To Ram or not to Ram, that is the question.

[PABrooks]

Looking at getting the final cohort for my tank and was looking at 2 German blue rams, 2 electric blue and 2 sunshine/golden ones. Heart sank as pet shop said the rams like to eat plants !
What is peoples experience with rams? I haven’t spent nearly £300 on plants for them to become fish food 🙁

What would ppl suggest re a small/medium sized fish that would be suitable? The biggest shoaling fish I’ve got are blue emperor tetras, everything else (other than corydoras) are smaller. Thanks in advance, Paul.

 

[Gill]

Never had rams eat plants. They do like to scour the plants for snail eggs and shrimp to pick off.

 

[simon_the_plant_nerd]

I’ve had bad luck with rams. They are susceptible to stress and illness. The electric blue I had were very weak and sickly. I got two golden rams after that which were much stronger but still only lasted a year.

None of them ever ate plants though. The main culprit for plant eating in my tank is the bristlenose (also responsible for landscaping and general gardening).

 

[Maf 2500]

Bear in mind rams like it warmer than most tropical fish. Seriously Fish says 27-30 degrees C.

 

[JohnCooke]

Rams are seriously attractive but overproduced, and (I suspect) not culled thoroughly enough before they reach retailers. Should you develop a craving for cherry shrimps, then rams will mostly welcome them with delighted open jaws.

Having said all those wet-blanketty things, they won't eat plants. In addition, some retailers (such as the lfs in North Street, Bristol) seem to be able to source strong, longer-lasting rams. Do these ones come from Czechia ? Not sure.

 

[Maf 2500]

Rams are seriously attractive but overproduced, and (I suspect) not culled thoroughly enough before they reach retailers.

The mass produced ones are often over-medicated too, I think that might be a big part of the problem. The best source is definitely a local hobby breeder or a lfs with good contacts.

 

[Gill]

Yep, Love rams in all the colour morphs etc. They are so susceptible to tumours nowadays and always loose a few to them. I have some really nice Gold Females nice and plump and so far the males have died from tumours all over their bodies.