The Ram Cichlid is known as being one of the best "beginner" cichlids in the hobby due to its ease of maintanence, beautiful colors, and peaceful nature
david - 2011-06-12 Are Rams compatible with Heckel Discus, Altum (wild) Angelfish, and Black Ghost Knifefish? How about with Silver Dollars?
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Charlie Roche - 2011-06-13 The Knifefish needs a minimum of a 100 gallon tank on his own. They are beautiful but they get huge and he will most likely eat the others.
cody - 2013-02-24 The angel fish isn't recommended but you may try with a knife fish all depends on you tank size to oh and for the discus. Alot of people may tell you to keep them in a single species tank and they need different water phlevels in their tank.
Rsurita - 2008-11-20 Hi, yesterday a bought a blue ramirezi and a ramirezi but much smaller, but in the pet shop where I bought it they didn't tell me that it was cichlid. I have the ramirezi with different breeds of barbs, like cherry barbs, golden barbs, rosy barbs. Also I have it with an opaline gourami an some kinds of corydoras and some neon cardinals and a hatchet fish. I want to now if both of the ramirezi will eat my other fishes?
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diane - 2010-06-28 The rams will not eat your other fish but your other fish in there are a problem to have with your rams. Although it is a cichlid they are a very "dainty" cichlid and are not usually a problem in community tanks but the tank you have has a lot of aggressive species (like the opaline and the barbs) so you will likely have a problem with your rams not reaching their full colours and being picked on and likely nipped.
fish_are_awesome - 2011-10-10 They should be fine with your fish. Just watch out for your cardinal tetras as they may be eaten. They are food for many fish!
Rory - 2008-01-20 These are brilliant little guys, giving a lot of color and easy to keep. I think they are not too demanding fish and really like betta food and blood worms.
Gorfumbion - 2011-12-13 Can I put a swordtail and a ram cichlid in a ten gallon?
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Alex Burleson - 2011-12-13 Rams, generally require an aquarium with a minimum size of 20 gallons. However, these two species can co-exist relatively well.
Jason - 2010-07-20 My blue ram recently developed a white patch over his eye, that almost looks like he was bitten, but he shares his tank with only one other smaller ram and a cory cat. I just noticed today that he now has another white patch just above the first one on the opposite side of his face. I am trying to find out what this could be? The water temperature is perfect and water is maintained well. If anybody can tell me what this could be and how I can treat it that would be greatly appreciated. The white patches look like there indenting into his face. I have never seen anything like it, but this is my first experience with the blue ram. Please respond ASAP! I don't want this little beauty to die. Thanks!
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david - 2011-06-12 You say you have two Rams. Are they both male. During the breeding season in the wild the males compete with each other for territory. The smaller one might have caused the marks. The best thing you can do is to isolate the injured Ram to another tank and treat with Melafix, available at most pet stores. Hope this helps.
:) - 2011-09-06 that white patch is called ICK hard to get rid of!
lejm - 2011-10-18 My ram died because of this bloody merky eye... ;-S I didn't find a cure ;S
Alonzo T. Fells II - 2012-04-16 This happen to mine longfin blackskirt tetra but it was black and white patches. So at first I thought it was fight between mine rams and blackskirts but the patch appear when I was watching him so it must have been ich we tried every treatment but the poor boy died a week later it was mine favorite becoz it looked astonishing(third to rams and congos)
Shad - 2011-11-28 I just purchase 3 Ram Ciclids and put them in my 55 gal tank with all my other Ciclids of different varietys. None of the Ciclids in the tank are grown yet. The biggest being about 2 inch. The more I read, it sounds like they do not belong in the same tank with my other Ciclids. I have 2 other 55 gal tanks with just a variety of community fish. Can I put the Ram Ciclids in one of those tanks and be ok?
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Jeremy Roche - 2012-09-25 Depends on the other fish. They could be just fine. Cichlids personalities vary greatly from individual fish.
Natasha - 2012-01-02 I have a ram that has a small cluster of white speckles on its top fin. Was like that when we bought it. Treating it for Ick and no sign of it going away. Also noticed yesterday that he's getting a circle on his head that is turning red. I currently have him with tetras because when we baught them it seemed they all had ick. So they are all being treated in my 10 gallon tank for Ick. And suggestions on Ick or what the red dot on his head might be. I have 5 other rams and have never had anything like this happen. But I dont want to put the ram with the white cluster on just his top fin in there cause I'm worried it could cause health issues for my 5 healthy rams
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Charlie Roche - 2012-01-03 There are other diseases which cause white spots - not just ICH. You could have a bacteria going on. Scroll the Animal World article Fish Diseases and scrolls down to symptoms and look for the symptoms that match what you see. Recommended treatment is listed.
william mayer - 2011-03-01 Hi Iam interested in breeding some ram cichlids, I'm gonna start out with 6 or more juveniles, can I choose any species to breed together, or would I have to get 6 or more the same species like gold ram dwarf cichlid or blue ram dwarf cichlid, write back asap? Thanks, will.
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Jeff Damal - 2011-06-05 Always breed with the same species. There are subtle differences between the species and although they can be kept together, the best successes will always be with those of the same. Rams like high acid and higher than normal temperatures. I find that less light, and either a large tank or species specific tank will help. If there are other more aggressive tankmates they may be too bewildered to breed or if they do the chances of eggs being eaten are much greater than say, if it is a species specific tank where each pair has a set territory that they establish. I do about 20% water changes about every 10-15 days with water that has been soaking in oak leaves. They also LOVE blood worms and if they get a variety of food that they like they will also find time to become "amorous" when not sated. Look for the Females belly to get larger. If they eat the eggs after the first time do not be discouraged. Just do the water change, watch the pH and they will lay eggs fairly regular, about every month. I also feed mine small earthworms, some brine, and any errant houseflies, caterpillars or spiders that happen. It's fun to watch them tear them apart! You sure can tell they are cichlids! Good Luck! jeff
megan - 2010-04-22 I have a german blue ram and and paradise gourami in my tank. I think the gourami is bullying the ram. Should I get another ram or take the gourami back?
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Koichi - 2010-05-18 In my opinion I would take the gourami back. Although its pretty much up to you. I'd pay attention to see if the gourami attacks other fish as well. Although classified as non aggressive they can be territorial, (at least in my experience.) Plus I'm a fan of the rams head.
The Ram Cichlid is known as being one of the best "beginner" cichlids in the hobby due to its ease of maintanence, beautiful colors, and peaceful nature
Are Rams compatible with Heckel Discus, Altum (wild) Angelfish, and Black Ghost Knifefish? How about with Silver Dollars?
The Knifefish needs a minimum of a 100 gallon tank on his own. They are beautiful but they get huge and he will most likely eat the others.
The angel fish isn't recommended but you may try with a knife fish all depends on you tank size to oh and for the discus. Alot of people may tell you to keep them in a single species tank and they need different water phlevels in their tank.
Hi, yesterday a bought a blue ramirezi and a ramirezi but much smaller, but in the pet shop where I bought it they didn't tell me that it was cichlid. I have the ramirezi with different breeds of barbs, like cherry barbs, golden barbs, rosy barbs. Also I have it with an opaline gourami an some kinds of corydoras and some neon cardinals and a hatchet fish. I want to now if both of the ramirezi will eat my other fishes?
The rams will not eat your other fish but your other fish in there are a problem to have with your rams. Although it is a cichlid they are a very "dainty" cichlid and are not usually a problem in community tanks but the tank you have has a lot of aggressive species (like the opaline and the barbs) so you will likely have a problem with your rams not reaching their full colours and being picked on and likely nipped.
They should be fine with your fish. Just watch out for your cardinal tetras as they may be eaten. They are food for many fish!
These are brilliant little guys, giving a lot of color and easy to keep. I think they are not too demanding fish and really like betta food and blood worms.
Can I put a swordtail and a ram cichlid in a ten gallon?
Rams, generally require an aquarium with a minimum size of 20 gallons. However, these two species can co-exist relatively well.
My blue ram recently developed a white patch over his eye, that almost looks like he was bitten, but he shares his tank with only one other smaller ram and a cory cat. I just noticed today that he now has another white patch just above the first one on the opposite side of his face. I am trying to find out what this could be? The water temperature is perfect and water is maintained well. If anybody can tell me what this could be and how I can treat it that would be greatly appreciated. The white patches look like there indenting into his face. I have never seen anything like it, but this is my first experience with the blue ram. Please respond ASAP! I don't want this little beauty to die. Thanks!
You say you have two Rams. Are they both male. During the breeding season in the wild the males compete with each other for territory. The smaller one might have caused the marks. The best thing you can do is to isolate the injured Ram to another tank and treat with Melafix, available at most pet stores. Hope this helps.
that white patch is called ICK hard to get rid of!
My ram died because of this bloody merky eye... ;-S I didn't find a cure ;S
This happen to mine longfin blackskirt tetra but it was black and white patches. So at first I thought it was fight between mine rams and blackskirts but the patch appear when I was watching him so it must have been ich we tried every treatment but the poor boy died a week later it was mine favorite becoz it looked astonishing(third to rams and congos)
I just purchase 3 Ram Ciclids and put them in my 55 gal tank with all my other Ciclids of different varietys. None of the Ciclids in the tank are grown yet. The biggest being about 2 inch. The more I read, it sounds like they do not belong in the same tank with my other Ciclids. I have 2 other 55 gal tanks with just a variety of community fish. Can I put the Ram Ciclids in one of those tanks and be ok?
Depends on the other fish. They could be just fine. Cichlids personalities vary greatly from individual fish.
watch your angelfish with the blue rams they get a little aggressive if mixed with blue rams together or alone.
I have a ram that has a small cluster of white speckles on its top fin. Was like that when we bought it. Treating it for Ick and no sign of it going away. Also noticed yesterday that he's getting a circle on his head that is turning red. I currently have him with tetras because when we baught them it seemed they all had ick. So they are all being treated in my 10 gallon tank for Ick. And suggestions on Ick or what the red dot on his head might be. I have 5 other rams and have never had anything like this happen. But I dont want to put the ram with the white cluster on just his top fin in there cause I'm worried it could cause health issues for my 5 healthy rams
There are other diseases which cause white spots - not just ICH. You could have a bacteria going on. Scroll the Animal World article Fish Diseases and scrolls down to symptoms and look for the symptoms that match what you see. Recommended treatment is listed.
Hi Iam interested in breeding some ram cichlids, I'm gonna start out with 6 or more juveniles, can I choose any species to breed together, or would I have to get 6 or more the same species like gold ram dwarf cichlid or blue ram dwarf cichlid, write back asap? Thanks, will.
Always breed with the same species. There are subtle differences between the species and although they can be kept together, the best successes will always be with those of the same. Rams like high acid and higher than normal temperatures. I find that less light, and either a large tank or species specific tank will help. If there are other more aggressive tankmates they may be too bewildered to breed or if they do the chances of eggs being eaten are much greater than say, if it is a species specific tank where each pair has a set territory that they establish. I do about 20% water changes about every 10-15 days with water that has been soaking in oak leaves. They also LOVE blood worms and if they get a variety of food that they like they will also find time to become "amorous" when not sated. Look for the Females belly to get larger. If they eat the eggs after the first time do not be discouraged. Just do the water change, watch the pH and they will lay eggs fairly regular, about every month. I also feed mine small earthworms, some brine, and any errant houseflies, caterpillars or spiders that happen. It's fun to watch them tear them apart! You sure can tell they are cichlids! Good Luck!
jeff
I have a german blue ram and and paradise gourami in my tank. I think the gourami is bullying the ram. Should I get another ram or take the gourami back?
In my opinion I would take the gourami back. Although its pretty much up to you. I'd pay attention to see if the gourami attacks other fish as well. Although classified as non aggressive they can be territorial, (at least in my experience.) Plus I'm a fan of the rams head.