FishProfiles.com Message Forums

Blue rams...Bolivian rams... Kribs? ok heres the problem. i know i got a poll about kribs up but that is just a fraction of the dilema. i want a fish i can sit back and watch parent some fry. all 3 of these fish will do that. i have 7.6 PH with 10GH and 6KH and im told blue ram eggs wont hatch in such water. is this also true for bolivians? and what about kribs?

Also i think any of the 3 would be enough to keep egg eaters away. rams would be less agressive about the issue then kribs. Blue rams are more fragil then the other 2 and bolvians lack the colors but im not really after the color anyway. thier personaly makes up for the lack of color. the majority of my tank is south american and asian so i think african kribs might be lost in the mix. the other fish wouldnt be able to understand thier threats of agression. also krib fry wouldnt be easy to give away.

all of this aside i think blue rams would be my favorite cuz i could have a couple pairs. but that really doesnt mater if i cant get fry

here is my tank

75g tank / sand substrate/ lots of plants-wood
4 gold gouramis
15 neons
3 yoyos
12 cories
1 5 inch sailfin pleco
3 threadfin rainbows with plans of 6 total
future plans of 12-15 Harlequin Rasboras
future plans of 1 Angel ( common marlbed )

Any information you can include about any of these species would be great. i cant find out if Bolivian ram eggs would be able to hatch in my water so if anyone knows it would help alot. it could be the deciding factor for me.

I like Bolivians, they are pretty peaceful and hardy, and IME an all-around fun fish Just 1 pair would be great...their eggs may or may not hatch in the conditions you have, but they might because they do livein the wild with a pH as high as 7.4 and 7.6 isnt too far away form that. If you are looking for cave spawners however, they dont use caves at all...they prefer to breed on flat rocks. They are not the BEST at protecting there fry though. If you would want a big turn out you would ahve to move the fry and parents to a tank by themselves with no threat to the fry. But, you stated earlier you want to watch them escort the fry around the tank. If you did let them raise them with no real help in protection...you would not have a LOT of survivors

HTH

Last edited by Tetra Fan at 29-Jan-2005 13:07

I'm not voting as of yet, without saying this:

There are several things to consider. Kribs are much easier to breed than rams. However, from your experience kribs get VERY aggressive when breeding. My experience has suggested otherwise. Selecting blue rams would allow for you to get more of them. Blue rams also have brighter colors. Bolivian rams are larger and might be more noticable and not get "lost" in the tank. Also, if and when you get (an) angel(s), they will eat any fry that hatch.

It's really a matter of weighing out your options and deciding what risks you're willing to take.

HTH, eventhough I'm sure you're still just as torn, if not more :%)

><>Dani<><

much more reading ive found that bolivian eggs will hatch in 7.6ph 10gh. its looking more and more like the bolvians will pull ahead.

I absolutely love Bolivian Rams. I have 2 males, and the territorial behaviour they exhibit is fascinating and exciting to watch! Sometimes the little guys wins, sometimes the big guy. I was hoping for a m/f pair, but that doesnt always work out ya know. My males are gorgeous, and when angry at each other turn almost blue with horizontal striping, and their black masks and spots turn dark like midnight, and they red as vibrant as blood.
An interesting thing as well, my BR big male has a filament on his dorsal fin. I hear this is rare or unheard of. I keep trying to get a pic, but BR's never stand still long enough to get a pic of one not moving its fins.
I would highly recommend them to anyone, hardy, large enough to be visible, but small enough to be able to fit a few in a tank of 30g or more.
Also, I have found mine love the "Ambulia Forest Range" I have created in my tank, and are always swimming around in the forest and digging pits under the tall plants. They look beautiful swimming around in all that green.


Come Play Yahtzee With Me!
http://games.atari.com
Http://www.myleague.com/yahtgames

I would vote for the Blues, but you and I have had many a discussions about your water, and I know you don't want to have to play with your PH.

I feel the kribs might cause too much of a ruckus when they breed. So00oo Bolivians it is then.

I have at least 2 of every ram out there, and I must say the Bolivians are comical lil buggers at times.

The only thing I don't like about the Bolivians (mine anyhow) is how they refuse to leave the lower part of the tank. So extra attention is needed to make sure they get some food down there. The other rams have no problems with eating from the top of the tank.

*sigh*

That makes 4 different species of fish in this one tank that I have to take special care that they get something to eat. ]:| Each one with it's own eating habits.

They are lucky I love them all so much.

Last edited by Shannen at 29-Jan-2005 21:35

well...thanks for all the great help guys. all the input helped me to decide along wiht my own researching. thought i would include a pic of the 1st male addition.

Sin in Style attached this image:

hes a little dark right now due to being in a bag but just think how colorfull he is outside that bag

Looks like a red x fish to me, but I can't make out the species.

shannen i can see your bolivian ram just fine sin and i would get a pair..but i don't really have the space..

cfd

--------------------------
Billy was a scientist, Billy is no more. For what he thought was H20, was H2SO4

errr, now it is there...*kicks dialup*

I had to restart my PC.]:|

Nice ram Sin!

Like I said before just make sure he gets food.

I'm glad you picked bolivian rams...you won't be disappointed. Their coloration is better than you see in the LFS after they acclimate to the tank, when breeding their color is even better, and they do make great parents (although like most cichlids it takes several tries to learn how to parent well).

My whole family stares at the little swarm of fry surrounding my female bolivian ram these days. The eggs hatched about 4 days ago, and the mother is doing a great job. However, she isn't letting the male help guard the fry this time, so we're losing a few fry here and there to the other fish in the tank. But, that's OK because I don't need 100 baby bolivian rams!

Oh, my pH is in the 7.4ish range...

Eric

Last edited by Big E at 31-Jan-2005 06:31

ya in my researching i found that they will tolerate as high as 7.8ph or slightly higher and 14GH give or take so im well within the range of getting fry. now i just need to find a female. ill have to check a LFS i hate and see if they got any. thanks for all the compliments

btw as far as food goes this ram isnt shy at all hehhe. little timid with the gouramis...cant figure out the deal with the feelers yet lol but isnt shy about makeing a hole to get to food. he will swim 3/4 way up the hight of the tank which is cool.

Give him time...he'll get braver. Mine chase away the angelfish in the tank, and spend a lot of time begging for food up top - very much the brave little fellows.

Eric