Ram cichlids
- Thread starter esoxlucius
- Start date
Neons would be great fish to have were it not for their inherently poor health. I say this as a former owner of neons who greatly enjoyed them until a certain disease got them all and they had to be replacd with cardinals.
I've been closely monitoring the behaviour of my three male rams since I got them. They seem to have their own little territory and if one passes the "boundary", then a little chase will ensue. And then all is calm again. Other than that they remain still in there own little territory doing pretty much nothing.
I suspect this mundane behaviour will carry on once they are out of quarantine and in their hex tank, so I'm thinking one of two things now to liven it up a bit.....
1. Adding some dithers, something that can tolerate the 80 degrees or so temperature, which will maybe bring them out a little more?....or...
2. Doing what
Niki_up
suggested and keeping the nicest male and get a female to go with him? Would a pair be "lively", or would a pair need dithers too. And then that begs the question, would the male forever be chasing the dithers down, given that he's got something to fight for and protect, especially when the female lay's her eggs?
I suspect this mundane behaviour will carry on once they are out of quarantine and in their hex tank, so I'm thinking one of two things now to liven it up a bit.....
1. Adding some dithers, something that can tolerate the 80 degrees or so temperature, which will maybe bring them out a little more?....or...
2. Doing what
Niki_up
suggested and keeping the nicest male and get a female to go with him? Would a pair be "lively", or would a pair need dithers too. And then that begs the question, would the male forever be chasing the dithers down, given that he's got something to fight for and protect, especially when the female lay's her eggs?
Adding surface dwelling dithers, would be my solution, something like a shoal of Hatchetfish species would be geographically correct, and because they live remain near the surface where tropical waters are generally warmest, higher temps wouldn't;t be a problem.
Here in Panama, surface water temps in the in-shore areas, can be in the 90sF
And their surface proclivity normally keeps them relatively far out of the way of the Rams substrate hugging area, even if they spawn.
Here in Panama, surface water temps in the in-shore areas, can be in the 90sF
And their surface proclivity normally keeps them relatively far out of the way of the Rams substrate hugging area, even if they spawn.
If you like having the multiple males I would wait until they settle into the new tank before making any decisions. Mine were added at the same time as the neons. 5 males and 30 neons. All of the rams were extremely shy at first but within 2 weeks they were all out and about. All swim to the front of the tank when they see me expecting to be fed. While they do spend some time cruising in the plants the majority of the time they are all free swimming.
I think if you bored with them now you will be just as bored with them as a male and female pair. Yes they will have different personalities than all males together but nothing near a puffer personality.I've been closely monitoring the behaviour of my three male rams since I got them. They seem to have their own little territory and if one passes the "boundary", then a little chase will ensue. And then all is calm again. Other than that they remain still in there own little territory doing pretty much nothing.
I suspect this mundane behaviour will carry on once they are out of quarantine and in their hex tank, so I'm thinking one of two things now to liven it up a bit.....
1. Adding some dithers, something that can tolerate the 80 degrees or so temperature, which will maybe bring them out a little more?....or...
2. Doing what
based on what you have said, maybe rehome all Rams and go for a betta.
+1 to the fighting fish. Right up there with the likes of puffers, and if you're not into classic B. splendens there are many wild types too.
I love the look of them, they really are little gems. It's way too early to tell what they're going to be like once in the hex tank. Once comfortable they may move around and graze and do fishy stuff, and I'll be happy with that.
My LFS does have a lot of Bettas on offer too, so maybe an option if things don't work out with the rams.
They do go about their fishy business but they are not the most personable fish. I do like watching their breeding behaviour.
Bettas are way more personable, they make an interesting tank occupant
