Half my male rams face has turned black?

abcdefghi

abcdefghi

AC Members
Jun 6, 2007
1,331
5
38
I have a pair of GBR's in my 55G, yesterday they both appeared fine, looked like they were working on clearing a space to spawn etc. Today I notice the male looks a little different, I look closer and the left side of his head/face has turned black from the nose all the way to the back of his gill.

His other side looks fine, he still has pretty bright colors (not as bright as they usually are, but still bright) and is eating fine. He is hiding a little more than usual, but came right to the top at feeding time. I also noticed what appeared to be him flashing that side against some rocks I have in the tank.

The only thing that has changed in the tank recently is I moved 3 neon's from my 10G into that tank (have had the neon's for a few months, so doubt its something from them). I tried to take a picture, but he was not being all that co-operative and would only let me take pictures of his right side. I attached 3 pictures so you can see him (might help at least assess overall health) and in one circled the area that is black (you can just about make it out, but the picture is poor).

Any idea's what this is? Everything else in the tank looks fine, I have seen my angel chase the rams, but have never actually seen him catch them. I am hoping its something easy to fix with clean water, but am somewhat worried, especially as this pair had been doing so well.

Thanks.

Edit - Just wanted to add, tested and ammonia = 0, nitrite = 0, and nitrate = 5-10ppm

008.JPG 009.JPG 010.JPG
 
Last edited:
Thanks for the replies, I am not so sure that it is normal coloration though. This morning he is sitting on the bottom of the tank, the black appears to be a little better, but he is definitely not himself.

I managed to get a couple better pictures, the 3 of his left side are from today, and the other was from the 10th just to show how his color was.

001.JPG 003.JPG 004.JPG 012.JPG
 
those still look like normal markings. they definately are not a disease. however, you make it sound as though your fish is stressed. could be from the agnels? what temp are you keeping your tank?
 
inkyjenn said:
those still look like normal markings. they definately are not a disease. however, you make it sound as though your fish is stressed. could be from the agnels? what temp are you keeping your tank?
Click to expand...

The tank is kept at 78F, should I bump it up to around 80-82F? He is acting somewhat lethargic, its odd, and frustrating since literally 2 days ago he was fine and looked to be preparing to spawn with the female I have.

Edit: I carried out a 50% water change (did one last night as well) so have changed 100% of the water in the last 24 hours, I have also increased the temp to 80F.
 
Last edited:
Well, whatever it was it killed him. He spent most of yesterday sitting on the bottom of the tank, and this morning was dead. Almost exactly 3 weeks since I bought him, and I still have no idea what the cause of death was, the other ram is fine. One thing I noticed this morning was that he looked a little bloated, but it was not noticeable when he was alive, so not sure if that was just something that happened after death.

It stinks, Friday it looked like they were getting ready to spawn, and now he is dead. I am wondering if maybe he ingested a piece of wood or something from the spot they were cleaning? long shot I know, but I have no other ideas about what happened.

I will probably give it a couple weeks and then try to find another male to go back in with the female.
 
Well, now I know why people have such trouble with these. Last night the female was swimming, eating, bright colored, and I was debating picking up a male this weekend.

This morning, lights come on and she is swimming around, I look again half an hour later and she is dead. Weird, about a month after buying them.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom