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About Ron Coleman
Expertise
I am an expert on cichlid fishes, particularly New World cichlids. My broader expertise includes the behavior, ecology and reproduction of fishes in general. (I am NOT an expert on Goldfish. Please do not ask me questions about why your goldfish are sick -- they are almost always sick due to the way that they are sold). Also, please do not use abbreviations, such as "my GT has a swollen
eye" because I don't know what a "GT" is. The more clearly you can explain your question, the better chance I have of understanding what it is that you seek. Thanks.
Experience
I teach at the California State University, Sacramento in the Department of Biological Sciences, and I run a website, called the Cichlid Research Home Page . I also write for many popular aquarist magazines, and I am editor of Cichlid News magazine. I am a scientist and I spend my time teaching fish biology, ecology, behavior and evolution and doing research on the reproductive biology of fishes, particularly cichlids. I do research in the laboratory and in Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Mexico. My main interest is understanding the evolution of parental care in fishes. I am interested in encouraging greater public awareness, understanding and participation in science.
Organizations belong to
American Cichlid Association, Pacific Coast Cichlid Association, American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, etc
Publications
Cichlid News, Tropical Fish Hobbyist, Freshwater and Marine Aquarium, Science, Behavioural Ecology and Sociobiology, Copeia, Canadian Journal of Zoology, Trends in Ecology and Evolution, AUK, Environmental Biology of Fishes
Education/Credentials
PhD (Toronto, 1993) MSc (Simon Fraser, 1986) BSc (British Columbia, 1983)
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You are here: Experts > Animals/Pets > Pet Fish > Fish > Flower Horn and Ram Cichlid
Expert: Ron Coleman
Date: 5/8/2008
Subject: Flower Horn and Ram Cichlid
Question
Hello,
I have been raising a Red and White Flower Horn, I bought it when it was only 1.5-2inches and now its almost 3 inches. It is kept in my 3ft almost 40 gallon tank with other African and parrot Cichlids. Now can you please guide me that how can I make its growth faster and make it to adapt attractive colors with humpy head?
My second question is regarding Ram Cichlid or Dwarf Cichlids, Can they only survive in a planted tank? Can't they just live happily in a normal tank with no live plants?
I will be glad to see your immediate response on above queries.
Thanks.
Answer
Hi Abbas,
The flowerhorn is not an African cichlid. It is a manmade variety of a fish from Central America, Cichlasoma trimaculatum. They get large heads when they mature. A mature flowerhorn is around 8 inches long or so.
Fish grow faster when you change their water a lot.
Ram cichlids can survive without plants, but they probably won't be nearly as happy. Small cichlids like rams do not like to feel exposed, and that is why they like the protection of a planted aquarium.
-- Ron
rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
Cichlid Research Home Page <http://cichlidresearch.com>
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