[mariannep]

Hello!

Having solved the cloudy water issue and with paremeters and things now stable, good plant growth and such I was now getting ready to add the next fish: a couple of ramirezi cichlids.
However, I'm having second thoughts because of their presumed digging habits, but I'm reading conflicting reports.
I have at most half an inch (1cm or so) of coarse sand topping the clay-ish substrate. I worry that they might disturb the topping layer enough to start again with the cloudy water issue (with or without help from the RCS). How much do they dig when they choose to do it? There are lots of plants and driftwood, so they should have some decent cover, if that's a factor.

Otherwise, can you think of any other candidates that are colorful, not big and will get along with cardinal tetras and a couple of ever-spawning pearl gouramies?

Thanks!

Marianne

 

[fraviz]

I had rams... but with gravel.. and I never notice them digging....
I read that you have rcs ... they might be nice snacks for them...

 

[mariannep]

Mmm, I hadn't through if it from that point of view... I'm fine withem eating some, but not wiping them all out. One more point for something else, I guess... Thanks!

 

[Yo-han]

I had a couple of rams and with enough hiding places (including inside my external filter) my RCS population increased so wiping them out is quite hard if you have enough of them and enough hiding places for shrimplets.

 

[aquabillpers]

Rams like to dig holes to receive their eggs. They also like caves. I made a cave and half-filled it with gravel, and they dug in it to their hearts' content and raised a family.

IME, they don't dig when they aren't breeding.

Bill

 

[mariannep]

Johan, thanks... I thought that could be the case, but then I don't know what rams can be like. I love your tank, btw, algae-covered rocks and all... Beautiful and very elegant!

Bill, thanks, how deep do they dig, do you know? I know it's only when breeding but I read this can be quite often (even if unsuccessful) and since I already have the pearl breeding every other week...

 

[Yo-han]

IME they make a little hole, 2-3 inch wide and 1 inch deep max. But perhaps this depends on the substrate...

 

[aquabillpers]

Hi, Mariannep,

The ones I had dug a small depression, nothing more. They were quite happy to confine their digging to the cave I supplied.

Bill

 

[mariannep]

Thank you. I think I'll dare try. Now i just need some time to go get them!

Cheers!


Marianne

 

[Diana K]

They will lay eggs on a flat rock, so no digging there, but when the eggs hatch the parents dug a few shallow holes for the fry to hide in. It was really amusing watching them. Mom fish would move the fry from over here to over there and Dad fish was just as busy moving the fry from over there back to here.

At the time I had gravel in the tank. As others have posted, the digging was a few (2-3) shallow scoops, not even an inch deep, about 3" diameter.

Alternatives to Rams, perhaps Apistos. They are a bit smaller. There are many species.