German Blue ram tankmates?

[interlude]

Hey guys, I'm new to this forum. I am currently cycling my new 33g tank. I was wondering if I can house german blue rams and apistogrammas in the same tank?

 

[DH247]

I would be very wary. Both require property on the bottom for breeding. If it's a long tank then you may be able to get away with a pair of each... But I have definitely come to embrace and learn that for happy and healthy fish, given limited real estate and all other things being equal, it's better to go with fewer fish. The amount of aggression these guys can dish out can be quite a bit depending on personality. As well, it depends on whether or not you want successful spawns. Just my 2 cents! Welcome to the forum!!

 

[Mike Wise]

It really depends on which species of Apistogramma you want to keep with your Rams. Some are much more territorial than others. How you decorate your tank also has a lot to do with compatability. Rams are open substrate breeders; apistos are cave spawners. They use different parts of the aquarium. If you decorate it in 2 different sections, the fish usually will not be as territorial.

 

[interlude]

Thanks guys. I am setting up a 33g. I was thinking about putting Apistogramma cacatuoides in with the blue rams. The 33g is about 36" long I believe.

Im still cycling the tank but so far i have a big piece os driftwood, under the driftwood is a huge cave for any fish to hang out inside, on the left side of the tank I just put 2 clay pots. Im planningon putting alot more plants, or maybe buy another type of driftwood that when set in place, has some caves underneath.

 

[Mike Wise]

Sound like a good layout for A. cacatuoides, but not Rams. I suggest that you put the driftwood and flower pots on one side of the tank. Then add a large sword plant to fill the middle. On the other side add some dense plantings for the Rams to hide in and leave the the rest of this half open with a few smooth stones near the plants as breeding sites for the Rams. You must realize, however, that the temperature preferences are very different for these 2 species.

 

[interlude]

Sound like a good layout for A. cacatuoides, but not Rams. I suggest that you put the driftwood and flower pots on one side of the tank. Then add a large sword plant to fill the middle. On the other side add some dense plantings for the Rams to hide in and leave the the rest of this half open with a few smooth stones near the plants as breeding sites for the Rams. You must realize, however, that the temperature preferences are very different for these 2 species.

Sounds like an awesome idea, however, my driftwood is HUGE.. it will only fit in one way, I will try to squish the pots in there somewhere. Im still looking for more plants, any suggestions on some nice dense plants I can put in?