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Re: Microgeophagus ramirezi
Geraldine,
Most animals have preferred environmental conditions but can survive in less
preferred ones if basically healthy. I think the problem with most Rams is that
they are mass bred by commercial breeders who don't do a lot of selective breeding
for anything but size and color. Many treat their young Rams with hormones to
increase their color and have them swimming in antibiotic soups to prevent
infections from running wild in mass grow-out tanks. All of these have weakened the
fish over time. These weaker fish need optimal conditions to survive. Of course
some fish will be stronger than others. These are usually the largest and/or
'bitchiest' fish in a group. Good healthy Rams are tough little fish and can handle
temperatures for long periods of time into the low 20º's C (low 70º's F) (I'll be
glad when the U.S. converts to metric so I won't have to convert everything - yeah,
I know, fat chance.). Rams were the first dwarfs I ever kept. I was given them
because they wouldn't eat for their owner. No, it wasn't the low temperatures. They
were in a community tank of Melanochromis auratus and Pseudotropheus zebra! I put
them in a tank with small tetras and they ate like pigs. The temperature was around
72-75ºF (22-24ºC) and they lived for a couple of years.
So the answer is you had good healthy fish to start with. Enjoy them!
Mike Wise
alex pastor wrote:
> Earlier there was a thread about the proper conditions for keeping (blue)
> rams. The temperatures quoted were quite high (86 degrees fahrenheit and
> plus) because their sites of origin are small pools, unshaded, and hence the
> water temperatures can be as high as 90.
>
> There have also been people posting that they have trouble keeping their
> rams healthy and alive. The advice, generally, has been to raise the water
> temperature so they'll be more comfortable.
>
> Maybe I've just been fortunate, but I've kept my rams at 80 degrees from
> when I purchased them. I've had to separate the male from the female
> because of post-spawning aggression (during spawning I did raise the temp to
> 84, but the eggs never hatched. I don't really care one way or the other.
> Bonus if I get fry, shrug the shoulders if I don't. Maybe he's a 'Duddley'.
> They did eat their fungused eggs, but not with any relish. More like it was
> a chore expected of them.) Neither of the fish has ever experienced any
> problems with ick. In fact, the male is in a tankful of guppies (which
> should be kept at about 76 degrees F so they are in water that is somewhat
> too warm for them).
>
> They are kept in clean water, (twice weekly 75 percent water changes) at pH
> 7, and are fed exclusively on brine shrimp and bloodworms. I wish the male
> would be more successful at getting some live food into him (i.e. baby
> guppies) but he's not the best hunter, that's for sure. (Anybody want
> guppies? :) ) He has grown into an absolutely beautiful specimen and
> exercises all day long chasing guppies. (I wish I could afford a digital
> camera at times like these. :( )
>
> These two fish have been transfered from tank to tank since I've owned them.
> The male definitely got used to his 'conjugal' visits. +ACI-Ah, the net. Must
> mean it's time for nookie. Hoist me up.+ACI- So I don't understand why these
> fish have a reputation for being delicate. If anything, mine have proved to
> be as robust as blue gouramis.
>
> What could be the cause of the many problems that are being reported by
> various people on this list? I've detailed the conditions under which I
> keep the fish. I purchased them from a full shipment, but waited until they
> had been in the store for a week. Also I picked out the absolutely
> 'bitchiest' most aggressive female. Is it possible that, although the
> temperature is lower (planted tanks, lots of duckweed and watersprite too)
> than 'ideal' that there are other factors which can be attributed to their
> apparent health? Could anything I have contributed in this posting assist
> others in having a more positive, less stressful, time of keeping these
> fish?
>
> G. Kadar
>
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