Should i add another blue ram(blue ram help)

[BudsZA]

So I added fish to my tank(60L capacity)around 6 weeks ago now. It had been cycling for probably 2 months before then with some guppies to get the cycle going.

I added 6x harlequin rasbora, 1x GBR and 6x peppered corys(plus a guppy i couldnt catch)

My tank is quite heavily planted with vallisneria starting to spread rapidly and 2x amazon swords.

I have been feeding twice a day. Tetra prima granules with a bit of flake for the ram. I also feed bloodworms twice a week.

The ram has been perfectly happy for the first 5 weeks. Usually quite active and happy to see me.

The blue ram has recently gotten super skittish and hides most of the time. Every now and then i see it but darts back behind the driftwood if a make a movement. I can confirm that the ram is still eating as it comes out during feeding time to eat. I do weekly water changes of around 40% because I've read rams are very sensitive to water parameters.

I am wondering if adding another ram would help make it feel more comfortable and maybe have a shot of getting a pair going. I did an emergency water change today as it was very lethargic earlier and after doing so it seemed to get a lot more active.

Really need to invest in some water test strips to keep track of things. Any suggestions on a brand and where to buy online?

Appreciate any help.

I don't want to lose this ram!

 

[Rocky998]

In all honesty, I think you just need a lot more hiding spaces. If he is eating really well but just darts back to his little "spot", he could just be scared because he has no where to hide. Here is something weird I learned and I'll quote it word for word: "The more hiding spots equals more times you'll see your fish" its weird but its true... Example: if you had a tank with a few spots but not enough the fish in there may find whatever crevis they can and hide and you wont see them. But if you have plenty of spots, they will like to be out more knowing that they have a safe place to run or, erm swim to when they feel scared or threatened... But your gbr doesn't have a lot of spots and feels like he is in the open, so he stays there and only comes out to eat.

 

[otterblue]

Do you know the gender of your ram? I heard two males will fight. I think most people don't like the test strips and much prefer the API water test kit because it's much more precise. I'm no expert but I've read that water changes should be a smaller percentage for rams - 10-15% at a time.

 

[Rocky998]

Yes, definitely make sure you know the gender of your gbr like @otterblue said. If you get 2 males together, then you'll have 1 injured fish and 1 dead fish or 2 dead fish... So make sure you get a female one.

 

[FishHobby99]

So I added fish to my tank(60L capacity)around 6 weeks ago now. It had been cycling for probably 2 months before then with some guppies to get the cycle going.

I added 6x harlequin rasbora, 1x GBR and 6x peppered corys(plus a guppy i couldnt catch)

My tank is quite heavily planted with vallisneria starting to spread rapidly and 2x amazon swords.

I have been feeding twice a day. Tetra prima granules with a bit of flake for the ram. I also feed bloodworms twice a week.

The ram has been perfectly happy for the first 5 weeks. Usually quite active and happy to see me.

The blue ram has recently gotten super skittish and hides most of the time. Every now and then i see it but darts back behind the driftwood if a make a movement. I can confirm that the ram is still eating as it comes out during feeding time to eat. I do weekly water changes of around 40% because I've read rams are very sensitive to water parameters.

I am wondering if adding another ram would help make it feel more comfortable and maybe have a shot of getting a pair going. I did an emergency water change today as it was very lethargic earlier and after doing so it seemed to get a lot more active.

Really need to invest in some water test strips to keep track of things. Any suggestions on a brand and where to buy online?

Appreciate any help.

I don't want to lose this ram!

 

[FishHobby99]

Can‘t offer specific advice on the fish, but I use the API Freshwater Master Kit for ammonia, nitrate & nitrite. Has pH too, but I have a meter for that. think API makes test strips, but I‘ve never tied them.
May & compare them to the drops

 

[otterblue]

By the way, I literally just released my 2 new rams into my 55 gallon.

 

[FishHobby99]

By the way, I literally just released my 2 new rams into my 55 gallon.

Give him a little time to adapt

 

[Rocky998]

By the way, I literally just released my 2 new rams into my 55 gallon.

Awesome! They are opposite genders right?

 

[otterblue]

Awesome! They are opposite genders right?

I hope so. Neither me nor the LFS employee could tell for sure. I will return/rehome one if both are males.

 

[anewbie]

A couple of issues with your aquarium. If that is a german blue ram; you can have two males with no females and it should work out fine. However the ram should be in warm waters around 82-84f and the other fishes you have require cooler water 76 wuold be good for them so you have a bit of a conflict you need to resolve.

 

[Rocky998]

I hope so. Neither me nor the LFS employee could tell for sure. I will return/rehome one if both are males.

You can probably look up how to find their gender and then find out.

 

[anewbie]

while juvi they are very hard to sex; once they mature they are easy to sex.

 

[Rocky998]

A couple of issues with your aquarium. If that is a german blue ram; you can have two males with no females and it should work out fine. However the ram should be in warm waters around 82-84f and the other fishes you have require cooler water 76 wuold be good for them so you have a bit of a conflict you need to resolve.

I would say 2 males are fine if the tank was bigger... But even then, you dont want to put 2 males of the same species in the same tank (even if their docile)

 

[Rocky998]

while juvi they are very hard to sex; once they mature they are easy to sex.

True, but sometimes there are ways to know when their little (sometimes)