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I currently have a blacksirt tetra in a 20H tank with 2 German blue rams and one German gold ram. I think the blue ones may be males and the gold one may be a female but since I am new to this ram thing, I am not sure.

The tetra has been living in my tank for about 3 years now and I guess he knows all the feeding routines. At any rate, as soon as the hood comes up, he's ready to come to the top but my rams seem to be in their own world. I try to get their attention before I start feeding but that is such a process. (I've had them about three weeks or so).

At any rate, I am currently feeding the fish with BettaBits (feel free to recommend a food for the rams becasue I have no clue). The tetra will put four to five in his mouth before the rams even get one or notice that they are being fed. Sometimes one or two rams will get a bit but the tetra is happily eating the 4-5 bits that he had stored in his mouth.

I am concerned about the rams getting food, especially when I add more tetras....what do you suggest I feed them or do differently at feeding time?

Thanks in advance....daviine

Last edited by daviine at 11-Jun-2005 18:14

Last edited by daviine at 11-Jun-2005 18:15

Rams tend to hang out around the bottom of the tank, so perhaps you might consider getting some good quality tropical flakes and spreading a few on top for the tetra, and while he's busy with the flakes, drop in some slow sinking shrimp pellets or other tropical sinking food for the rams to get to.

Hoping that there must be a word for everything I mean...

I used to have your exact same problem, except with seven lemon tetras and not one black skirt. I spread the food all over the tank, and mixed in sinking and floating (flake) foods, to give the rams a chance at feeding. It worked fine for me; the tetras got their fill, and so did my other fish.

Though it will make it harder to feed the rams, I think you should add more black skirt tetras when you get the chance. They're schooling fish, and greatly benefit from company. At least six would be a good idea, and you do have more room in that tank for other fish (unless there are more not mentioned above).

---

And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

I don't want anymore blackskirt tetras...I've had them for over three years....he's the sole survivor. I plan on givng him to the pet shop but I guess I'm attached. I want to get more tetras but haven't decided which type I would like to get to go with the rams.


I will try your suggestions! Thanks for the advice!

Just mix some flakes with some sinking granules & they'll all have their share. If you want suggestions about stocking Tetra's with your Rams, i'll go with a school of Rummynose or Lemon Tetra's.


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