Colourful fish

I hate to burst your bubble Alex but Ramerizis would be, in my opinion, totally unsuitable as tank companions for the fish you already have.

Ok, they will sort of stand up for themselves in a smaller fish environment- but would stand absolutely no chance if put in with the fish on your list.
And anyway they would probably end up as a small but very attractive snack for one or two of your larger predators!

If you want Rams then by all means set up a smaller tank with a pair, or possibly a trio...along with some of what those 'in the know' call "dither" fish...to put any in your mentioned tank would be a disaster about to happen. Even if, by a small miracle they weren't eaten they would be totally ill at ease with all the boisterous larger fish you have.

You might want to look at larger and better-able-to-fend-for-themselves fish, like some of the more colourful Acaras, Geophagus 'Eartheaters', Jack Dempseys...the list goes on...but Rams - no way!

Some of the Rainbows are pretty colourful - as suggested - and even the 'Bolivian' Ram, a larger more assertive fish altogether...but sadly lacking much of the attractive appeal of their Columbian cousin, (but lovely still for all that) might be better suited. You might want to look too at the African Butterfly Cichlid, the Thomasi (I forget the 'new' name for it, but it used to be in with what was in those days called Pelmatachromis, it's now something like Anolomachromis)...speaking of which, why not consider some of the 'newer' 'Krib' types? The Nigerian Red Taeniatus (that's probably the wrong spelling again) as well as the 'Moliwe' and 'Dihane' varieties are all very nice - especially, strangely enough, the females.

Well, that's my advice, but if you choose to still get the Rams, be prepared for disappointment.

John

I never saw a 3" Ram, apart from one of those abominations with long fins!

Mozambique Mouthbreeders are totally unlike the Green Terror, the latter is a much more attractive fish, although its manners can often leave a bit to be desired. The former is a pretty drab fish by comparison...although they do have their fans too (I'm quite fond of them myself). You're right too, the ones I have kept were a little boisterous but never unduly so, but I can tell you one thing - they are never at the back of the queue when it comes to feeding time!

The Red Terror can very much live up to its name, but there again so can the Green Terror as well, I think both ought to be avoided by anyone with little experience of such Cichlids

("I know absolutly nothing about Cichlids")

...but it's your choice at the end of the day.

It was good to read you have abandoned the Cichlid route for the time being (do a lot more reading on them and their requirements first). A small word of warning though, I've been told that Torpedo Barbs are quite bad travellers so buy specimens which have been in the shop for a little while, perhaps as long as a week, which should have by then let them get over the trauma of being imported then bring them back carefully (if possible one to a bag) and get them into their new surroundings as quickly and with as little stress as possible. You might consider turning off the tank light before releasing them as well. This should allow them to settle a little without being overly hassled by the existing fish. You might think this to be a little 'over the top' but they aren't exactly the cheapest of fish so would deserve the 'kid glove' treatment.

John