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German blue ram questions
Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2025 4:01 am
by 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?
Re: German blue ram questions
Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2025 4:10 am
by 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?
Re: German blue ram questions
Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2025 4:45 am
by Flambo9
tidesby wrote: ↑Sun Jul 06, 2025 4:01 am
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.
Re: German blue ram questions
Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2025 5:19 am
by 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.
Re: German blue ram questions
Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2025 5:28 am
by 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.
Re: German blue ram questions
Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2025 5:49 am
by sgdiscus
What are you feeding them? Sometimes aggression can be worse if they're hungry. My discus chill out after a good meal.
Re: German blue ram questions
Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2025 6:03 am
by Flambo9
sgdiscus wrote: ↑Sun Jul 06, 2025 5:49 am
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.
Re: German blue ram questions
Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2025 6:34 am
by 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!