Bolivian Rams. Colorful, Peaceful, Small...ideal cichlid for community aquariums

[@PatrickKend]

Bolivian Rams are in my top 3 favorite aquarium fish. A charming little cichlid.

[@911hdman]

Just bought two of these guys today for my 75 gallon community tank. Can't wait to pick them up tonight.

[@stevenahlberg1542]

Thanks Dan I bought three Bolivian Rams and they are great with the sand substrate thank you for the tip. Also my Harlequin rasboras follow my Bolivian Rams around to pick up the scraps that they toss up into the water . Perfect combo of Peaceful Hardy fish

[@Cp6uja81]

OMG, you are such a wonderful narrator! I enjoyed this so much.

[@MrGoodwin1234]

Really informative video, thank you! I just picked up 4 today for my planted 340L community tank and they're already firm favourites of mine 👍🏻

[@brianwatt8927]

How did they work out in your tank? Was 4 enough? I’m starting up a tank about the same size.

[@shesellsfish]

Everybody tends to go for the GBRs, but I think these guys and gals are a much better choice. They seem to be much healthier and longer lived. A great choice for a planted community tank. Thanks for doing a spot light of them. 👍💕👍

[@DansFish]

I couldn't agree more, Shelby. Glad you liked the vid.

[@BlatentlyFakeName]

I also tried "electric blue" rams, they are pretty aggressive I found. They would attack anything else in the tank, even shrimp.

[@JayeshJarka]

Love the Bolivian rams. Great community fish

[@DansFish]

Yes and yes!

[@jwilson2536]

Great video. I love my Bolivian ram. My daughter named it Robi because they kind of move around like robots as they start and stop swimming in that jerky motion.

[@DansFish]

Fishy robots...I totally see that!

[@Axodus]

I have a single ram in a community tank and it was shy at first but eventually started behaving just like the fish in this video.

[@DansFish]

Glad your Ram found its moxi!

[@JohnCrute-q4b]

You should be triggered at my comment I'm about to say . I have my pair of DEMOCRAT🔵 male 3spot blue gourami🔵 and Female opaline gourami🔵 and 1 single male republican🚩 Bolivian ram cichlid his jealousy will be triggered my my happily married💙 gourami pair

[@JohnCrute-q4b]

I have a male ram cichlid but I only got him to keep it single and make him become triggered with jealousy and envy over my paired gourami my male 3spot blue gourami🔵 and Female opaline gourami🔵. I do this on purpose and I'm laughing maniacally

[@dianemurray8379]

This video has a great amount of info! I just got a bolivian ram 2 days ago, while actually wanting a cacatoutie....it seemed like a better choice, due to my limited experience. I had a golden ram, which only live about a year. This one is already making me laugh, as I have him in community tank with a honey gourami, and they follow each other around, slowly, with the honey petting the ram on the head with his feeler arm. Thanks for the video, and the info in the comments.

[@williamsmerdon959]

Exactly the 2 I want as centerpiece for my 29 gallon. Ram and Honey .

[@WorldAquariumSingapore]

super cool vid there i just got these beauty fishes as well cheers

[@demoncroc]

Will they pick through a monte carlo carpet? about 60-70% of my tank is carpet plant while the rest is sand

[@DansFish]

I've never tried them with monte carlo, so I can't really say.

[@tinadoyle3803]

Love this video, I have 8 Bolivian Rams in a 65g tank they are nearly fully grown but no body seems too fancy anybody 😢 no pairs at all, they have sand, live plants, almond leaves plus bog wood o feed them a really good variety of food plus I harvest my own bbs BUT nothing I know I have both sexes I want too put more fish in the tank because they only use the bottom , I love bottom dwellers and mid to top swimmers but I'm not too keen on tetras have you any suggestions? 7.6 is the lowest I can get my ph and I don't want to use chemicals too lower it but If I have too I will can you advise me on that. Thank so much. ❤

[@kadreamertv5970]

Hi there i like you video but i have a question.I have one Bolivian ram in my tank but i have gravel substrates you think they can still eat with my gravel substrate?

[@sqtreasurehunting269]

as someone that has owned both german and bolivian rams GET BOLIVIAN RAMS. My tank got ick and my german blue got sick while the bolivian did not. Bolivian rams are much easier to keep more hardy and have a better personality. mine will follow my finger when I move it. Also my german blue has killed a shrimp and white cloud minnow he did this because I added them after and he got curious and playfully poked them but they were to small so they died he has not since killed anything. also if you were wondering yes my german blue recovered from ich and is fine.

[@janeshell1328]

They are beautiful! Last nights stream was super fun! I really enjoyed it 😊

[@DansFish]

It was good to have you, Jane! We'll do it again next Wednesday at 7pm Mountain. Different fish, but same giveaway.

[@connie6705]

Great informative video on these guys! Thank you! I’ve been eyeing this fish for a centerpiece for my planted 29 with Corys, amanos, otos and nerites. I know you said they do best in groups. Do you think one would still thrive being the only one with other tank mates? And if so, do you think I’d need to worry about the amanos and nerites being this is a cichlid and larger than the rest of the tank inhabitants?

[@DansFish]

Hello Connie, I think groups are best because then you see all the neat behavior as they display to each other, spar, and pair off, but I don't think a single Bolivian Ram would be unhappy by itself. It might not be as interesting to observe as a group of them together, but I don't think it is cruel to keep just one. However, they do love eating shrimp. Your amanos might be fine if they are big...fully grown amanos are pretty tough...but if they are small, the rams will gladly snack on them.

[@connie6705]

Thank you for the reply and the info, I greatly appreciate your input!

[@flemmingj1965]

i keep my tank at 82 pH 6.0 for bolivian rams an electric blue rams regular and baloon and Short Body - German Angel Blue Balloon Ram all in the same tank with no problems at all

[@michaelwentworth8653]

Extremely underrated fish!

[@DansFish]

Darned GBR's!

[@closetocreamy]

I have one and hes really not shy but i do have to hand feed him because i have two angelfish and there aggresive dureing feeding time so there tryin to grab them out of my hand

[@closetocreamy]

The food i mean

[@eric21881]

Just got two of these today, I really wanted chichlids but also wanted a community tank

[@frankn4576]

This was a good and informative video. I plan to get 4 for my 200l

[@gailtenaglia4398]

I have a 40 gal breeder i have to apistograms male,mfemale . Coud i keep 2 ,4 rams wìth them other community fish

[@Th3FishRoom]

Can you keep them wit bettas?? I’m new to the hobby

[@jayfuller3709]

Sorry so late, I have 6 in my 20L. 1 has started to be too much dominant. Only 3 other rome out to feed. And he pushes them around? WTF?????

[@PunchiePaints]

very pretty ram

[@DansFish]

Can't wait to see you this weekend at the KOAFishfamCampingTrip!

[@creaturehunter979]

I’m wondering if it’s possible to keep a single one in a 29 gallon with some other community friendly fish

[@chingkong6797]

Yes you can have a pair also

[@elenagarcia923]

I have mine with 7 loaches, 5 guppies, 20 ghost shrimp and an albino bristle nose, and he only goes after fish if they go in his territory but never goes after them when he cruises the tank out of his area.

[@sneakycookie6108]

Me too

[@donglebookpromax6405]

Do you think I could keep a pair of them in a 20 gallon high with a betta?

[@jimperry4420]

Will these help control my molly over population?

[@brianwatt7136]

This video hits the nail on the head with these fish, nothing not to like about them. What's the big floating plant you got in there?

[@lizdyson3627]

How many Bolivian rams would you put in a 20 long and does it matter if it's a multi generational tank v. unralated group? I haven't got space to develop MTS so don't want hundreds of them?

[@aquablaster86]

I have one Bolivian ram in my 40breeder community tank and he/she is always out n about. The first to be at the front of the tank when i walk up, and beautiful! One of my Favs! Great vid as always Dan!

[@DansFish]

Glad you like them as much as I do!

[@Don_Tyco]

how big is ur tanl\?

[@FishmanEricRussell]

Great fish! Thanks Dan

[@DansFish]

Thanks, Fishman!

[@nightowl760]

Do you know how they do with apistos and kribs? They are great

[@DansFish]

They are super peaceful, so they won't harm apistos or kribs. The other way around...probably okay until someone spawns. Then, it is a question of tank size and visual barriers.

[@nightowl760]

Strangely enough, I found out they're illegal in Maine.

[@DansFish]

@@nightowl760 Yep. Maine's "White List" is what happens when people who know nothing decide they need to step in. I feel sorry for all you Mainers, and I sincerely hope no other states take the "White LIst" path.

[@nightowl760]

@@DansFish exactly. I mean can shrimp even survive a winter? But New Hampshire is a short ride.

[@DanielKeepingFish]

My favorite Ram. Look so much prettier than GBR when they colour up in my opinion.

[@DansFish]

I like 'em too! It is too bad that they are so often washed out in the shops. You are right! When they fire up, they really fire up!

[@DanielKeepingFish]

@@DansFish true but so satisfying when you bring one home and nurture it till it flourishes in it's full beautiful colouring too. 👍

[@lljohnnyboyll3067]

Can i keep these guys in a tank with panda cories, neon tetras and 3gouramis?

[@adrianalaniz4260]

Yeah

[@maltahighjacker9842]

Yeah Rams are some of if not the most peaceful cichlid in the hobby bolivan or german👌

[@lljohnnyboyll3067]

MALTA HIGH JACKER okay but wont the gouramis take them out?😅

[@BlatentlyFakeName]

They will probably chase tetras at feeding time. No way I'd put them with gourami. Rams are not completely peaceful, especially when adults. They are a predator fish.

[@lljohnnyboyll3067]

@@BlatentlyFakeName i just bought 2 yesterday, wish me luch

[@s.d.k874]

Beautiful fish😁 Do they do well with neon tetras and panda corydoras? I subbed!

[@DansFish]

Hello SDK, Neon tetras and panda corys sound like perfect tanks mates to me. Thanks for the sub!

[@Frank020]

I had 4 in a 60 with neons and guppies. They started getting aggressive, just like any other cichlid. (The compatibility struggle, makes me just want to get a single kind of fish. Maybe just try one Idk)

[@fishroombum3771]

Another fun video Dan! Love these fish and the German Gold Rams as well.

[@madigan653]

Hi. I have set up a 12 gallon tank to house a breeding pair of lemon blue eyed plecoes. I know people will say the tank is too small but for now they are loving it. I would like to know if it would be ok to introduce a Bolivian Ram as a centerpiece fish. On seeing your video I think they would co habit with the plecs. Should I add just one or can I stretch it to a couple. Many thanks in advance. Happy New Year to all. Billy

[@keithkyli]

I've kept two of them a few years ago and they were really hardy. I got lucky because the fish shop misidentified them as something else and charged me cheaply, and there were not many of them in the store. They should be more common in the trade given their hardiness, but ironically they are very difficult to come by in my city - I could scour the whole street and not see a single specimen. Perhaps GBRs make greater money and fish farms only breed GBRs.

[@DansFish]

Clearly, you are a person of superior taste :)

[@TheUndiscribables865]

Are there any other color variants of the Bolivian rams? I thought I saw red somewhere

[@DansFish]

Sometimes, Bolivian Rams are sold as "Crown Ruby" rams. Honestly, I think they are the same fish with a new name for marketing purposes. And, the pics often look doctored to filter for high red. I could be wrong about a red variant, but I've never seen it and don't know of anyone who has.

[@TheUndiscribables865]

@@DansFish thank you for you reply. I really appreciate it!! I saw a site with one and I knew youd be the perfect person to ask. You have a plethora of knowledge on everything fish lol.

[@De_Volpe]

Beautiful fish! I've never kept one since sources I read always say that they are very territorial and aggressive toward other fish. But maybe a larger group is an answer to that? As always great, informative content! Thanks!

[@DansFish]

Jan, I have to disagree with your sources. Even when kept as individuals, this is far from what I would describe as an aggressive cichlid.

[@De_Volpe]

@@DansFish that is great to hear! It lands on my wishlist then :)

[@Venslor]

I have mine in a 20L and have kept her with lemon tetras, panda corys, and otos and I've never seen aggression. She definitely has her "spot" and if she's eating, she'll chase the tetra away, but nothing remotely aggressive. Even with the corys, while they were eating the sinking pellets, she would actually wait until they moved before she went in and took a bite. She's my delicate little lady.

[@adamsabz6179]

They are not agressive at all

[@suejudith2009]

They’re beautiful! Do these Rams get along with angelfish, a school of Serpae tetras, black neon tetras. I also have Pygmy Cories.

[@danieldoherty8805]

SueJudith yes they do! They’ll go with almost anything.

[@DansFish]

Sounds like ideal tank mates to me!

[@daveyponderosa9549]

SueJudith They do indeed.

[@GREYGHOST-135]

what is the best nitrate and nitrite level for these guys

[@SuperGankBros]

Nitrite should always be zero regardless of what fish you keep. Nitrates are typically 20ppm and under, again, for all tanks unless you have a heavily planted high tech tank and need to dose extra for the plants...

[@moraisins]

Great species spotlight! Thank you! Do you know how they are with cherry shrimp? Can they co-exist? I’ve heard varying reports of yes and no.

[@Constantine_Cvl8]

Pretty much any cichlid ever discovered would be the bane of every small shrimp. Here's a video of one eating little shrimplets kzbin.info/www/bejne/h6WmgqmfpMyJfK8

[@christianjones1834]

Thinking about the same thing… I’ll be adding shrimp first and getting a colony of 50-60 before adding any rams I know some babies will be eaten but I’m thinking with having a 75g tank heavily planted with many hiding spots the colony will survive just fine

[@moraisins]

@@christianjones1834 i’m thinking of doing the same, which means no rams for prob 6 months 🤣😭

[@Jeremyjustme]

Do the females get the pink belly like the germans do?

[@DansFish]

Not that I have ever seen.

[@ricardobotao4933]

Do you think that i can put 6 rams together with 5 tiger barbs? thank you, i realy like your channel.

[@RandomPerson-i5p]

Tiger barbs are aggressive nippers i Would suggest species only for them

[@RescueDogTreats]

Would they be okay with guppies in a 20 gallon long?

[@DansFish]

Totally. I don't think that would be a problem at all.

[@rifraf6135]

Ph 68 to 70 Temp 78 20g high Tank age about 1 month from setup Current stock 3 albino cory, 1 powder blue dwarf g, 3 guppies Gravel substrate Would i be able to keep a pair of b rams in the tank? I may remove the guppies since they dont really like this ph from what ive heard.

[@DansFish]

Hello Rafiur, I think you could put these rams in that setup without any issues.

[@rifraf6135]

@@DansFish alright, thanks for the info! I really appreciate it. Keep up the good work

[@RescueDogTreats]

Do you have any Bolivian Ruby Crown Rams?

[@DansFish]

I wish I did, but I'm out at the moment.

[@milesruby3271]

Are those different than your standard Bolivian Ram? Or is Ruby Crown just another name?

[@marlonlising6321]

Are you the same Dan that does Dan's course's for Cisco?

[@DansFish]

I dunno...who's askin'? Just kidding. No, that is not me.

[@brycehoffmann3237]

Sorry if I missed it but did you talk about water perameters? Are they hard water fish? High PH?

[@stephenbassett1610]

Ram are a soft water fish, and enjoy a PH of 6.5 to 7ph. Ok

[@DansFish]

Bryce, I purposely avoid talking parameters in my vids because I don't want my viewers chasing parameters...it tends to harm the fish more than just keeping the water clean. Even though they are soft water fish in the wild, they will thrive in hard, alkaline water as long as it is kept clean. This breaks down somewhat if one is trying to breed a species...some soft water species don't propagate well in hard water. These rams, however, have been bred in captivity long enough that the odds are good they will spawn successfully in water which is not soft/acidic.

[@katebattista7400]

Just throwing this out there.....my area has hard water. Think a gH of 17 coming out of my tap. I've seen Bolivians raising fry in the local petsmart tank.

[@brianholbrook4159]

what kind of spirulina flakes do you suggest?

[@DansFish]

Personally, I use ZooMed's spirulina flake. It has a good amount of the stuff in it, but also has fish in it so they like the taste.

[@connerjones9572]

What's that plant on the top of the aquarium I need one, it was so cool, if anyone knows please tell me!!

[@DansFish]

That is water sprite: getgills.com/product.detail/1072

[@paulreed4868]

Can I keep 1 male with 2 females in a 60x15x18 tank

[@DansFish]

Yes. I'm keeping about 70 in a 75 gallon tank right now...no issues.

[@paulreed4868]

@@DansFish got the tank size wrong it's 24x15x18

[@MegaMindyLou]

I got my GoPro for Christmas last year and love it. Just now brave enough to stuff it underwater. That’s a strange feeling, dunking a camera in water on purpose. Great video. One question, hard or soft water? I don’t think you said? Maybe it doesn’t matter?

[@DansFish]

In nature, they are from soft water, but they will thrive in both as long as the water is clean. I kind-a avoid highlighting water parameters in my vids because I don't want to encourage my viewers to chase parameters. Clean is king!

[@MegaMindyLou]

That makes sense.

[@michaelharrity9795]

I want some

[@madturtle8826]

My red eye tetras are psychotic at feeding time. Like a pack of wild pirahnas

[@JohnCrute-q4b]

Dont know where the ram is in my tank right now i hope my male 3spot blue gourami didn't kill it. Hes probably hiding

[@eileenbowers6750]

No one sells them aròund here. 💞👀

[@ricodegallo3060]

👍

[@DansFish]

🕶🎸

[@michaelharrity9795]

Send me 2

[@DansFish]

MIchael, if you still need some, you can get them here: getgills.com/product.detail/1207

[@michaelmachos8969]

NOT ENTIRELY TRUE, Dan! I have had some Bolivians that weren't peaceful to others!

[@DansFish]

The exception that proves the rule, I suppose.

[@michaelmachos8969]

@@DansFish Cichlids are a tough bunch😀

[@larryc835]

Ruffians in low numbers. Kicked the hell out of my cory's lol. Moved them to their own tank now they can scrap with a killi and my dwarf peckolita Rio Negro, he don't take their shit lol.👍😂

[@JohnCrute-q4b]

Mine wont be such a community fish one e yall know what im doing to it. I have a pair of gourami🔵 a male 3spot blue gourami and Female opaline gourami🔵 and i just got a single male Bolivian ram cichlid🚩 which is republican he wont be bred but my Gourami will and this will trigger jealousy and envy. Im laughing maniacally 😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆

[@JohnCrute-q4b]

Do yall think i got the ram cichlid for it peacefulness NO I got it to cause it jealousy and envy and anguish of my paired gouramt but there no a thing he can do about it. Im laughing maniacally 😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆