German Blue Rams shy and not feeding ? suggestions?

TrickyD119

TrickyD119

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Jan 25, 2005
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Auburn, AL
German Blue Rams shy and not feeding – suggestions?

I purchased two German Blue Rams roughly two weeks ago and they had been doing very well, but they fed less than normal yesterday and have been reclusive and have not fed at all today. They also appear to be breathing more heavily.

I retrofit a 55w CF kit from ahsupply.com yesterday, an increase from 20w normal florescent, so that is the only thing I can pinpoint as being different.

Parameters (that I have kits for)
Ammonia ≈ 0
Nitrite ≈ 0
Nitrate ≈ 10ppm
PH ≈ 7.2
Temp ≈ 79-81

Any ideas as to what I should do to comfort them and get them back to normal?

I have an empty 10g QT that is ready to go at any time if necessary, but I’d really like to know what else I can do for them.

Thanks
 
I would do a water change right away.......these guys can be difficult to acclimate. Also try to naturally get the PH down with driftwood, peat or C02 injection if you can. I lost a Ram sufferring those same symtoms after a 2 week period...hopefully youll have better luck than I
 
knashash said:
I would do a water change right away.......these guys can be difficult to acclimate. Also try to naturally get the PH down with driftwood, peat or C02 injection if you can. I lost a Ram sufferring those same symtoms after a 2 week period...hopefully youll have better luck than I
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I actually just did one last night, but I can do another tonight as well.

I typically change the water twice a week.

I've got some peat I can try for now.

Thanks for the reply, any other recommendations anyone?
 
Check thier ventral areas....do you see anything like reddish strings coming out of them ?

Reason I ask is because I had purchased some blue rams and about 2 weeks after getting them they started to show signs of stress. I noticed the red threads and did some research. Found out they had cammallanus nematodes. Some of the info I got said that rams from some asian countries are usually loaded with them.

I have been treating mine with some medicated foods per instructions. ONe of the rams died. It was the first one to show up with symptoms and it took me awhile to realize the fish was sick with something and not just being harrassed by the other rams. I noticed the strings after I took her out and put her in a tank by herself. By the time I figured out what it was and was able to get the meds...she was too far gone and not eating. The other 2 that have this are doing well so far...eating like pigs anyway, though they don't seem to enjoy the medicated food.

Here's a pic ...

6434_64.jpg
 
Emg said:
Check thier ventral areas....do you see anything like reddish strings coming out of them ?
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Well I can't see any red in the area, but there does seem to be some colorless protrusion in that area. Is that normal?

I’ve included two pics of the one that has been hanging out underneath a plant all day. I can’t get a good look at the one that has remained in a pot.

This one in the photo I always just assumed was a female due to the red coloration on the stomach region, but could that in fact be a problem?

DSCN1000.jpg DSCN1004.jpg
 
sublime1184 said:
check your levels after 2 or 3 water changes
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I can definitely do water changes, but I'm quite certain water quality is not the problem. I’ll do water changes if they’ll help, but there has to be an underlying problem.
 
She looks like she could be full of eggs...that white protrusion looks like her ovipositor. Her color looks good......if there are nematodes there they will be sticking out like little threads right past the ovipositor. Mine looked stressed before I noticed the threads, so keep an eye out for them.

I don't know what it could be Tricky......maybe try something live that wriggles around and see if they show any interest.. Are there any other fish in the tank that could be harrassing them ? Is there one ram that seems more aggressive and pushy than the others ? Sometimes that will cause them to hide out and sulk a bit...but mine always came out to eat...
 
Thanks for the reply Emg, I appreciate it.

There are currently 6 cory, 1 dwarf gourami, 1 oto and 2 rams (of which I'm fairly certain 1 is male and the other female) in a 29g.

The rams seem to be the aggressors of the tank as they have taken over one of my two pots and chase away anything that comes near it. They always hung out together too until today where they have spent the entire day on opposite sides of the tank.

Do you think the intensity of the new light could cause this kind of stress on them?

Do you think it would be a good idea to move them to my QT for the time being? Or would than just worsen the stress?

Thanks again!
 
HHhhhmm....well, watch them for another day and see what happens. Mine would hang out with each other, then they would have a little spat and stay away from each other....then hang out, then stay away..lol..sounds like a marraige to me ! :D

Just keep an eye out for any signs of those nematodes. If anything starts to look suspicious I'd take them out and treat them. I have my female still in the 29 but in one of those little tanks that hang on the side of the big tank. That way I can be sure she gets the medicated food and actually eats it. The other fish have no symptoms, but I'm treating them too...just want to be sure the one who definitly has the issue, definitly gets the treatment.
 
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