Keeping Dwarf Rainbow Fish and Blue Rams in the same tank?

[That Guy Brian]

Hi all. As the subject states, can these two species be kept in the same tank parameters? This will be my first tank and I read a post on another forum saying they can't be kept together, since one is from SA and the other from Indonesia. They will be in a 75G well planted tank (design pic below) with the following stocking, including them:

12 Orange Venezuelan Cories
6 Dwarf Rainbow Fish
6 Amano Shrimp
12 Cardinal Tetra
12 Black Neon Tetra
3 Blue Rams
4 Pom Pom Crabs
12 Red Beckford's Pencilfish
1 Tiger Pleco
12 Cherry Red Tetra
1 Siamese Algae Eater

 

[Unexpected]

I've never kept rams, but if I recall, they prefer warmer water? If so, I'd stick to fish who can handle cooler temperatures. Plants do better the cooler you can keep the water.

 

[That Guy Brian]

I've never kept rams, but if I recall, they prefer warmer water? If so, I'd stick to fish who can handle cooler temperatures. Plants do better the cooler you can keep the water.

From what I've read, they prefer 79F-86F, which does put them on the higher side of my stocking list. That being said, I was more worried about the hardness of the water. I'm in way south Louisiana and we have moderately hard water. If it's thought that the Rainbows will be fine with that, then I'll just delete the Rams from the list and add more Rainbows, if you think that would work with the rest of the stock?

-B

 

[Unexpected]

Rainbows handle just about anything.

 

[Koan]

and the other from Indonesia

Rainbowfish are (mostly) from Australia!

4 Pom Pom Crabs

Bear in mind, almost any cichlid is going to try to eat your crabs Rams might be the least likely but they still may do it.

I'm in way south Louisiana and we have moderately hard water

How hard of water?

Laetcara is another genus of SA small cichlid that does well in hardness up to 10 or 15 kh

The Wet Spot usually has them

Species Snapshot: Laetacara araguaiae, the Araguaia dwarf acara - AMAZONAS Magazine

Paul V. Loiselle shines our species spotlight on a fish of many names. Whether you know it as Laetacara sp. 'Buckelkopf', the Araguaia Dwarf Acara, or even the Purple Smiler, Laetacara araguaiae is a commendable, small South American cichlid species for the home aquarium.

www.amazonasmagazine.com

Redbreasted Acara-Laetacara dorsigera

Expert facts, care advice, feeding tips and breeding information about the Redbreasted Acara (Laetacara dorsigera) for freshwater aquarium enthusiasts.

www.fishkeeper.co.uk

Dwarf Flag Acara-Laetacara curviceps

Expert facts, care advice, feeding tips and breeding information about the Dwarf Flag Acara (Laetacara curviceps) for freshwater aquarium enthusiasts.

www.fishkeeper.co.uk

 

[Pepere]

If it's thought that the Rainbows will be fine with that, then I'll just delete the Rams from the list and add more Rainbows, if you think that would work with the rest of the stock?

Well, you could always get Two tanks…

One for plants and cooler water fish…. And a second tank for Rams…