German Blue Ram

<p>These fish are oval shaped, they are yellow with a light blue rear and a reddish forehead. They can reach up to 2 inches. Rams are extremely popular in the hobby and as such many different varieties have been developed, however, many of these varieties are hybrids that are extremely susceptible to disease and have shorter lives. To keep these fish in captivity, water pH should be between 5.0 and 6.0 and water temperature should range from 80°F to 86°F. The tank should have hiding places, flat rocks and a sandy substrate. They can be kept in community aquariums, however, tankmates should be carefully chosen since Rams are poor competitors, peaceful characids are good tankmates. A 10 gallon tank is enough for a pair, for more than one pair a 29 gallon tank is the minimum recommended.</p>

<p>This species is omnivorous. It can be fed with dried sinking foods supplemented with live or frozen foods like bloodworm, Artemia and Daphnia.</p>

<p>Males are larger and more colorful than females.</p>

<p>To breed this species in captivity, it is best to get a group and allow it to pair off naturally and whenever a pair forms it should be isolated. The breeding tank should have water temperature ranging from 77°F to 82.4°F. The pair will start by cleaning the surface of a flat rock or of a broad leaf, then the female will lay her eggs there and the male will fertilize them. The eggs hatch in a day and the fry become free swimming a few days after.</p>

<p>This species is native to Rio Orinoco’s drainage.</p>

<p>The water in which these fish are packaged is different from the water in the tank, since these fish are extremely sensitive to water conditions the acclimation process is very important. This process should never be rushed. Aquarium lights should be off for at least the first 4 hours of the fish in the new tank and it should not be fed in the first 24h. There are two acclimation methods: Floating Method and the Drip Method.</p> <p>Floating method -  the aquarium lights should be off and lights in the room should be dim, the bag in which the fish is should be placed in the surface of the water to float for about 15 minutes, this allows the water in the bag to adjust to the water in the tank. The bag should then be cut under the knot and the top edge of the bag should be rolled down one inch, then ¼ cup of the aquarium water should be added to the bag, this step should be repeated every 4 minutes until the bag is full, then half the water of the bag should be discarded and the bag should be put to float again and ¼ cup of the aquarium water should be added to the bag every 4 minutes until the bag is full. Afterwards, the Discus can be moved into the aquarium.</p> <p>Drip method – the aquarium lights should be off and lights in the room should be dim, the bag in which the fish is should be placed in the surface of the water to float for about 15 minutes, this allows the water in the bag to adjust to the water in the tank. The bag contents should be poured into a 1 gallon bucket that has never been cleaned with any chemicals, the fish should be enterally submerged. A siphon, using airline tubing, should be set up and a drip line should run from the main aquarium to the bucket. Several loose knots should be tied in the airline tubing to regulate flow. Sucking the end of the airline tube that goes to the bucket will begin a siphon, the flow should be regulated to 2 to 4 drips per second. Once the water in the buckets doubles, half should be discarded and the process should be repeated until it doubles again. Afterwards, the fish can be moved to the aquarium.</p>

Venomous (Change Content)