Trade Bolivians For Gbrs?

[Man of fish]

I can't resist the urge of GBR. They're just so pretty!!
Should I get them vs the bolivians? I keep my water at about 79.5ish.

 

[Man of fish]

Any thoughts? Sundays my last day to return the bolivians. Mine don't seem healthy (always vlack and white with only a hint of yellow also being tewated for whitespot (they came from petsmart with it) ) but the GBRs though smaller seemed really healthy. Beautiful colors, swimming around, she gave me a feeding demonstration of both and the GBRs readily attacked the food, while the bolivians nibbled then let it fall to the ground. That's what mine do.

 

[Dieses Madchen]

if you have cories i would advise against it. check the temps on the fish you have to see if they are compatible

 

[Man of fish]

No cories for this tank.
I checked and all fish look pretty compatible I think I'll switch them this weekend!

 

[SouthernCross]

I've got rams in with my cories and they don't bother them at all...

 

[Dieses Madchen]

I've got rams in with my cories and they don't bother them at all...

It's not a matter of them bothering them. Coreies prefer cooler temperature while GBR's prefer warmer

 

[mattlee]

the GBR as stated will require acidic and high temp water to thrive, this is why many people keep them with discus.

personally i would stick with the bolivians as it will be easier to stock around them compared to the GBR.

young bolivians will need time to mature and get the colouration, juvi cichlids always look bland so dont worry they will get better as they settle and grow. also if they have whitespot and are still being treated then its not a good idea to move the fish again increasing stress levels on them. unless the ich has completely gone you will be transfering it back to the lfs too..... and if you add more fish to the tank and the ich hasnt gone 100% they will get it and the treatment will have to begin again.... adding a GBR or any other fish into a possible ich ridden tank isnt a good idea. wait a few weeks to be sure its completely safe again would be my advice.

here is a semi adult bolivian which in my eyes is very hard to beat

 

[Man of fish]

As these are tank bred specimen I read that they'll do well in water from 78-85 and a ph of 5.0-7.0. My temp is 79 and my ph is 6.7 which means everything I want to stock is compatible. I think I still want to try GBRs.

 

[snowflake311]

As these are tank bred specimen I read that they'll do well in water from 78-85 and a ph of 5.0-7.0. My temp is 79 and my ph is 6.7 which means everything I want to stock is compatible. I think I still want to try GBRs.

You are right most gbr are tank raised and will do fine in a wider range of water as long as the water is clean.

personally Iove my bolivians ram and would. Ever trade him in. I have had him 3 years now. They areots of fun very active full of spunk. One of the best fish I have ever had.

I think your tank is fine for them if you must trade them in. But looks are not everything.

 

[onidrase]

I'd take bolivians over blues any day of the week for countless reasons. I got my pair from petsmart healthy as ever. The petsmart I work at runs the tanks through 12 UV sterilizers which are replaced regularly, disease is only on newcomers and is quickly eradicated. I'd check your own acclimatization methods before blaming the shops for disease. Ime Bolivians have always been lazy eaters, but that doesn't make them unhealthy.

Also keep in mind that returning the fish back to the store isn't as easy on the store and fish as it is on you. It effects the stores sale, pet loss, the pet care associates hours or payment can be cut, and the fish gets soaked in a quarantine tank with genuinely sick fish to possibly get a nasty disease itself. All of that just cause you don't like the looks of bolivians more than blues? Nobody should suffer through all this cause you changed your mind on a fish. If its genuinely sick and isn't going to make it, take it back. But thats the only time you should take it back. You wouldn't take a husky to a shelter because you decided you wanted a malamute instead, would you?

here is a picture of my very small, very young, and already beautiful ram. He was shy at first, but is now very active and personable. He's still a lazy eater, but there is nothing wrong with that. He still eats, but he doesn't splash around eating more air than food like a tiger barb.

 

[Man of fish]

Another reason I want to exchange them is I think I have 2 males as they're showing a lot of aggression so I'd need to return 1 of the 2 anyways.

 

[ZoddyZod]

showing a lot of aggression to each other? Any actual damage or just a bit of chasing and lip locking?

Here's my advert for keeping the Bolivians (I've got 6)

 

[Dieses Madchen]

Ive seen my bolivians lip lock once.....it was kind of funny. They get a long mostly though...even though they are both males.

 

[mattlee]

If you do return them turn please don't do it within the next couple of weeks if they have whitespot. Wait until its completely cleared and you are sure you won't spread it into the lfs tanks. Be responsible.....

 

[onidrase]

I think I got two males as well, there's occasional lip locking and flaring, but no real damage. Theres a difference between regular cichlid aggression and one tattered and broken behind the filter.