Apistos and rams

[bobblehead27]

I'm about to set up a planted tank with these being the main fish (along with some sort of school in fish and maybe a dwarf pike cichlid if I can find one) I'm not sure what apisto I am getting but definitely a breeding pair/harem. I'm thinking either cacatuoide or baenschi but really not sure.

ANYWHO I have been reading up on coean up crews. I was thinking otos and or cories. But then I read about how great the Malaysian Trumpet Snail supposedly is and was wondering if these would be picked off by the cichlids or would they stand a chance? i know normal cichlids would but I'm not sure if the dwarfs are big/aggressive enough

Any suggestions would be great. Even off topic of snails. I've never done dwarfs or community in general so I'll gladly accept advice

 

[Blue Bear]

I've kept Corys with Blue Rams. Corys wandered into ram territory occasionally and they chased them away. Nothing serious. In my experience they're safe together.

Snails I'm not sure, I avoid all snails at all costs. Lol

 

[ahud]

Blue rams are tough to keep with other fish due to the heat requirement. Ideally you want to keep them in the 83-86 range. Rams get a bad rap, I think temperature has a lot to do with it.

The snails are great. I have them in all of my tanks. They are great for keeping the substrate stirred (I use a 1/2" layer of PFS).

 

[bobblehead27]

Hmm really? I always heard of apisto a and Rams going together. Lame. Is the PFS any good for planted or would you suggest a "better" substrate (aka more expensive haha)

 

[ahud]

I'm sure people keep them together . I also hear of a lot of people having trouble with them. Where they are found, temperatures are extremely hot, so the fish have adapted to those conditions. I have about 19 right now that I am working with, they are an interesting fish when you cater to them. I would try my best to source quality stock, there are a lot of poor specimens in the hobby. My goal is to have a pair raise their fry. So far, one pairing made it to 2 day old free swimming.

I'm not much of a plant guy. From my limited experience, it would be according to what your goal was. If you want a few plants to fill in some space, I have had luck with amazon swords and crypts in sand with some root tabs stuck under them. If you want a "planted tank", I would go with a different substrate.