Finished with Rams and gonna start afresh.

So once more Ive had difficulty with keeping German Rams,ever since Ive started keeping these fish over the past 3 years,Ive constantly lost them to open sores. I have no idea why,tankmates arent aggressive or anything,water quality hasnt been a problem and its always only the rams that seem to get these open sores. (I wonder is it possible that the fish can pick up some form of strain of virus from the dwarf gourami's who also in my experience suffer from disease and are another fish on my no longer gonna buy list(but thats the norm in those fish with over 30% believed to have the virus,although I suspect its far higher depending on where they are supplied from). Anyhow not to get too off track, I have decided to stop keeping german rams,Ive had some beautiful ones and they are probably my favourite fish I really like but Ive grown frustrated at this occurance,normally after 9 months or so of owning them,some managed a year or so but these open sores keep appearing and there is no way back for them despite treatment etc...sores are always on the head area.Its annoying as they are close to breeding most likely at that stage also and Ive bred some before so I know how amazing they can be during breeding etc but this frustration has finally gotten to me and Ive decided to no longer keep rams for now.

Anyhow,its made me re think what I could put in the tank,I wanna try something new in the tank. Of the fish in their at present,most are community based and I think I could re home all of them except the Kulhi loaches and the pleco's who I am found of. Id ideally like to keep the corys also but I could move them around to my other tanks etc..

Ive never really wanted to go into the malawi cichlids and while amazing in colours,I just dont get them so I'll probably avoid them.

Anyone have suggestions,the tank is 160 litres and Id be interested in any suggestions people have.

Ive lots of ideas,but would be interested in peoples opinion. PH is around 6 ish so have a good range of fish to work with I reckon.

Anyone want to contribute? I want the tank to lively,interesting and possibly have a fish that could breed. But again shout away and let me know what you think.

Gavin

cockakoo cichlid 1 male two females.easy to tell which is male and female

Thats unfortunate about the rams mate, a very lovely fish indeed. I recently changed one of my tanks around with a few different types of Barbs, Great display of colour and activity. In my tank there is-

6 Green Barbs
4 Odessa Barbs
4 Black ruby Barbs
7 Cherry Barbs
2 Bulldog pleco.

Gerry

Interesting you say that about the Cockatoo apisto,I was actually only researching them the other day,the idea of lots of caves and all that,and Id probably be able to retain alot of my existing stock also with those fish. Great minds think alike!!

Im also still considering Neolamprologus brichardi,which is another fish I think would be fascinating to watch.

Gavin

I have to say that I agree on the Gourami observation, they stink, big time, I have ALWAYS gotten fish that get bacterial infections of one sort or another if kept with Gouramies, usually the Marty Feldman effect ! huge pop eyes and bloating then death, I seriously blame Honey Gouramies etc.

I have put eSHa 2000 as recommended but they always die. Water has always been tip top and just tonight I terminated a lovely male Aequidens metae's life with my usual quick knock against the wash hand basin.

Really peed off with Gouramies, they can live in stink and seem to have no problems.

Sorry for the rant.!

I posted a Video a few days back that might inspire you along the lines of Apistos, great fish, end of !
I hope it's OK to repost this link, I'll understand if it's withdrawn.


Kev.

i think you are spot on there john, its the over breeding that is milkin the strains to the point they end up riddled of hyper sensitive to parasites etc, like too much inbreeding or something
BTW do you still have L46?

Non-existant user wrote:

6 Green Barbs
4 Odessa Barbs
4 Black ruby Barbs
7 Cherry Barbs
2 Bulldog pleco.

i'm a big barb/asian fish fan too so some of the above would also get my recommendation. lots of colours and activity, they are a bit mental but at least you know what you are getting into woth the barbs
as long as the filter is up to it, i'd personally go: 10 tiger barbs, 6 black ruby barbs, 6 green tiger barbs and some form of loach (not clown, will get too big but possibly yoyo or zebra) or cories (not asian but lovely) in a group of 6+ for the bottom and SAE's to lighten your workload

Fishowner wrote:

Interesting you say that about the Cockatoo apisto,I was actually only researching them the other day,the idea of lots of caves and all that,and Id probably be able to retain alot of my existing stock also with those fish. Great minds think alike!!

Im also still considering Neolamprologus brichardi,which is another fish I think would be fascinating to watch.

Gavin

You would have problems with ur ph with brichardi.PH 6 is perfect for apisto

why not try angels. you could keep them with the cockatoos. i think brichardi are only suitable for a species tank.
phil

I could go species tank with the birchardi....its an option for certain. Id be able to part with the other plecos and could place the L144 in another tank of mine. The kulhi's would be easy to hide in another tank.

The Angels Ive had but they can be abit aggressive (when your not looking!!),and also Id prefer a bigger tank for the angels if I was going with them.

As for the barbs,nice choice of fish there,would recommend cherrys as the toughest fish Ive come across,the tigers freak herself out!!!Nippy buggers but would be fine in a group.
The Birchardi are an option I reckon,the PH of 6 is low,but Im sure I could raise it by buffering some crushed coral to help raise it upwards to 7.5ish?

Gavin

Hi Gav,

Been there with the rams before way too many times.... was horrible went through about 10 then gave up just really bad luck with them.

If your looking for something abit different i have been reading up on mouth brooding apistos and they are on my wish list.

Id go with a 1 male and 2 females for the size of tank you have. Ill send you a link to a website one of the sponsors order from him and he has cracking apistos on there.

Alan

Gavin,
As John said, have you tried wilds ? The quality of rams is terrible at the moment.