FishProfiles.com Message Forums

Yes, cories are a good choice. Why that site says cories are bad is beyond me. Also, take into consideration that that site contradicts itself withen two consecutive paragraphs:

"The following link gives a list of freshwater fish that can be found with BlueRams in the Orinoco, as well as others. This should help you in choosing fish for a biotope tank though..."

He/she states that you should keep that are naturally found together (which is good for many reasons, but not always a MUST). However, he then says:

"Experiences (my tanks are usually species-specific) will vary, but in general, Rams have worked ... with Angelfish, Discus, various Tetras ..., dwarf gouramis (small labyrinth fish in general), pencil fish, hatchet fish, and other top dwellers like African Butterflies."

Gouramis and butterflies? Hello, not even from SA. While this may seem like nit picking, it is just something I found odd while reading just one section in his article. I belive this becomes a question of credibility. Something you should always watch for.

The internet can be a bad place. For example, I can go and make a webpage saying that Rams are types of tetras that are super mean, grow to 12 inches, and eat monkeys...

hope this helps

In higher temperatures, I have trilineatus, julii, panda, and aeneus. I think I've had others in the past, but don't remember.

I've not had wild rams myself, but I know a breeder who breeds rams and other dwarf cichlids and he usually keeps wild fish. The first thing he does when he gets the fish is to treat them for internal worms as wild fish are usually infested with them. He's very experienced and knows what he's doing, so if I ever decide to go for wild fish, I would certainly do that.

Last edited by untitled at 18-Aug-2005 01:08

Ideally, both are supposed to be kept from 73-78 F, but fish are adaptable-81 F is perfectly fine for either species.

Actually a few cory's I have had didn't mind warmer temps. I had panda cory's in an 80 degree tank and I had false julii cory's in an 81 degree tank (used to house angels til I moved em to my 40...and the severum liked the warmer water)

Those are just 2 so far that I think wouldn't mind the warmer waters

What type(s) of corys Racso? Some do well in higher temps, others don't.

-P

I have Rams in with Red Phantoms and Corys, and the water is 82*. both corys and tetras are doing great. Corys are active, happy, healthy. Tetras the same too, and a nice bright shade of red.

Thanks a lot for pointing out the temp requirement of these Rams. I didn't realize they need such high temps. The corydoras species I want won't like the high temp. I think I'll go with Bolivian Rams instead; it seems like they'll do better in normal (~25C) temp.

Cheers.

-P

One additional note: the Great and Powerful Herbert Axelrod himself wrote an account once of finding a single stream once in (I believe) southern Venezuela that contained very intensely colored wild Rams, Cardinal Tetras, Marbled Hatchetfish -- and Red Phantom Tetras! This suggests that the latter, at least, may be a bit more adaptable to high temperatures than we've been led to believe, but I'd still be cautious about using them as companion fish without further confirmation.

Of your proposed companion fish, the one I would definitely NOT recommend is Flame Tetras. The latter prefer temperatures a bit lower than your average tropical fish (about 22 deg C). Rams, on the other hand -- since they come from high-temperature pools out on the open grasslands -- prefer temperatures a bit warmer than the average tropical (about 29 deg C), and very easily come down with bacterial infections at temperatures below that. This would surely be especially true of wild-caught Rams.

For the same reason, I'd recommend against either Black or Red Phantoms and Neons as companion tetras for Rams (or for Discus, for the same reason). Most other tetras, pencilfish and Corydoras, however, could probably adapt well to the warmer temperatures preferred by Rams.

Apologies if this has been discussed before, but has anyone had experience keeping wildcaught Venezuelan (blue) rams? A vendor/importer I'm dealing with has them in stock and he told me that they are much hardier than captive-bred rams. They're certainly very colorful from the pics he sent me. I've never kept cichlids before, so I want to make sure my first experience won't end in despair.

BTW, if all goes well I'm planning to keep a pair of these rams in my new planted 23g. Any suggestions on non-bottom-dwelling companions for rams? I'm thinking of pencilfish (not sure how many?) and/or ember tetras or flame tetras.

Thanks much.

-P

Don't believe it. German rams generally don't pay Corydoras any attention at all unless the rams are breeding. In that case they will try to drive off all fish that intrude into their territory, not just cories. Cory catfish almost always get along just fine with rams.

---

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

Thank you for the additional info.

I just read on http://hjem.get2net.dk/Best_of_the_Web/blue%20rams.html that corydoras are not good tankmates for Blue Rams. Is this true in your experience? I'm definitely putting corys in the tank.

Thanks.

-P

I don't get why people say wild fish are hardier. Wild fish pretty much have to have specific water conditions. Outside of natural conditions, they tend to perish.

Yeah, withen their specific water, they are fine, and in that case, may be hardier. However, when I look at hardy, I look at how well it will survive if it were put in different situations.

For example, danios are great beginner fish because they tend to be very hardy. They can survive in pH of 6.5, 7, 7.5 just fine, never had issues with general hardness nitrates, etc. etc.

However, wild fish tend to need water parameters VERY similar to wild conditions, and need clean water in terms of filtration and water changes.

Also, wild fish are not as colorful as captive bred usually are. However, that is up to you on what you like best (me for example, I like wild heckel discus more than most other captive/selective bred).

Last edited by Racso at 13-Aug-2005 22:39

Wild caught Rams are supposed to be hardier and extremely brighter in color than captive bred Rams (like that hasn't been said before). But wild caugt seem to always be more difficult to keep unless you have close to their natural water parameters. They are a fish though, that when given the choice between wild caught and captive bred, go with the wild caught. You may have a little harder tioem starting out with them, but they are 10 times better when you finally have them successfully through the first 2 weeks or so

Tetras are always a good dither fish for rams as they are from the same area. Cardinal Tetras, Glowlight Tetras, and Rummynose Tetras would all make good tank mates for them.

Good luck

I have never had good luck with wild caught rams; they actually fare worse in our store tanks (even in perfect water quality), though they are indeed beautiful; one of my pairs consisted of a wild caught female and a male from petco.

Thank you for that. I know the importer has quarantined the wild rams himself, but I had forgotten to ask about his water parameters (he's in a different city).

I'm still debating whether I should take the plunge with these wild rams, or start with Bolivian rams. He's also got nice looking apistos...hmm...decisions, decisions.

-P

Pencilfish and cardinal tetras are good selections as tankmates. Be sure to test the water that the fish are coming from and your tank water to compare the water values. If the values differ substantially then slowly acclimate the fish.

Be aware that wild fish have a greater likelihood of parasites. Use a quarantine tank for the rams.

__________
"To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research."
researched from Steven Wright

well with most wild fishes, they will be hardy, but it is best to give them exact water conditions that they came from. b/c if tehy are infact from the wild they wont be use to water and environments of a community tank.

update: if this is your first time, i wouldn't go straight into wild fishes, start with captive bred rams, that are easier to adjust to your water conditions.

Last edited by bettachris at 12-Aug-2005 12:39