I've read some posts and literature on the sensitivity of GBRs and the requirement for an absolutely clear tank with low nitrates. Is this an exaggeration? I mean, they're cichlids, maybe they're just sensitive compared to other cichlids (granted, discus are cichlids too). I have a tank with lots of plants (but wouldn't call it a planted tank) with a reasonably small amount of fish and do regular water changes every week or two. Maybe bolivian rams are a more robust a sensible choice? How much color do you sacrifice by going with the bolivians?
GBR sensitivity exaggerated?
- Thread starter wintermute
- Start date
I don't know about "clear water", since I've kept GBR's very well in deeply tannin stained water (the kind your camera cannot take pictures through) and even highly stocked/planted tanks with detritus that collects here and there, but they do need clean water. Frequent water changes and warm water are about the two most important requirements. Parameters second IMO but important as well. Wild GBR's or those bred from areas with softer water do not do well in my tanks. For that specific reason I've found a breeder nearby who has linebred his GBR's in the city's naturally harder tap water. They look great and do great in my city's water. They're also a little more hardy IME.
Those bred from asia often come in hormoned and/or sick and by the time you buy them at the store they're half way through their life expectancy which averages two years.
Best way to get yourself some long-lived hardy GBR's is from a local breeder. A not so local breeder being second best. That way you get them young and healthy with the best chances of them doing well in your water without having to constantly mess with your params to try and keep them ideal. Stability is much better than fluctuating attempts at "perfect".
Those bred from asia often come in hormoned and/or sick and by the time you buy them at the store they're half way through their life expectancy which averages two years.
Best way to get yourself some long-lived hardy GBR's is from a local breeder. A not so local breeder being second best. That way you get them young and healthy with the best chances of them doing well in your water without having to constantly mess with your params to try and keep them ideal. Stability is much better than fluctuating attempts at "perfect".
I've never thought GBR'S were sensitive at all. My pair that i had in my 7gal would sometimes be in water in nitrates of about 15-20ppm...they looked fantastic!! Sometimes i wouldnt do waterchanges for about 3-4 weeks (i know, bad me) but seriously...they looked great.
As straitjacket said, its best to get them from a breeder (thats where mine were from). They will live longer and they look MUCH better. The ones from the lfs's are IMO, crap. I went to a lfs yesterday and they had some but they were dull looking and not very healthy.
Also my rams were in water of a pH of 7.6 (and quite hard water too) and they even spawned quite a few times!
Mine died a little while ago but as soon as the weathers warmed up here im getting another pair from the same breeder
As straitjacket said, its best to get them from a breeder (thats where mine were from). They will live longer and they look MUCH better. The ones from the lfs's are IMO, crap. I went to a lfs yesterday and they had some but they were dull looking and not very healthy.
Also my rams were in water of a pH of 7.6 (and quite hard water too) and they even spawned quite a few times!
Mine died a little while ago but as soon as the weathers warmed up here im getting another pair from the same breeder
My experience has been that they aren't too picky about what's going on. I'm not sure about nitrate sensitivity, as my levels are usually under 10ppm, but they were definitely some of the hardier fish in my tank.
On a few occasions I needed to swap them around, including when I swapped substrate in my 29g and they didn't mind any of it, even when a lot of the other fish were freaked out to be in a 20g with 3 inches of water in it.
On a few occasions I needed to swap them around, including when I swapped substrate in my 29g and they didn't mind any of it, even when a lot of the other fish were freaked out to be in a 20g with 3 inches of water in it.
wow, I think I might pass on the GBRs. I keep my parameters in check and the tons of java fern I have in the tank helps, but I have to admit I refill the tank with a python after dumping some Prime in the tank - I can't always get the temp spot on. SOunds like th bolivians are best for me. What's their anticipated lifespan? I had no idea that GBRs were so short-lived.
