Keeping rams with other cichlids.

[J-Rod]

i like both lake malawi cichlids and rams. i cant decide what one to have. can i keep them together. i have a 55 gallon with nothing in it right now. ive kept cichlids before

[KingFisher]

No, rams do not do well at all with african cichlids. Not only are the water parameters totally different, but the africans are way too aggressive for the rams.

[aquaticbubba]

i have rams and im not sure but ive read that u should only keep rams with other peacefull fish....look into angel rams, very cool colorfull fish

[Sandz]

J-Rod you are asking the equivilent of putting a rabid wolf with a kitten.

Rams are amazonian fish that like mid to low ph levels and soft water. They go well with community fish of the same requirements. Kribensis are sometimes even to aggressive to put with rams so I would say that you currently have a ram right? You need to look elsewhere for tank mates. Mbuna and more aggressive cichlids are not good choices.

[flydustydawg]

There may be some SA cichlids that you could keep with rams but definetly not africans. You will only be wasting your money. Pluss that would just be cruel to the rams.

Africans are hard enought to keep with other africans. I would never try any other type of fish with them.

[eroc1085]

I would keep rams with a small schooling fish that like warmer temps. Cardinal tetras would be a good match. I have my rams with blood fins and panda corys. I also have a single Angel with them. He's tiny though. You could also find a really cool small pleco, but vaccum good cuz rams like CLEAN water and plecos are dirty.