Firemouths and Rams

[NinjaSmurf]

I keep reading about Rams and Firemouths but my computer is on the fritz so it's very hard for me to find anything about them. I saw a ram in the lfs but it was small and there wasn't a tag on the tank saying how big they get or anything and I have no idea what firemouths even look like. I'm at a complete loss as to anything about them. I have a thirty gallon with a pictus, two corys and a couple of guppies and I was wondering if I could fit either kind in the tank and if I could would I have to take any of the current residents out? Do they eat other fish, or will my pictus eat them when it's bigger? (it's only three inches)

 

[juanveldez]

the guppies would have to go if you had the fire mouths. they can be agressive during breeding but most of their agressivness is spent at flaring and not actually attacking other fish, but as with most cichlids this is on a fish to fish basis, some will only flare while others will attack. as for size your looking at anywhere from 6-8 inches. as for the pictus I don't think that it would have to be removed or the cories for that matter but later in life the guppies would definatly be dinner.

 

[impur]

Here you go!!!

Cichlasoma meeki
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Other names:...........none
Origin:......................Guatemala, Yucatan
Max size:..................6"
PH:............-..............6.6-7.2
Temperature:...........70-76 F.
Min tank size:..........35 gallons
Food:.........................live foods, flakes, pellets, beef heart, worms

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The Firemouth is a deep-bodied, latterally-compressed Central American cichlid. A gold-edged black spot is present on the gill cover, and a black patch occurs on the flank below the dorsal fin. The male's throat is a brighter red, which intensifies at breeding or in times of aggression.

Firemouth individuals vary in temperament from pugnacious to peaceful. This fish may be guilty of occasional digging, but is generally well-behaved for a cichlid. Territorial, the species pairs and burrows but usually will not damage plants except for when it's spawning.

The Firemouth likes a tank with a bottom of fine sand and hiding places among rocks and bogwood. Plants should be potted to cover the rooted area and an open swimming area is important, so don't clutter the tank too much more than needed. Not recommended for a commumity tank unless it is kept with fishes of similar size and temperament. As an aggressive stance, the fish will threaten others by inflating a throat sac and extending their gill covers.

It is pretty easy to sex this fish. The male is more brightly colored than the female, and has pointier anal and dorsal fins than the female.

It can be difficult to pair compatible breeders, but once established, they are good parents. The female spawns on carefully cleaned rocks, dropping around 100 to 500 eggs. The fry are protected in pits and the parents may raise several broods in a year.


Common name: Ram cichlid
Scientific name: Microgeophagus ramirezi

Synonyms: Butterfly cichlid, Papiliochromis ramirezi

Size: Up to 3" (7.5cm), but often smaller.

Origin: S. America: Columbia, Venezuela

Tank setup: Planted tank, with good water quality.

Compatibility: A very peaceful cichlid, which may be bullied by aggressive tankmates. They may however, show some aggression when spawning.

Temperature: 22-26oC (72-79oF)

Water chemistry: Fairly soft, pH around neutral to slightly acidic.

Feeding Omnivorous: live, frozen and flake foods

Sexing: Males are generally larger and have an elongated ray at the front of the dorsal fin. Females are smaller with a more rounded body shape, and have a pinkish area on the stomach

Breeding: Eggs are layed in hollows or on flat rocks. Both parents will guard the eggs and fry.


HTH

 

[AmberC]

I *think* you would be ok with a ram in that setup. I've never seen rams and guppies together, but rams go well with tetras, so I wouldn't see them not doing well with guppies. German blue rams get about 3" and are territorial with eachother, but they are a peaceful community fish.

 

[NinjaSmurf]

So far they both sound pretty good, but will any of them eat my cory's? Their not very big. And can rams and firemouths be in the same tank? I'm worried about the size of the rams, if the pitcus gets to six inches do you think it would eat a three inch ram?

 

[AmberC]

Well then you should be worried about your guppies too. Rams are bigger than guppies. No I dont think you cat fish will eat a ram. Firemouths I dont think would go well in your tank tho. The rams would careless about your cories, but if you want to breed rams, your cories will eat the rams eggs.

 

[NinjaSmurf]

Okay, thinking about getting rams, but the only ones around here are the blue ones, but they don't look that blue at the store. The lady said you need a good sized tank for them to really show their colors. Is mine big enough? And if rams need dither fish to feel comfortable will my guppies work? I don't think anything small would be able to live in the tank without the pictus eating it, and once he gets bigger the guppies will be eaten, so will that freak out the ram? Also, how many rams could I put in it? Also thinking about a red tailed shark, but I'm not sure if that would go good with the rams.