How well do dwarf cichlids mix?

Philnominal

I currently have a 75 gallon that I am thinking of redoing into a community tank for smaller fish. I currently have a single Male Bolivian ram in there that I would keep for this purpose but I was wondering how dwarf cichlids typical mix/interact with other species? Say if i wanted to get some apistograma how would the Bolvian "typically" take to this? I say "typically" because I am well that all fish have their personalities. This male imparticular i have only seen be aggressive with one other thing. That was the female that was bought to keep his company. after severely stressing her out we ended up moving her into another tank but other then that I haven't seen him be aggressive to anything. He was even in a 15 gallon tank with a male crowntail betta.

I also am thinking that if i do this i might just give an upgrade to most of the inhabitant of my betta sorority (except the dario dario as i fear the ram may snack on them) would this be a good idea for an upgrade for my girls? Links in my signature will show stocking list if you have in depth advice you would like to give me. I haven't changed anything so its purely planning stages as of now and any ideas/suggestions/advice is appreciated. Thanks. :)

nawilson89

In my personal experience Bolivian Rams are overall rather peaceful. I have two in my 50 gallon community tank mixed with tetra and female betta. The only time they show any hint of aggressions is during feeding time when they push the corydora out of the way for shrimp pellets.

Philnominal

Thank you, so now to figure out what a good stocking list idea would be. Also would anyone have any ideas on a nice easy to care for apistograma species that is commonly available?

Byron

In my experiences, I do not recommend more than one species of cichlid in tanks under 5 feet in length. The issue is not so much the male territories, which the fish seem able to work out, but when one of them spawns. Female apistogramma for their small size are very rough fish when guarding eggs and fry. And of course, cichlids will regularly spawn. My females have killed off all other females in the same tank, of their own (fry that grew up) and other species.

It is better in a 4-foot tank to settle on one species, and with most Apistogramma this means a harem, and then build the "dither" fish around them.

Byron.

Philnominal

Hmm I can deffidently see why you would make this suggestion. Maybe I will move my Bolivian Ram to my 29 as I am planning on moving my Blue Acara on as well. The question is how will it and tiger barbs get along? Also may I point you to my other thread in order to get your critique on the stocking stocking list i have come up with so far?

Byron

I would not recommend any cichlid with Tiger Barb. The risk of the TB nipping the fin extensions of the very sedate cichlid is not worth stressing the fish. I have a male Bolivian Ram that is now 4 years old (in my care) which is the normal lifespan, and he has been alone since the first except when I added a female once and after 4 spawns he killed her; they hadn't bonded. But aside from that issue, I can't imagine him in my more active 90g which doesn't have Tigers but it does have Black Ruby Barb, Congo Tetra and Emperor Tetra which are all very active. The Ram is in a tank of much quieter fish and while the 5-foot tank is clearly "his space" he has never bothered other fish except sometimes at feeding when the corys get him annoyed. I did actually have Emperor Tetra in this tank for a while, but they pursued him and the quieter tetra relentlessly so I moved them out.

I will now check the linked thread.

Philnominal

Alright thank you. I wont put him in with the barbs then. I have had both a blue acara and a fire mouth with the tiger barbs. When i rehomed the firemouth he didnt have anything missing from his tail/fins and I do not see any signs of the acara being nipped at. Actually my Raphael Catfish (also rehoming) gives my acara more trouble then the tiger barbs. The most interaction I have seen between the acara and the barbs is the acara occasionally taking quick stab at the barbs to tell them to get out of his way.

Byron

The nippiness of TB and similar fish like the Serpae Tetra is something one can't always count on. We know that group size and tank size has much to do with this for both species, but individual fish are "individual" sometimes too. All one can go by is the norm, and I always think it is best not to risk it just in case. If one has other tanks to move problem fish into, that's better when testing the waters.

Crusader

Philnominal,

I have a a pair a bolivian rams, and I have put them in a 55 g tank with a pair of German Rams and Gold Rams. IMO I have found that rams have mixed fairly well as long as you have adequate hiding places.

As for Tiger Barbs, I agree that you should probably avoid them as they are very nippy little fish.