German blue ram questions

[tidesby]

I just got a pair of German blue rams and they're acting kinda sketchy. The male keeps chasing the female into the corner. Tank is 20 gallons, planted with java fern and anubias, sand substrate. Water params are good, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 10 nitrate. Temp at 82F. Should I be worried or is this normal behavior?

[sgdiscus]

I've never kept rams but my discus do the same thing when they're pairing up. Maybe they're just figuring things out. How long have you had them?

[Flambo9]

I just got a pair of German blue rams and they're acting kinda sketchy. The male keeps chasing the female into the corner. Tank is 20 gallons, planted with java fern and anubias, sand substrate. Water params are good, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 10 nitrate. Temp at 82F. Should I be worried or is this normal behavior?

Rams can be territorial, especially in smaller tanks. A 20 is okay for a pair, but they might need more hiding spots. Try adding some driftwood or extra plants to break sightlines. Also, check if the female has any damage from the chasing.

[tidesby]

Thanks for the advice. I'll try adding more plants and see if that helps. They've only been in the tank for two days, so maybe they just need time to settle.

[Flambo9]

Two days is still early. They're probably stressed from the move. Keep an eye on them, but don't panic yet. If the female starts looking ragged or stops eating, you might need to separate them temporarily.

[sgdiscus]

What are you feeding them? Sometimes aggression can be worse if they're hungry. My discus chill out after a good meal.

[Flambo9]

What are you feeding them? Sometimes aggression can be worse if they're hungry. My discus chill out after a good meal.

Good point. Rams love live or frozen foods. Try brine shrimp or bloodworms to distract the male and give the female a break.

[tidesby]

I've been feeding them flakes and occasional frozen daphnia. I'll grab some bloodworms tomorrow and see if that helps. Appreciate the tips!