Need Quick Help With Bolivian Rams

[FishHobbyist1564]

I'm not sure what gender my rams are... Ram 1 usually tries to stay by itself, which I don't know why. Ram 1 looks like a male. Ram 2 is bulkier (fatter) and likes to follow Ram 1 around, but Ram 1 likes to stay alone.

ok here is Ram #1:

Ram 1


And here is Ram #2:

Ram 2


Tell me what you think each of them are in terms of gender.

But this question is still unanswered....

for some reason they will pick at each other. I dont know if it is a "mean" pick because they are always swimming together, and the one that looks like a female is the one who does most of the picking. They dont pick at each others' fins, they just pick at each others' bodies.

Should this be happening between different genders, or should this only happen with two males?

 

[england]

hi there and welcome to the oh so wonderful world of evil cichlids..
they are such great fish but as iam finding out my jags turning evil<8-9inches at mo>
ok back to yours...yes looking at the pics<sorry bit blurry>but iam going to say 1looks male<the long elongated fins with great colouyr> 2looks female<fins tapered qucikly of and no flowage>....

ok cichlids do not always take to the mates you choose for them suppose like arranged weddings.......the best idea is to get about 6.....nd watch them to see who pairs off....classic pairing is moving away from the others,,flaring at each other,,,,lip locking<test of strength>head to tail quivering....digging of pits in the grave/sand....cleaning of rocks together.........then you could rehome the rest again or if tanks big enough should be able to keep them.....cichlids fight thats in the nature.........

 

[FishHobbyist1564]

thanks you so much...

so im assuming I have a male and a female, so if I only keep these two in this tank, do you think they will eventually pair up since there is no one else to pair up with?

 

[Fishalicious]

Unfortunately it doesn't work that way with Bolivians ... they are notoriously hard to sex and seeing males can also be quite 'mild' to each other there is no real way of finding out... the best way to keep Bolivians is if room permits it is to purchase 5 ... see if 2 pair up... if so you can take the rest back to the LFS or sell them on. That is the only real way to be sure you have a pair...

Even if you are lucky to have a male & female they do noy always pair up...they can be quite picky...

Sometimes it is possible to spot a couple by watching the tank for as long as possible at the LFS (done it myself for more then 30 minutes) til you spot definate love birds