Tankmates for my Electric blue rams

[Penny]

Hi all.

I set up a new aquarium a few months ago, with a view to getting rams.. they've been in for about a month now and have settled in really well.  I was hoping this would be a little breeding project, and I think I have a male and female.

Anyway... I was wondering if I should have some dither fish to help? I have no idea who'd suit my tank.. William,the definite male is pretty fiesty!

The tank is 20 gal, 75lt square. Really stable parameters. 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites 20-40 nitrate. pH 7.5. but it is warm.. 83°f/28°c

Any ideas would be gratefully received 😊

[Penny]

I forgot to mention.. there's three caves and lots of spiderwood back there, behind the plants. 

[Rob E.]

I really like your tank, the color is amazing. It makes me want to put more effort into my own aquascapes. Is that tall green plant pennywort? 

I've never kept electric blue rams, so take that into consideration, but I think that your temperature will likely be the limiting factor.  Cardinal tetras are the first thing that comes to mind, but that would be a lot of blue fish.  Rummynose tetras are my fav. but I've never kept them that warm before.

If you want to breed the rams, you might consider keeping them by themselves.  I have a tank with Bolivian rams and harlequin rasboras. The rams breed occasionally but the fry get picked off pretty quick. It may be possible to net out some fry, I plan to do that myself the next time I see any. 

 

[Penny]

Thank you 😊 that tall green plant is Nymphoides hydrophylla 'Taiwan' it was a tissue culture and really took off! I love it.

I'll look into harlequin rasboras.. I really like them.

[Andy's Fish Den]

If you are wanting some dither fish to help the rams overcome some shyness, cardinals are the first thing that pretty much comes to everyone's mind because of the higher temps with rams. But, I have kept several other tetras in the low 80s before and they have done really well, I have done ember and lemon tetras at those temps, along with the eques and red pencilfish. All four have done great kept at 82-84*, and have noticed no ill effects.