Breeding rams in a planted tank?

[PlantedTankLover]

I have a 46 gallon planted tank that has been up and running for almost 2 years now and looking to make a change, I'm bored with it.

I could care less about keeping the guppies, but I'm quite attached to the other fish since I've had them since the beginning.

I'm very interested in adding a few rams to the mix 1 male 2-3 females. Is this do able?

I did have 2 rams before but they did not make it long, I think that is because the tank was too new. I also tried again with 2 rams (cant remember what kind, but they are the ones that are very dark in color) but the male picked on my 2 angel fish to the point they also had to go back. Would love to hear any advice.

[Aquaticfan]

I have several tanks with Rams in it. There are several factors you need to know and take in mind. While rams have specific needs they aren't a frail fish either.

First this is NEVER cycle a tank with Rams. Its to much stress for them Rams are easy to get Ich and other similar issues. They thrive best in water around 81 degrees F. They prefer soft to medium hardness water. My GH runs around 6 to 8 and my KH runs around 6. Rams are also Monogamous and 1 male per 1 female. If you get one male and 2 or more females, normally what happens is the additional females get harassed and beaten by the couple that have formed. In a 46 gallon You could do 4 rams. 2 male and 2 females is what id advise. be sure to have lots of plants. They like a soft substrate. They also like some hiding places like caves made from flat rocks and such. Mine lay their eggs when the spawn on the flat rocks or on my Tiger lotus or Amazon Sword leaves. The reason your Rams and your Angels didnt do well is possibly due to lack of Territory as angels and Rams are both Ciclids. Ive got Bolivians and GBR's. im looking at housing some golds and some powder blues soon.

[PlantedTankLover]

Great info so far. Thank you. I have hard water, very hard according to the test I have done, but my all male peacock and haps tank love it! My tetras have bread once before (I lost the female that that was breading though) and my angels also were great breeders until the male killed the female. Would the hard water be a no go? The rams I bought about a year ago, the ones that were very dark in color started their mating dance on some slate within 48 hours of being put in the tank. Any idea as to what those kinds of rams are?

[PlantedTankLover]

Or what about cockatoo apistos?

[Aquaticfan]

The darker rams your talking about are probably German blue rams. They do like the water less hard. Your Africans love hard water. The water they come from is hard and alkaline. Rams like a ph of around 6.8 up to about 8.0. They may live in it. But not the happiest.

Have you contacted your water company for a tds and water report? That will tell you a lot more. Or ate you on a well?

[Aquaticfan]

The apistos are originally from Amazon river, South America. So figure the water isn't ad hard either. Most of the south American dwarfs prefer softer. The apistos are a little different. They like one male to 3 females. Ph of 6.0 up to 8.0. Temp around 80.

[hydrosparky]

Germans can live in hard water, but won't thrive in it unless they've been born and raised in it. My water is the type that African cichlids would thrive in. My German Blues thrive in my water. It's different for different fish.

[LB79]

They probably won't breed in hard water and the eggs won't be viable. Other dwarf cichlids that don't mind the hard water would be Apistogramma cruzi and eunotus. They come from hard-water areas and are easy breeders.

[Aquaticfan]

Originally Posted by LB79

They probably won't breed in hard water and the eggs won't be viable. Other dwarf cichlids that don't mind the hard water would be Apistogramma cruzi and eunotus. They come from hard-water areas and are easy breeders.

I agree x 1

[Aquaticfan]

Originally Posted by hydrosparky

Germans can live in hard water, but won't thrive in it unless they've been born and raised in it. My water is the type that African cichlids would thrive in. My German Blues thrive in my water. It's different for different fish.

We could probably live in a closet but it won't be the best or happiest. I believe in giving the fish I keep every positive opportunity. The fish didn't come originally from hard water. So of course they will do better in softer.

[LB79]

A closet, no matter what you had in there, would get a little boring...

However, keeping captive-bred discus in water that is 8.2 is totally fine, and keeping captive-bred peacock cichlids in water that is 6.2 is also fine. You won't get viable spawns, but the fish will be alright. With wild fish it is unacceptable. With captive tank-bred fish it's doable, but it's true they won't shine through as they would in their ancestral water parameters.

[Aquaticfan]

Originally Posted by LB79

A closet, no matter what you had in there, would get a little boring...

However, keeping captive-bred discus in water that is 8.2 is totally fine, and keeping captive-bred peacock cichlids in water that is 6.2 is also fine. You won't get viable spawns, but the fish will be alright. With wild fish it is unacceptable. With captive tank-bred fish it's doable, but it's true they won't shine through as they would in their ancestral water parameters.

You are correct. All of my Rams are wild. Not captive thus why I keep them as I do. Sometimes you also never know where you buy them unless directly from a breeder what they are. Wild or not. Even with a breeder alot of them use wild caught parents kept in what they should be thus even the young should be as well.

I definitely agree with your post. Especially the last part. For me as a hobbyist, I want to give my fish the best environment they can have so they will shine. Thus my recommendations.

[PlantedTankLover]

Alright, so I need softer water. How can I do this without setting up a water softener in my house? Is there something I can add to the water to make it softer? If I change the hardness of the water over time, would this affect the fish I already have in the tank or the plants? LB79, I looked at the fish you recommended. But they don't have the color I'm looking for.

P.S. all of my fish are captive bread, except for my kipili frontosa. I buy all my stock from breeders at gcca swaps.

[PlantedTankLover]

Alright got my water quality report, what am I looking for? Lots of numbers.lol

[Aquaticfan]

Items like drift wood, peat moss and the like will help soften water. Plants and most fish will thrive and do better in a softer water.

You may need to scan the report so it can be read. I've found each water report reads differently. Your looking to see carbonate hardness factors and total solids with general hardness factors.