Bolivian Rams

[Viperboy]

Ok so you know im been wanting to get a pair or 3 bolivians for my 29gal but have yet to find any in my area. Well im happy to say that today i found some but it was not exactly what i was planning on. Today i decided to check out Petsmart and see if it had white gravel for fairly cheap (like 25lbs bag) cause im gonna use it for my blue crayfish 10gal. While i was there i decided to just take a gander at their tanks .... well low and behold i saw a tank of bolivian rams that at first glance there was about 10 good ones that seemed in good shape so i was about to call a lady over to get three just when i noticed one of them start to swim side ways and not look too good. Then i also took a closer look and in the back one fish was laying on the gravel and i assumed it to be dead. So i decided not to get any even though i really wanted to .... but if i waited a week and went back and they still have some that seem good would it be ok to get em?

Ray

PS They also had a tank of dwarf puffers and now im thinking about getting some of them for my other 10gal but i bet they would eat my 4 glowlights in there so i dk ... but when did Petsmart start having cool fish

[Zagz]

Have you checked with a local aquarium society to see if there are any breeders near you? I don't imagine the rams will stay at the lfs long enough to see if they are in good shape.

I have been advised that many rams from the lfs's aren't of the best quality and getting them from a breeder is preferable. I got my GBR's from a local breeder.

[Lonewolfblue]

Also, I just found out that I had to remove the 3rd Bolivian from the 29G when they decided to spawn. So if you are wanting Bolivians and hoping for a pair, I'd just get 2 in a 29G. Then you won't have complications later. The 3 worked just fine in my 75G because it's so big, but too small for 3 in a 29G if you have a pair that is spawning.

[Viperboy]

Well im not sure if these is a freshwater fish soceity around kansas city but i have looked for a while and cant really find one ... a lot of salt water ones though .
But the reason i planned on getting 3 was because i wanted to be sure i got a male and female and odds are out of 3 u have a pair cause i cant sex them at the store and i know for sure that Petsmart employees cant. But if they are there in a week when i go back i think get em

On a side note would serpae tetras be good with glowlight tetras? Or dwarf puffers?

Ray

[Jchillin]

I would leave those Bolivians where they are. Chances are very good that the entire tank will not recover from what is ocurring. Have you tried a search via google for a local aquarium society? I can't imagine there isn't at least one in KC.

(Note - I moved thread to the new Cichlid Discussion forum)

[Lonewolfblue]

Not sure about puffers, never had them, but serpaes will go ok with glowlites. No problems there. Also, check for rummy nose tetras.

[rich311k]

Dwarf puffers are very nippy and should be kept in a species tank.

[Viperboy]

So i did get the serpae tetras but i put em in my 29gal and kicked out my gold gourami ... but at the good LFS i went to today they had one bolivian ram and i was suprised ... the guy i trust there said they might be getting a few more in next thur ... so if they do imma swipe 2 or 3 up

Ray

[Lonewolfblue]

Cool, you will like them. And if they are small, it's fun watching them grow up, then pair off if you have a female in with a male. And they may look kind of dull when small, but when they start to mature, the yellows, golds, blues, and reds come out. Especially if you have pristine water conditions.

[JRagg]

Viperboy

I'm trying to get back into the fishkeeping thing and I live in Olathe. What LFS have you found in the KC area? I've had a hard time finding any that keep freshwater fish (that are not chain stores).