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Bolivan ram with a german blue ram in the same tank?

3K views 7 replies 5 participants last post by  Chesh 
#1 ·
I currently have 29 gallon low tech moderately planted with one male bolivian ram. Would it be okay to add a german blue ram? If so, would it have to be female? I even was considering adding a female/male pair of german blues, but I am unsure of potential territory issues.
 
#2 · (Edited)
Your tank is too small to keep a pair of rams and Bolivians though it might work with one of each try getting a female if you do get a GBR but it would be better to just get another Bolivian... I would stick to one of them. German blue ram keeping is really rewarding. if you have pristine water conditions they will spawn readily. I have no experience with Bolivian rams,sorry.
 
#3 ·
I've never kept Germans, lol, so I can't really answer your question very well either. Personally, I would stick with one species, but I've READ of people keeping both with no issues. One thing to keep in mind with the Bolivians (not sure about the Blues) is that they *can* be very fussy with their tankmates. I've seen several instances where they don't 'take' to their new room-mates, and it can be very ugly - even unto death. BR's are picky when it comes to mates, as well. They like to 'choose' their own mate, so simply adding a female into a tank with a male won't always work out the way you hope. Most people like to grow out 6 or so juvies until a pair has formed, then rehome the rest - obviously this isn't something you'll be able to do at this point in a tank that size. Letting your little one swim solo might be the best way to go, but if you do choose to try to get another one, be sure to have a tank on stand-by should trouble arise. . .
 
#4 ·
If water temp is important, then no - GBRs do best in warm water (mid 80s) and the Bolivians like it in the 70s.
 
#6 ·
Aside from the pertinent issues raised, a 29g is far too small for more than one cichlid species no matter what they are [thinking here of the SA dwarfs]. A single Bolivian is fine; a pair if bonded would be OK, but the male has to select his female from a group to bond.
 
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