Looking for decent quality Rams

Slaapkousie, here's the peat moss I've been talking about (turns out it's almond leaves but does the same job LOL)

 

Hey guys,

A few things-

Rams generally just do better in soft water. Bear in mind that they originate from some of the softest natural water available in the world. The water they origiate from has a total dissolved solid count as low as 10ppm. Thats close to pure RO water.
Sure you can keep them in harder water but they simply do better in soft acidic water.
I breed mine in almost 100% pure RO water. I do that because it increases the hatch rate of eggs to as high as 95%
I do however raise the fry in pure PTA tap water with a tds of +-120.
Rams can do well in hard water but their colours really come out at low ph levels in soft water.

Just another tip - instead of buying aquarium specific peat moss or catappa, visit a local nursery and inquire about Canadian peat moss. It usually sells for abt R50 for a big bag and will last you very long.
Just make sure its free of pesticides

Rgds

Marco

 

Thanks @Marco! Will look into that for sure

 

Where?!

 

This is at plaza pets

 

At the oriental plaza in fordsburg

 

sorted!!

 

Nice did you buy it at plaza pets ?

 

Nope. Didn't catch them on time so popped into dorry pets in Centurion. Good ram stock. Picked up 6 more today from local lfs that ordered in from international.

One very long finned female.... Still struggling with sexing these little guys

 

UGH!!
Would have been great if you were closer. I have the long finned male, ready and looking for a girl!
His water 110% and goes into breeding colours every fortnight. :banghead:

 

I dropped off a whole lot of rams at Jungle Aquatics this morning. They are from Marco's stock and are very, very hardy. I kept them in normal Jhb water so they are used to it.
Obviously, if you want to breed them then you would need softer water. I just had half the tank water consist of RO water Also give them brine shrimp (frozen) to bump up there colour and get them ready for breeding.

 

Why are all the good fish shops JHB side :frown:

Can someone PM me a list of LFS in CPT please. I only know of AV in Brackenfell.

Or if they domain owners of this site do shipping to Cape Town could you give me their details please. Looking for a few rams and other peaceful fish, but everyone around here just stocks Tetras which I have loads of already.

 

Thanks a lot, ill PM him right away. :top:

 

Hi @SkaapForce

Can you give me a day or so to check on availability of some Rams in Cape Town?
I send about a hundred down with Prof Dirk a few months ago, not sure if he has moved them all on. I can then put you in contact with him if he still has.

Unfortunately I have only got very young Rams atm.
I also have no GBR fry yet.
At the moment I have Electric blue fry at 4 week age and Powder blue rams at just over 2 weeks.
Heres a nice photo of some Powder blue rams. They are absolutely stunning Rams-by far the best looking tank bred strain...even if I say so myself

I also have the first generation of another new Ram type - "Pearl" - which is now spawn ready. This strain still needs a bit of work on my side but hopefully I can offer them in about 6 months time.

I'll write back here asap if any GBR 's are available in CT ok.

Rgds

Marco

 

Can anybody in the know (Not me), tell me if any of the rams are good in community tanks with smaller fish. And are they best alone or with a partner? These okes are just really so cool. Need to have some. Also from Cape Town, but still busy cycling my tank. So will only need them in couple weeks time!!

 

Slaapkousie , have you tried Hein ? I saw he had some a few weeks ago. Nice healthy stock locally bred.

 

@Michealvdb I bought some Rams from Marco last year, and they are still living very happy lives in my 300l comunity planted tank with close to 20 neon tetras, as well as 5 Cory's. Very peacefull and tollerant to most other fish, but I wouldn't keep them with other cichlids.

I have a paid of GBR and Electric Blues in the same tank, and they mostly keep to opposite sides of the tank, except when it is feeding time. They are out of line of sight of each other, and spawn every 10 days. Doing very well at the moment!

 

Hi Micheal,

They do well in community tanks (with the right tank mates) but they are usually described as moderately difficult to keep and need a well established (not new) tank.