Stocking With Rams

[TheRedDarren]

Hi all,
Soon (ish) I'll be finally getting myself a 180 ~ 220l tank, and I want a planted south american biotope type set-up, I'm wondering what I can keep with a pair of Rams, I'd like to go for a dither fish, maybe, defo some cories, and possibly something like a banjo or twig catfish. Being very flexible, what other interesting and compatible fish could I look into?
Thanks.
D.

 

[KittyKat]

That sounds like a good plan. I definitely recommend sand for Corys and rams, as both will dig. Both of those also do best in tanks which are under 24" tall because of the environment they come from, so if possible, I would recommend that you try to get a 4ft tank of that volume. In terms of stocking, the following would work for a 3ft:
* pair of blue rams
* 10 Corys of one species
* 15-25 tetras of one species

..and for a 4ft:
* 4-6 blue rams (50/50 male to female) (or pair of Bolivian rams)
* 15 Corys of one species
* 20-25 tetras of one species
* some sort of pleco-like catfish

The difference in stocking is because of the bottom area: larger bottom area means more territory and more plants, so more fish can be supported.

 

[TheRedDarren]

Hmm, thanks for that, sounds good to me. Would there be room for agassiz dwarf cichlid?

 

[Gvilleguy]

Which type of Ram?

 

[`Peter]

Look into some Bolivian Rams, good luck

 

[johnboy!]

Yeah i'd definatley say Bolivians over german blues, Bolivians look like a mini Geophagus more

 

[Gvilleguy]

I have two Bolivians and they are great fish - very hardy.

 

[johnboy!]

I have two Bolivians and they are great fish - very hardy.

I got 4 at the minute, looking to get a trio, already looks like they're a trio and a seperate male, which shall sadly be rehomed

 

[KittyKat]

Hmm, thanks for that, sounds good to me. Would there be room for agassiz dwarf cichlid?

I would say "no" because they use the same territory as rams do (note, I corrected my previous recommendation with specific species of rams). In a 4 ft tank, 2 blue rams and 1m 2f agasizii might work, but I have always found that it is better to let cichlids chose their own partners (unless one buys proven breeding pairs), so I recommend 6 of one species rather than 2 and 3 of different species.

I got 4 at the minute, looking to get a trio, already looks like they're a trio and a [separate] male, which shall sadly be rehomed

They are pair fish, so what you describe is highly unusual. It is more likely that you have a pair and two individuals or four individuals one of which is a dominant male. When kept in a pair + 1 configuration, the 1 will often be abused once the pair decide to spawn.

 

[TheRedDarren]

Yea will be bolivians, rather than germans, they're hardier right?
Hmm, shame about the aggassiz though, What about in a bigger tank?
I don't really fancy tetra's as dither, maybe guppys? or endlers?
Unless neons will spawn..?

 

[KittyKat]

Yea will be bolivians, rather than germans, they're hardier right?

There's nothing German about blue rams It's a bit more complicated than saying one is hardier than the other.. I think it is more accurate to say that one will do well in specific environments and the other will do well is a range of environments.

Hmm, shame about the aggassiz though, What about in a bigger tank?

If you go for Bolivian rams, then I would say a 4 ft (220 litre) is a must already.. but in that, it is possible to try 3m 3f very young fish (barely sexable) and they may work out well in the long term, or in the worst case. 1m 3f agasizii should work in that as well.

I don't really fancy tetra's as dither, maybe guppys? or endlers?

Guppies and endlers are not mid-water schoolers so don't act well as dithers, also both do best in hard water, while the cichlids do best in soft water. If you have a problem with tetras, consider rasboras instead.

Unless neons will spawn..?

They will if you provide the right conditions, but they won't reliably produce 50-100 young per month, per female fish like guppies do.

 

[ZoddyZod]

Unless neons will spawn..?

I believe thier eggs are very sensitive to UV light, so unless the tank is very dimly lit, with lots of plant cover, I doubt you'll have much success there. They are not an easy fish to breed.

 

[Gvilleguy]

I like KittyKats Rasboras suggestion. I have 2 Neons (old survivors of a shoal of six from last year) but supplemented them with 6 Glowlight tetras last month to bring them up to 8. I think the Rams like having the mid level fish. Planning to add a shoal of Rasboras in the next few days, too.