I bought a Bolivian Ram!

aunt kymmie

My first response is that if you want to have two you need to run out and get him now. If the current ram has too much time to settle in he will view the entire tank as his and any additional ram as a major intruder. You don't want fighting, which is what would most likely happen if you wait tooo long before gettng another one. If you add another one now they will just end up with occasional squabbling.
Added at the same time they will each establish their own territory and for the most part stay out of each others way. Remind what else is in the tank (besides your dwarf rainbows) and what is the exact measurement of the footprint of your tank?

SinCrisis

I would stick with just 1, my tanks is 3ft long, but when i had 2 they fought all the time, even when introduced at the same time in a densely planted tank. Not sure how big your tank is, but unless its longer than 3ft, it might not be wise to get a second ram.

aunt kymmie

My experience was just the exact opposite. I introduced four Bolivian juvies to my tank at the same time. They never fought, just the occasional squabble, and usually just during feeding time. Other than that they all left each other alone, and they were all males. (in a heavily planted tank w/ lots of driftwood)

CatherineSekel

Congratulations, Bolivian Rams are a wonderful fish, i very much enjoy the two i have, and i hope you will like them as much as I do! :)

Byron

This species works very well solo. And kymmie is correct, adding another after this one has "settled" is not wise, even when you can be sure of a pair. I have done it, I added a female into a 5-foot tank housing the solo male, and they were fine for a few months, spawning several times, though the male got more and more annoyed between spawnings until he killed her. He's now alone again, and much more relaxed. And this is a 5-foot well planted 115g tank.

I can't tell from the photo if yours is male or female.

Byron.

SinCrisis

I introduced both of mine at the same time but they just fought all the time. Eventually the smaller one died from the stress. :-/

GwenInNM

Thank you all for the responses! I think I'll play it safe and just keep one. The tank the one Bolivian Ram is in, is 36" long (43 gal) and I am too afraid I'll have trouble, and I really hate watching fish fight. To answer Kymmie's question, beside the dwarf rainbows I have 4 loaches (Angelica types).

My tank may be to small for more. Bryon, I tried to see if I was getting a male or female, looking at the dorsal fin but they all looked the same to me, and they move around too much, that it's just near impossible.

Thanks again all! I do like the fish.

Gwen

Byron

They are a nice cichlid. The dorsal rays, caudal fin filament extensions and ovipositor thickness are the sexing guides, but this fish is too young for me to say.

GwenInNM

Kymmie, I know why your Bolivian Rams are so happy and don't fight . . they live in San Diego! The best place to live! Fish in other parts are probably just crabby. LOL!

Gwen

Christople

thanks geez