Plant And Breeding Question

[Dave1]

My name is Dave, I'm an 20 years old from NY, I currently have a 29 gallon tank but I am planning to buy a 120 gallon tank in the near future, I am new to this forum and would like to say hello, I have had a 55 gallon fish tank in my house since I was born that I tended too and such, but my father and brother have taken over, so I have set up my own personal tank a little over 3 months ago and am gradually changing to a planted tank.

I am new to breeding fish, although I have successfully bred, Guppies (who hasn't), Gold Barbs, 'Wild Blue Tetras', and Blue diamond Tetras, but I was wondering if it was possible to cross breed German Blue Rams and Bolivian Rams. I like the color of both fish, and they are also very close in size and look nearly the same except for color scheme and I was just wondering if it was possible because where I live German Blue Rams are upwards of $25 a piece, and Bolivian Rams are $6-$8 each, and both are starting to get rarer in my location.

And the Scientific names for each are:

German Blue Ram Cichlid (Mikrogeophagus ramirezi)

Bolivian Ram (Mikrogeophagus altispinosus)


Also, which plants are the best to start with? I have Hornwort and Red Ludwigia, and a bunch of other fake plants which I am going to put in my 55 gallon tank, and I have what my LFS claimed to be Java Moss, but it looks nothing like that I have seen on the internet. It looks like a green cotton ball.

Thank you.

 

[ChiefGourami]

Not too sure but i once asked a similar question with two other types of ram. I was told that yes they can cross breed but the colours would not come out properly. Basically its better to line breed for more atractive fish. Might be worth a go though, see what happens.

 

[thegnu]

if you had both male and female of each species in the same tank then they wouldn't. if you tried "forcing" them to crossbreed by having only say a male ram and a female bolivian i still don't think they would, at least i hope they wouldn't. i think there is too much human meddling going on by hook or by crook and its not good

 

[Dave1]

i've had what i believe a Male German Ram and what i believe to be 2 female Bolivian Rams in the 55 gallon tank for probably 6-8 months but i took them out when the other fish in the tank got ICK and i didnt want these to die.

and what about the plants?

 

[thegnu]

a lot of people recommend java fern and/or anubias as first plants because they don't need much light. i think this is not good. they are so slow growing that they would be boring. the anubias attracts algae like a magnet and neither helps with water quality or oxygenation. i would suggest you check your waters pH and if its acidic (under pH7) get cabomba, if its alkaline (over pH7) get elodea densa. check for more plants on here. you are looking for plants that don't need much light, that like your waters temp and a wide pH. http/www.birstall.co.uk and here http/www.java-plants.com/index2.asp