Shy and Dull cichlid

[Fishareconfusing101]

I have a golden ram in a 20 gallon long with four checkerboard barbs and one guppy who is in there because he was going crazy in the 10 gallon he was left alone in. He is just crazy shy and I am looking for some ways to get him to socialize?

 

[Fishareconfusing101]

He does seem to be thinner than the rest but the barbs are also fatties they aren’t agressive tho even when I added the guppy in they were swimming along as a school in the first ten mins

 

[Naughts]

What are the water parameters and conditions?
Does the ram have any other signs or symptoms of disease? I can’t tell from your photos.

 

[GaryE]

It isn't a good set up for a ram. Could you put a background on the tank, so there is less of a look of the tank spreading out to the whole room? Even black paper, or something similar should give the ram more confidence to come out. Combined with plants, that would be even better.

Rams are delicate softwater fish that should be in warmth. I see what looked like it could be limestone in there, which isn't going to help water-wise. What's the local water hardness? And out of curiosity, where is New London?

 

[Death by Fish Tanks]

He is just crazy shy and I am looking for some ways to get him to socialize?

Rams and Apistos are pretty shy by nature, especially when kept by themselves. You're going to want to dim the lighting in the tank. Try surface plants.