Bolivian Ram Question

[snoopy65]

I have asked in the regular cichlid forum about my 65 gal hex and gotten great feedback on what I want to do with it. I have also gone to the Angelfish forum to ask about the Angels I am planning on adding to this tank. The opinions I received is that what I want to do will work.

Stock List:

2 - Angelfish
2 - Bolivian Rams
5 - Cory Cat
5 - Hatchets
2 - Bristlenose

My question is: How many Rams do I need to get to ultimately have a pair? I have read how you sex them, and frankly am not too sure of my ability. My LFS does not pay / trade for returned fish and there isnt another LFS within 40 miles. So I figure I will get more and end up selling or sharing the extra fish with another fish lover once I have 2 pair off. But on average how many do I need to get for that to happen?

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[darth pike]

How much floor space is there in your hex? Most hex's don't have a lot, so you might not need the cories with the rams down there.

Don't feel bad, bolivians are an absolute pain to sex when they are young, and even as adults they can be difficult. Typically, you would get 6. But I have had good luck getting 4, generally the two largest as well as the two smallest in the tank. Usually (though certainly not always) that will get you 2 males and 2 females, which could then pair as they like.

Bristlenoses create an immense amount of waste. Recently I've switched over to those bulldog/dognose plecos. Much smaller, much less waste, have not seen an increase in algae at all. They won me over in a few short months, and I've kept bristlenoses for years.

 

[rabendr2]

Most people say six fish to ensure you have a male/female pair. However, if you select carefully with what you think are male and females you can probably get away with four.

My question to you concerns why you would want 2 bristlenose? One should be enough along with the cories. They are also poop machines and though they eat lots of algae all of that exits in waste.

I think if you take the time to watch them in the store, you can usually find some surefire male and females in a tank of juvie rams (or at least this is true of the german variety). The easies way has something to do with the dorsal fin shape, but I can't remember exactly, though, sexing tips are all over the internet.

 

[snoopy65]

The hex is 26" accross in any direction.

 

[snoopy65]

I figured bristlenose because they dont get too large like the regular pleco, but I think I may check into the dognose. Also, I have never had cories, so I was unaware how efficient they are.