FishProfiles.com Message Forums

I recently saw what was labeled as a "Longfin Blue Ram" (M. ramirezi) at a small, independent LFS although it looked more like the photos of what I had seen as a Bolivian Ram (M. altispinosus). Either way, all the information on them indicates that they have similar size, habit and temperament. I was thinking of making a pair of these as the centerpiece of a new South American 40G tank that I have just started to assemble. Can anyone offer any tips as to their care? How would they interact with Tetras and Corys? How are they with live plantings?

Tank Specs: 40G 36" x 12.5" x 20", fine gravel floor
Emperor 280 Filter w/ Bio-Wheel, 200W Heater
Water: Local tap-water, ph 8.0, GH 25ppm (very soft!), KH 300ppm
I'm looking into the use of peat or blackwater extracts to bring the pH down to the mid 7's.

if this fish is really a blue ram, a ph of 8.0 is too high for them. for maximum health, they should be in water with a ph of 5.5 to 6.5. also, they need warm water, 77-84f. if this turns out to be a bolivian ram, it should be fine in your tank, as they are generally hardier than their cousins. also, both species are extremely peaceful and do fine with any community fish. for more info go to their profile on this website

Blue Rams and there Gold Counterparts are very delicate fish. I would suspect that the long finned ones are bred that way and may be slightly less tolerant but I dont know this for sure. I have a pair of Blue Rams and they interact very well with all my tetras cory and killifish. They love blood worms and will control snail populations to some extent I hear. As for being a centerpiece the only thing that I would say is that they tend to sit near the bottom to middle bottem but will come up for feeding. I have actually descided to do a tank with pairs of Blue Ramirez and Gold Ramirez and Bolivians because I like rams so much, and then possibly get some shell dwellers and some of the more rare and beautiful cory possibly pandas or something more rare.

Rams are awsome animals and have great personality when they are out and about. I suggest you go for it just make sure you look at the profile and get the parameters right. I suggest a DIY co2 injection to lower your ph and add some low light plants like java ferns, mosses and anubis and crypts they like the plants for cover and it will utilize the co2 that your adding to lower your ph so it dosnt drop to far.

YOU CAN DO IT!

can you describe to us what the rams looked like so we could tell you whether theyre bolivians or blues? if they are blues you really shouldnt get them

I dont know that he shouldn't a person new to the hobby with armed with proper knowledge can keep the fish. They are delicate but if he has an establish tank and plants it and uses co2 to lower the ph he will be fine.

MrWizard,
I agree with proper info the fish can be taken care of however, parasites are a major issue with Mikrogeophagus ramirezi (blue ram) and most people would probably be better off with Mikrogeophagus altispinosus (bolivian ram) which is much less demanding and can be kept at a nuetral ph.



"A noble spirit embiggens the smallest man" Simpsons

The fish I saw looks almost identical to the one shown in the profiles section under "Bolivian Ram." It/they (there were about 6 or 7 in the tank) were just a bit lighter shade of yellow on the body, a bit less pink on the fins and, of course, had slightly longer (hence the "longfin" tag)fins.

My second choice as a "center piece" fish would be a marbled angel fish although I have reservations as to how aggressive they might be with their smaller tankmates once they start to get a little size on them.

Comments/suggestions on the angelfish option welcomed...thanks!

the eyes are always a good indicator. if red, they were gold rams. if not, they were bolivians. also, were their bellies yellow or was it their whole body that was yellow, as bolivians have yellow/orange bellies while golds have gold bodies

Yeah I am forced to agree that they are e to the parasites, then again if he really wanted to take it on that is up to him. I am also forced to agree that the bolivians are a lot more hardy. So I will back down on voting he get them and let it up to him.

I think I'll just pass this time around on using any rams. They sound too sensitive to risk trying on my first outing with a larger tank.

How about Angelfish instead?

Well with Angels you have a whole new concern, if your tank isnt fully cycled angels tend to not make it. Also they require a taller tank, I think that your 20" tall tank will suffice. The only other concern that you would have is in adding them. They can be very territorial so if your going to add them its best to add them first and all at once, i.e. if you want two put in two together. This will avoid a bit of fighing.

go to the LFS and see if those "long-fin blue rams" are really bolivians. if so, get one. believe me you wont regret it if not, get an angel. the only downsides of angels are that theyre a bit territorial, they may eat your plants if not given enough vegetable in their diet, and theyll eat neons, rummynoses, and other small tetras. other good centerpieces to look into are keyhole cichlids, dwarf flag cichlids (laetacara curviceps), and the smiling acaras (laetacara dorsigerus).

If the tank was labled longfin blue rams then they are most likely the longfin version of a blue ram which is common at my lfs.

Bolivian rams are not sensitive and are great fish.

"A noble spirit embiggens the smallest man" Simpsons

I like anyone who likes rams. I think that rams are very rewarding if kept well, they are beautiful fish

________________________________________________
I like Led Zeppelin.

I've seen the rams he is talking about they have them at a fishstore in seattle, wa they grow fins exteshions as long as 6 inches but you have to keep them alone or other fish nip at there fins very badly sometime to death some places call them emporor rams

Here are my (Normal) blue rams

Male
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f34/NDferro/Blueram2.jpg

Female
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f34/NDferro/Blueram1.jpg

Oh and Bolivian Rams & Blue Rams Dont look alike at all i had a mated pair of Bolivians they killed half the fish in my 40 gallon they even killed my Firemouth that was twice there size