Leroy the HM plakat ( betta )

[Call_Me_Bob]

but harlequins wouldnt be a good idea if i dont have a hood.

german blue rams are brighter than blue rams? i didnt know there was a differemce. i do know that electric blue rams are WAY different. are you talking about the electric blue rams?

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

I could be getting the Electric Blue Rams confused with the German Blue Rams.

Essentially, Blue Ram, German Blue Ram, Electric Blue Ram, those ugly looking (IMAO) Balloon Blue Rams, they're all the same - Microgeophagus ramirezi.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Well...

That's the challenge of doing a community tank.

I'm merely pointing out to you the situations that you'll encounter with each fish species you mention.

It's up to you if you want to keep a Blue Ram, just know they are picky feeders.

Btw, if you ever decided that you want a Balloon Blue Ram, know that eventually it'll develop some physical complications. It has something to do with the fact that their internal organs are not shaped normally for a Microgeophagus ramirezi.

Not to mention, Blue Rams like soft water with slightly acidic pH. In hard water, they suffer a bit, but not as bad as the Neon Tetras.

[Call_Me_Bob]

i really think electric rams and balloon rams are ugly IMHO

what ph would be considered "soft"

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Slightly acidic pH: roughly 6.0

Neutral pH is okay: pH 7.0.

Soft water: 1 - 2 dKH

[Call_Me_Bob]

my pH is 7.2 and i will have to test dKH ( dont know what that is lol, gotta read up ) i have to get test strips for dKH

[Vanda lover]

I'm always surprised when someone mentions neons biting fins. I have had them many times and have found them to be very shy, they hide from other fish.
I have heard of problems with Serpeas [?]

[Call_Me_Bob]

i have never seen neons nipping either, but i have not kept them as extensively as Philip

[florafan]

I have never had any luck keeping neons. Philip is right that harlequin rasboras are jumpy, that's how I lost one. During a water change, it jumped out of the tank and by the time I found out, it had dried to a crisp. A couple of years ago I put a female betta in with the guppies and she terrorized them. I had to put her back into her own tank. From then on, all my bettas are each in separate tanks. A 2.5 gallon tank is big enough for a betta and does not take much room.

[Call_Me_Bob]

thats because most guppies have fancy tails that look somewhat like another betta