Blue Ram Pair

[cor2008]

Hi,

I have 110l(29 us gallon i think) that has been running for about 4 months. It was fishless cycled and has 4 peppered corys in it for the last 2 months or so. I also have 6 glowlight tetra in a 60l quarantine tank and am hoping to put them in the 110l this week. Now i am hoping to get a pair of blue rams and quarantine them for 2 or 3 weeks. Both tanks are at 24c(75.2f) as i read that peppered corys prefer cooler temp (though this is a good compromise). Is this temperature ok for blue rams as i have read a good few different ranges on the internet from as low as 22c to as high as 26c??

Also i have read that they prefer a mature tank - my quarantine tank is fully cycled with media from my other tank but has only been running for about 3 weeks.

Any advice would be great as I think 2 rams would finish off my tank nicely (if that would be the max stock that 110litres can take)

Oh and the ph is between 6 & 7 (i am finding it hard to decide the actual colour with the nutrafin test kit)

Thanks

 

[Pleccy]

Instead of the blue rams I would go with a standard pair of Bolivian rams, as these tend to be hardier. Rams also prefer slightly warmer temperatures and a mature tank.

 

[cor2008]

Hi Pleccy,

Thanks for your reply. Yea i read that bolivian rams are harder alright but my lfs only ever has blue rams. So many different websites state so many different temperatures for rams. I dont want to upset my corys by changing the temp so maybe i might have to forget the ram idea.

Any other center piece fish if i cant find bolivian rams (or is 24c within their range?)

Thanks again

 

[Pleccy]

While rams do prefer warmer temperatures they should be fine at 24 degrees. Other alternatives are Keyhole cichlids and Pelivachromis taeniatus, both species are peaceful and are hardier than rams.

 

[snowflake311]

I see lots of Balloon rams in shops around me. I bought a male. They are the same color of the German blue but with a round body. They are domestically bred not found in the wild. They are hardy fish because they have only been bred in aquariums so they are not picky about water ph and that.

Balloon rams are little fire crackers if you get a dominate one. They are peaceful yet BOSSY. Mine thinks the whole lower part of the tank is his and if he sees my Keyholes get too low he swims out of no where and makes them move up. He is such a jerk. he never does physical harm just a bully. BUT the rams never bother with the other fish like the Rasboras, female bettas or plecos. In fact the only fish my ram respects is my clown pleco. Also rams tend to be really shy. Well mine is When I walk by he hides as if I am going to abuse him. My Keyholes come swimming to me when they see my face oh I love those fish.

The Rams are pretty but the keyholes have the personality and cute faces. I think they are more peaceful then the rams. I just love my keyholes.