Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

How To Care For Rams??

Collapse
X
Collapse
 
  • Page of 2
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
Previous 1 2 template Next
  • #1

    How To Care For Rams??

    I am VERY interested in keeping Rams, they are SO beautiful!!  I've read website after website about how to care for them correctly, but almost all websites have different information and it's a little confusing!!  So I thought I would post here and ask all of you guys what has worked for you.  

    I have a 29G tank that I want to set up for them.  Would it be a good set up for a pair of Rams?  

    A lot of what I've read about them says that they need soft water with a low pH.  What water conditions do you keep your Rams in?  How do I get Houston tap water perfect for them?

    I've also read that they like their water to be in the low to mid 80's.  What Temp. do you keep your tank at?

    What's the best substrate & live plants for their set up?  What kind of lighting would I need to support those plants?  

    What are some compatible tank mates for them?  Remember they will be living in a 29G.

    What do you feed your Rams?

    Most importantly:  Where is the best place to get the Rams?  I want to make sure they are healthy!!  Does anyone here breed them?

    Sorry for all the questions, but I just want to make sure I have the right set up for these beautiful fish before I get them.  If you have anymore information that would be helpful, please share it!!   Thanks  
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Re: How To Care For Rams??

    scooby,
    i have 6 german blue rams that live in my planted 75. i have aquasoil substrate, i have many many plants in the tank very heavily planted, anywhere from java fern to swords, to lotus, java moss, christmas moss, and several pieces of driftwood that the moss is attached to....my water is 6.8 in ph and very soft from all the plants in it. i also have co2 in there for my plants too that i just recently added with no adverse reactions from any of my fishies....but the plants, the substrate is the key to lowering the ph to houston water....ours comes out of the faucet at 8.0....i did cycle this tank for 4 weeks before i put them in there too....i also have 6 bolivian rams too.....i feed them new life spectrum cichlid formula, and flakes, and as a treat they get frozen blood worms.....they love those....hehehehe.....don't let your reading scare you so much....your welcome to come by and see my tank anytime you'd like....just let me know cause i bowl on tuesday nights.....but again....don't let it worry you....just get that ph down with plants and substrate....and you'll have very healthy and happy fishies....oh you can get them at fishland on westheimer......or try to get mike to order some more....i got his last one...and he's doing great in there...

    fishlady.......

    oh and my tank temp is 76.5

    Comment

    • #3
      Re: How To Care For Rams??

      Fishlady - thank you for your reply!!  I would LOVE to come by sometime and see your tank, but it would have to be when I'm on that side of town.  I live almost in Pearland.  Maybe one of these weekends I can talk my husband into taking me back out to Mikes again and we could make a stop at your place.  Either way, I will PM you one day when it looks like we'll be out that way.  :)

      Comment

      • #4
        Re: How To Care For Rams??

        You can't get soft acid water out of a Houston Tap.   Mine is about a 200 hardness.
        If you don't want to take the time to treat the tap water, use rainwater, or RO water (check your local fish store)
        If you are planing on a large tank or lots of water changes, you should buy an RO system (less than $100 on ebay)
        Actually you need soft acid water for all of the rainforest fishes. So once you have the tank ready you have a large choice of compatable fish.
        'Dear Lord,' the minister began, with arms extended toward heaven and a rapturous look on his upturned face. 'Without you, we are but dust ...'
        He would have continued but at that moment my very obedient daughter who was listening leaned over to me and asked quite audibly in her shrill little four-year old girl voice, 'Mom, what is butt dust?'

        Comment

        • #5
          Re: How To Care For Rams??

          I love the rain water idea!!  Do I just put a container in my backyard to catch it when it rains?  Do I need to do anything to the rain water before putting it in my tank?

          Comment

          • #6
            Re: How To Care For Rams??

            I would try and make sure the rain water doesn't hit/touch anything before making it into the bucket. But realistically, it's a 29g.....go buy RO/DI it's but $0.35 a gal and use half RO/DI and half tap water when you do water changes.

            You could use ADA Aquasoil for plant substrate which will grow plants like no other and it could double for the fish since it will lower pH/Hardness to their liking. When I kept rams/apistos it was in Aquasoil.
            700g Mini-Monster tank

            Comment

            • #7
              Re: How To Care For Rams??

              so does that mean i can't get rams in my 30gallon because i have EC substrate and just tap water   :(
              65 gallon - ADA 120p - planted
              55 gallon - AGA standard - mix cichlid
              30 gallon tall - eclipse acrylic - semi-planted

              live and let live

              Comment

              • #8
                Re: How To Care For Rams??

                Of course you can.........acclimate them well and they should be fine. but if there is a choice then why not make it so that they are in conditions to their liking?
                700g Mini-Monster tank

                Comment

                • #9
                  Re: How To Care For Rams??

                  Unlike EK - I caught all the rainwater off a clean roof and into a large bucket..  it will take you FOREVER to collect a little bit of rainwater if you catch by just leaving the bucket outside.   Once you have had a rain transfer the water into a bucket and I then used a coffee filter and filtered the water thought it.  Today I would use a Spaghetti strainer with a layer of paper towl (this is to get out the big stuff)
                  You transfer all the water into another bucket where you have prime or AmQuel+.  Some people recommend to add some of the amazon black water minerals.   Then when you do your water changes do like EK said 50/50 rain plus Houston TAP, unless you really want it down low.  The lower the pH you want the more rain water you want to use.

                  What fish do Jesper have
                  180 WC T. Moorii Chilambo +1 Petro trewavasae.
                  110                   Cyps, WC Xeno Spilopterus Kipili WC/F1/F2 T. sp red Kiku
                  58 S. Decorus
                  "The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money." -Margaret Thatcher

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    Re: How To Care For Rams??

                    I would also recommend you have something in the tank to buffer the water since "playing" with the params could allow for it to spike right back up shocking the crap out of your fish and killing them.
                    700g Mini-Monster tank

                    Comment

                    • #11
                      Re: How To Care For Rams??

                      I placed a 55g drum under the downspout of the rain gutters of my house.
                      Living in Dickinson I was surrounded by chemical plants and I worried obout chemicals in the rainwater or on the roof but the only problem I had was all the oak leaves that washed into the barrel.  Not really a problem, just lowered the pH and added tannens.

                      One betta breeder I know uses the drain water from his Airconditioning  unit.  (distilled water by any other name)
                      'Dear Lord,' the minister began, with arms extended toward heaven and a rapturous look on his upturned face. 'Without you, we are but dust ...'
                      He would have continued but at that moment my very obedient daughter who was listening leaned over to me and asked quite audibly in her shrill little four-year old girl voice, 'Mom, what is butt dust?'

                      Comment

                      • #12
                        Re: How To Care For Rams??

                        I had Rams, both Angel and Brazillian on regular substrate with Houston tap water for a good while.  They never breed for me but that really wasn't my intent at the time.  Just wanted to let you guys know that it's doable just like EK said.

                        Comment

                        • #13
                          Re: How To Care For Rams??

                          of course it's doable...i have done it....and i used houston tap water plants and aquasoil that's it....nothing more....my water is very soft....

                          Comment

                          • #14
                            Re: How To Care For Rams??

                            I have German blue and Bolivians and they both breed..I've posted pics here.

                            But I learned the hard way Houston water will not sustain them for long..let alone make them want to breed.

                            I went to work softening my water with peat, almond leaves, driftwood and store bought RO 0.25/gal. It is now 5.5 PH and 3-6 GH. They are loving it...but it takes work...PH spikes can be lethal...though my Rams have survived a few.

                            I also find serving them frozen bloodworms is a much healthier choice for them than flake or granules.

                            Comment

                            • #15
                              Re: How To Care For Rams??

                              I keep mine in tap water with plants and Aquqsoil too. (PH is ~6.5)
                              They are breeding in this tank but I also bread them once in a small tank with 50/50 RO and old water and regular substrate and then slowly switched fry to tap water. Fry is ~1.5 months old and seems to be OK hope they'll be used to Houston water

                              Comment

                              Previous 1 2 template Next
                              Working...
                              X