FishProfiles.com Message Forums

I have a bunch of ram questions.

-its rare for them to breed in aquaria, right?
-what kind of biotape do they need?
-what kind of substrate?
-do they need many hiding places?
-do they need well oxygenated water?

umm. idk about breeding.
it would be nice for hiding places. like a flower pot.
no idea on bio.
i would say any substrate would be good. like gravel.
i wouldn't say they need well oxygen water.



Last edited by bettachris at 15-Jul-2005 11:13

Ok, I hope I answer everything;

They will easily breed in an aquarium, preferably without any other species with them.

They prefer a slightly acidic pH, caves, and a few plants.

I use regular gravel for the substrate, they use it to dig under caves and often hide their wrigglers on it. One to two hiding places is recommended. The female needs a refuge after the spawning. Make sure you place a falt rock on the gravel as a spawning site.

Most fish need well oxygenated water. I run a power filter set on low, with a prefilter on the intake to keep fry safe. The parents will take care of their fry pretty well, but don't get frusterated if they lose or eat the fry the first 3-4 times. Also, they seem to spawn shortly after a water change. Most cichlids follow that rule. As a background, I had a pair that spawning every ten days, but the male would eat the eggs as they hatched, so I replaced him with another male and have had alot of success. Sometimes you just end up with habitual egg-eaters.

A quick answer to your questions:

-its rare for them to breed in aquaria, right?

Not really, for example look at [link=This Thread]http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/forums/Breeding%20Advice/61753.html?200507150231" style="COLOR: #ff6633[/link]

-what kind of biotape do they need?

I would suggest you take a look at the FP fish profile page to get an idea about there ph requirements etc.
Also, use Google to retrieve loads of info on the Ram

-what kind of substrate?

Gravel is fine, although they would like to have a spawning rock for their eggs

-do they need many hiding places?

One or two would be good for them, they will pick one at the end and create their territory around it. This could be a pot, or a densely planted area, etc.

-do they need well oxygenated water?

Not to my knowledge, a “normal” aquarium will do and no additional oxygenation is required beyond the given surface agitation.

Hope this helps,

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Im currently setting up a tank for a ram and I have been told by another ram owner that they enjoy sand more than gravel.

"A noble spirit embiggens the smallest man" Simpsons