Comment by GSP on January 13, 2013 at 3:48pm

Its quite small. If they were alone without other fish, with plenty of plants, and some spawning sites, and water quality was your top priority, then they'll likely do okay. 

Of course a larger tank would be a better option.

Comment by Robert Jango on January 14, 2013 at 2:04am

Agree with everything GSP said.  In such a small tank water conditions can go bad in a matter of hours. Floating some Water Sprite or hanging a Pothos plant over the side with its roots in the water will help, but you will have to change the water often!

The good news is that with such a small tank this will be easy. Get a 5 gallon bucket and fill it with water so that you can dump it in the tank every other day or so. Of course you'll need to dump out the old water first. If possible use rainwater from a rainbarrel. Your Rams will love it and probably start breeding. I would forget about using a filter. In a tank this size and with all the water changes a filter would only serve to trap and recirculate the waste.

I know someone who's visited Venezuela about 20 times and he tells me he's never seen baby Rams in water under 85 degrees. They love hot water. In a tank this size you might be able to heat (and light) the water with an overhead incandescent bulb and an airstone to distribute the heat. This way you could go without a heater too.    

Comment by thefisherman15 on January 20, 2013 at 12:37am

I have decided not to get a Fluval Spec  for my Blue Ram's  cause I think it would be to small . I have five Blue Rams in my 65 gal ( three males / two females ) and  4 Blue Rams in my 45 gal

( two males/females )  -  they are all doing well and I think I will leave them be for a while and see if they breed ????  ....... thefisherman15 .

Comment by Robert Jango on January 20, 2013 at 2:08am

If you give them a fresh infusion of very soft water - at least 50% - that should trigger breeding. A diet of live food also helps. Small earthworms and blackworms are great for conditioning females. Place some clay pot chards or red bricks at the bottom of the tank. The pair will lay their eggs in a location they feel is easiest to defend against other fish in the tank. 

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