Thinking About Switching To Gbr From An Angel.

[jennesque]

Hey, I'm a new member, but a frequent visitor to the forum. I'd just never joined because I didn't have a question I couldn't find the answer to yet.

Here's my question:

I've got a tank that's a few months old.. I started it from decorations and substrate that were from an established tank, so I have a very small cycle when first moving to the bigger tank, and for the last 3-4 months the water parameters have been stable (0 ammonia/nitrite and low nitrates). I've currently got a 28 gallon planted tank with 9 harlequin rasboras and 5 false julii corys in it. I also have a 'rescued' angelfish who is still a juvenile, but it at least the size of a 50 cent piece. I know a single angelfish is not ideal, and my tank is a bit on the small size for it, and also my angel occasionally takes up a game of chasing my rasboras around. I don't think it's nipping at them, but definitely harassing them.

So I was curious if I could possibly rehome the angel, and switch to a pair of blue rams. I've got the correct ph and the tank has been up for several months with stable conditions. I don't exactly remember my ph, I can check it if needed, but I know it's around 6.5 and my water is somewhat or possibly very soft water.. The tank is heavily planted in the back with an open area in the front for swimming. Sand substrate, sponge filter.. heated, currently at 78 degrees.

My only concerns: I've read some places that rams and corys may not get along. Is this something that'll only sprout up during breeding if the pair decides to, or should it be evident after putting the rams in the tank. I don't have a spare tank big enough for the angel, so would it be ok to put the rams in the tank with the angelfish for a day or two and see if the rams have any issues with my corys? All of my fish are young and not at full size, and the tank isn't currently overstocked.. If the rams don't get along with the corys, I'd return them and continue to be hopeful that my angel will not harm the rasboras.

Second, I'm not sure if this is a good idea as far as the rams temperature requirements. I currently keep the tank at 78, but with rams it's suggested to have it no lower than 80 degrees. The highest recommended temp I've seen for the corys is 78-79, and some websites say something similar for the rasboras, although other websites say they can tolerate up to 82 degrees.

I want to say the temperature at the fish store they had the rams in was 78 as well, so should I be setting my tank to like 79 degrees as a compromise for the GBR and corys? Or are they really inhibited by less than 80, and are corys inhibited by anything higher than 78?

 

[KkAaNnEe]

Welcome, sort of lol

Rams and cories are fine together, never had a problem. Rams are good between temps of 28C-32Calthough ive also heard lower temps mentioned with no ill effects, not quite sure i would recommend lower than 27/28c though, but you'll be fine. Im not sure specifically with julii cories temps wise, i know that sterbais are good at higher temps

I reckon your 29 will be too small for your angel long tern, but you would have no problem keeping all these species togeher for now

Edit: meant Celsius

 

[KittyKat]

I used to keep blue rams with three lined Corys without any problems, I have also not had any problems mixing them with other Corys and plecos. Some people do believe that blue rams will only flourish at 30 C, but I have kept them at 25 C and at 30 C, with both sets of fish doing well in the long term (wild and German bred). Also, I have read a number of accounts where collectors and hobbyists have found rams at around 25 C in the wild. I recommend that you do some research and make up your own mind about the matter.

At any rate, a 28 gallon is a good size for a pair.

 

[dtaylor21184]

I have gbr and sterbai corys together if anything I find they get on really well the gbr will happily team up with the shoal of corys from time to time. My pair of gbr are really placid except around breeding time when they get a little bit highly strung and snappy trying to protect the eggs. Very committed to protecting their eggs though. I think they are gorgeous fish.

 

[jennesque]

Oh thank you, these are all good things to hear. I love my angel, but I'm scared it's harassing is only going to get worse. I took the angel in from a friend because adding it to his tank didn't go over well at all and the fish got attacked. It's all healed up now, but I don't want it picking on my fish! I also know my tank is pretty much the bare minimum for the angel, and I'm sure it'd be happier with some fellow angels, but I obviously don't have room for that.

I'd originally been considering GBRs, but was given the angel so I changed around my stocking to suit the angelfish. I'm glad to hear my corys should be fine with the GBR pair, because they're so cute I really don't want to get rid of them too. And just to clarify, I don't want to keep the angel in there long term at all, I know that's definitely be cramped (although on ##150###.com it says it's possible - but I'm not going to try it.).

Should I keep the tank at 78 then? or 79? Haha, does the 1 degree matter too much?

 

[KkAaNnEe]

80 would be good and it will also benefit your angel

 

[BigbruiserAl]

I have, Rasbora's GBR, Sterbai and congo's in my tank and the GBR are by far the worst fish i have ever got. In a 350L they cause trouble all day, there are twice the amount of hidey holes in the tank then there are fish and the huge bits of wood and plants break up line of sight but oh no they go out of their way to upset the rest of the tank.
I did keep them at 29c but i lost a rasbora so the tank sits at 26c now and every one seems ok temp wise

 

[jennesque]

So, I picked up two GBRs, I'm thinking one's female and one's male.. They had four and three had pink bellies and one did not, I got the one without pink on the belly, and one with pink. Both have black on the pelvic fins though, but I've read that's not a sure fire way to tell if it's a female or not. The male's stomach also isn't quite as rounded. I'm not really trying to breed, unless they want to, but I heard a female and male would get along better than two females or two males. I've also heard it's better to have one male and two females - is that just for breeding purposes or should I go back and get a third? Is my tank big enough for three?

All the fish are getting along fine at this point.. No one's been nipping at anyone, although the angel's still eying the rasboras from time to time. I figured I'd keep them all together at least until the 7 day guarantee is up on the rams. If they don't make it, I'll take them back and keep the angel. If they do make it, I'll get rid of the angel.

The rams are even eating from the top of the tank already, which is great because I heard they sometimes lose their appetite when they first are put in a new tank, so hopefully I don't have to deal with that.

 

[jennesque]

Here's a picture of what I believe to be a male.. maybe..

and here's a blurry pic of the two swimming together, which they're doing an awful lot of. I'm glad that whatever gender they are, they seem to be getting along swimmingly!

 

[KittyKat]

Both male and female rams should have a black stripe down the ventrals/pelvic fins. Yes, one is male and the other is female, at that size, you can sex them by the pointiness of the dorsal. Were the two keeping together at the shop?

Hmm, I don't know where you heard the rumours that they won't eat well, but the only reason they wouldn't eat would be if they were unhappy with the water quality. This is not the common thing to happen, but the exception when people who can't provide the right environment for them get the fish.

Having two females and one male will normally result in an abused female because rams are pair fish, not harem fish. Two will pair up and abuse the third. Also two females are fine without a male, and two males should be fine in a tank that size (without females), but that depends on individual fish.

Your tank is not big enough for three, maybe it might be big enough for four, but they'd be picking on each other most of the time. It's better to stick to the pair, now that they're in.