Bolivian RAms

[DragonMungo]

I bought 3 Bolivian Rams.  I was not sure at the time what kind they were but they were labeled Blue Rams.  I like the way they look.  What I was wondering was if anyone has bred these before.  I think I have 1 male and 2 females.  The one chases the other 2 and changes colors when it does I was wondering if this was spawning behavior or something else.  Thanks any input will be appreciated.

[linuxrulesusa]

A picture would be helpful to ID them and then for breeding.

Blue Rams are easier to breed simply because you can tell male/female a lot easier. 

Bolivian Rams are not extremely easy to breed even once you have a pair - I have a reverse trio (2M 1F) and bought them from another guy on here and between the two of us the fish have been together over a year with little to no breeding - they will color up but not lay eggs etc.  I should probably try them by themselves again in a tank (30 long maybe?) but have not taken the time to do so.

[DragonMungo]

http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b544/drago776/DSC_0145_zpsc76008aa.jpg

Here is a pic of the Rams that I have.

[DragonMungo]

Any help with the exact species would help me greatly thanks.

[linuxrulesusa]

That's a German blue ram, Mikrogeophagus ramirezi.

To sex M/F, look for pink on the belly of the females.

Males have different 'spikes' also on their dorsal fin - the female's fin pretty much is straight across but on the male the third or fourth 'spike' is taller.

There's also a more subtle difference on the black/blue spot on the side...the male's is more solid and the female's has blue bleeding through the edges, as I recall.

Post pics of the other two and I or someone will try to help you sex them.

[African cichlid Keeper]

http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b544/drago776/DSC_0145_zpsc76008aa.jpg

Here is a pic of the Rams that I have.

The 1 ram in this pic is a male

[Kaia]

to my understanding rams pair off male/female and remain a monogamous couple

[djlamonica]

I bred them in a group 2 males and 5 females.

[linuxrulesusa]

I bred them in a group 2 males and 5 females.

Bolivians or german blue/gold/electric blues?  This guy thought he had bolivians but actually had german blues so the info in the thread is mixed up.    Just curious which ones you had.   A trio of German blues did not work for me but I did try in a 20 high instead of a bigger tank.  A pair seemed to work well.

[djlamonica]

Yeah sorry I should have clarified I bred the German blues in a group.

[linuxrulesusa]

Yeah sorry I should have clarified I bred the German blues in a group.

OK thanks for the info.

[atmagoulick]

Sounds like spawning behavior.