Buying Rams

[NinjaSmurf]

I decided to get some blue rams for my thirty gallon, but wasn't sure how many I could put in there because of my pictus, corys and guppies. Is there anything special that they need, like hiding places or something? I read something about dither fish but not really sure what that is. Also, how do I sex them? I'd like to have at least a pair in the tank. Also, the woman at the fish store said that they won't get as blue as they are in a lot of pictures unless they're in pretty big tanks. Is this true, because the ones she had looked pretty bland yellowish color with very small flecks of blue. Of coure, they were little, so I don't know if that affects it.

 

[Cian McLiam]

When Rams are that small, it very hard to tell the gender, but you can usually se if they are good quality fish or not.

Unfortunately most of the rams available are mass bred in the far east and are pretty poor quality, most die within a few months. They also lose fins and carry parasites.

I dont buy small rams anymore, I look out for larger fish which you can sex and tell if they are of good quality. A few things to look out for are long fins that stand erect, strong defined colours, using both gills and gills are not swollen, scratching (watch the tank for about 6-7 mins before deciding whether to buy).

Male rams have a long first ray on their dorsal fin, like a spike, the second and third rays are also slightly extended (the females too, but not near as long), females have a purplish belly and are smaller and fatter.

If you are in Europe, look for Czech or German bred fish, if not ask whether the fish were bred in the far east, if they are, be prepared to lose some of them.

I would get one male and two females for a 30G

HTH

Ken

 

[ramesses]

I gotta say that I agreed with everything that Ken_g_w had to say except that three is a bad number for rams just like it's for discus.Blue rams are monogomous,meaning male-female bonding.The moment two pair up,they will go after the remaining female and kill it.This could be avoided only in a bigger tank.In which case you could add another male and have two pairs instead.
Another thing........Fancy guppies?I donno.....rams are cichlids therefore territorial,especially during spawning.Your guppies will feel their wrath.

 

[NinjaSmurf]

I can move the guppies, they're not a problem. So I can fit four in there without a problem? Someone said my corys would eat the ram eggs if they breed. My question is where do they lay there eggs in the first place? I know some cichlids like flowerpots, so if they use them I was thinking I could hang some in the tank above the sustrate so the cories couldn't get to them. And do rams need dither fish?

 

[ramesses]

In my personal opinion 30 gallons might not be enough space for two pairs.But,it could happen.
Just remember to create enough hidding places the rams might claim their own territory.
You also might get a few not too agressive(I personally doubt it)
Corys eating the eggs?not in my acuarium they won't.My rams are too aggresive to let a few corys eat their precious offsprings.