 fish, Apistos are 24/26. I like your idea of keeping it as a biotope (always a bit of a purist) so it would be good to find some species from South America you like. Lemon Tetras are a really under rated species, I supose the species of school would depend on the dwarf cichlid you chose though. Lemons might be a bit big for Panduro but would look good with Cacatuoides for example.

Wills

 

[Fish4dawin]

Apistos are more typical tropical temperatures but a bit higher than I would like danios at. Danios are 21/23 fish, Apistos are 24/26. I like your idea of keeping it as a biotope (always a bit of a purist) so it would be good to find some species from South America you like. Lemon Tetras are a really under rated species, I supose the species of school would depend on the dwarf cichlid you chose though. Lemons might be a bit big for Panduro but would look good with Cacatuoides for example.

Wills

I have lemon tetras in my 33 and they are doing really well. Rummynose tetras would also be a very good fish to go with.

 

[JMort]

I absolutely love GBR’s. I have a 90 gallon long established planted tank that has never even had ick. I seldom lose a fish. However, I have blown through over $300 in GBR’s. I bought from internet, ordering direct and local fish stores and nothing has lived past 2 months and usually much less. I ended up buying Bolivian Rams in which all 8 are doing great. Not one loss. I just recently tried GBRs again about a month ago and so far, they are still playful and perfectly healthy. PH is 6.3 and nitrates are at 15. I believe nitrates over 20 was the death sentence in the past. A planted tank with plenty of rock caves is also filtered by a Fluval 406; Fluval 407 and 2 hang on back double bio wheels filters. The water flow is controlled so there are fairly calm spots in the tank. I also do a minimum of three 10-20 pct water changes per week and I change media in one filter just about every weekend. Doing this has dropped the nitrates below 25. I have talked to several people about rams and just one of them has been able to successfully keep them. I took his advice and tried again. So far so good but a month is not a victory. My point is, make sure you have an over-filtered well seasoned tank. As for schooling fish, the Harliquin Rasboras are perfect. I added 15 before the first attempt of rams and all are still alive today. The Bolivians and the GBRs are good together but they do have their own caves. I will follow this thread to see how you make out as well as for other successful ram owners advice. Best of luck. Rams are the toughest fish by far I ever attempted to keep.

 

[clambert122]

I just put two GBR's in my tank yesterday, and today 1 of them has ick this afternoon. Stress induced I'm sure.. I'm pretty distraught, as this is a very large tank, and treating it is just going to be... painful. 150 gallons = removing and re-adding / treating 50 gallons a day. UHG.

 

[JMort]

I am sorry to hear that. Rams are a tough love. All the Rams in my tank that perished pretty much developed the same symptoms. Everything is perfect followed by a few days of rapid and heavy breathing then death. A few actually belly up’d as I watched. I tried antibiotics mixed with Focus and food, salt bath, parasite remedies....nothing turned the heavy breathing around. Once it started, 100pct of the time it ended with the loss of the ram. Hang in there, hopefully we can work our way to the 6 month window. One of the folks kind enough to give me advice told me to buy the youngest rams possible due to an easier adapting to acclimation. The rams I have now are the size of quarters. Can’t even sex them yet.
keep me posted on your survivor as well as any other rams you purchase. I may start a thread on this.