LFS ordered German Rams for me...all dying.

JosephMCorbett

JosephMCorbett

AC Members
Feb 7, 2005
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Northern California
My LFS normally does not carry German Rams, they say they don't have much luck with them. Well, a customer donated 4 - which they are keeping in a display tank with some Discus. Alot of customers were showing interest in the Rams, so they ordered 12 jouvaniles and were going to hold 4 for me. Their policy is to quarantine new fish for 2 weeks before sale, and any sign of problems gets new arrivals another week in the Q-tank. This was about 3 weeks ago and they are down to 5. 5 from 12!. They appear healthy, they eat, they die. There is no sign of Ich or any other disease. Every few days, one apparantly healthy Ram dies. They are loosing about 2 a week and so the survivors don't get off quarantine. Not sure if any will make it. I really want a couple of pairs of German Rams. They seem so popular on this board, why is my LFS having trouble? Don't know about water params., but this place cares for their fish very well. I've never had a problem with any fish bought from them. They have been "babying" these Rams. 50% water changes per week, good food (brine shrimp and flake), driftwood and plants in the tank, 80+ on the temp....what gives?
 
Asian bred rams are notoriously weak fish. They have been inbred way too much, your LFS, 99% sure, gets asian bred ones. They may not be acclimating them very well, asian bred rams are tough ones to do anything with. If you want quality fish I'd really suggest checking out Aquabid, or go to http://www.southernapistos.com shipping isn't that bad, but the quality of fish are awesome. Many times you can get F1 or F2 generation rams, so very hardy fish.
 
If I knew how to ship fish and you didn't mind the shipping costs....I would send you some...I am overwhelmed with them...lol....a pair of my 14 week old juveniles just layed eggs and dad is terrorizing the other 10 in the tank trying to protect them... :eek:
 
That would be great Nataku...lol....everyone should have this problem....lol....

I couldn't decide if I wanted to remove the fake log the eggs are on..plus dad to a small planted 5 gallon I have. There is one of the pair in there already, but would just switch them with the dad and his eggs....but...I think I have enough of these little guys and gals for now and the protein the fry would supply for the little growers would do them well...lol.... :rolleyes:
 
They may not have been aclimated (sp) well. I took well over an hour getting my pair adjusted to the my water from Emg's.
 
Emg how would you go about getting a couple a rams to Japan for me. LOL ;)
All my rams are asian breed, and as NatakuTseng stated , very difficult fish to keep healthy. You have to have great quality water and even then sometimes they get disease very easily time and time again, I must say I haven't lost any yet though. I use Ro water mixed with tap water for water changes on half weekly basis at 30-50% and always have plants in with my rams.
 
Guess they'd never make it to Japan Ash...lol

And actually....my PH measures between 7.8 and 8.0....water hardness is about 80ppm....don't know the gh and kh....I don't use any RO water and do water changes on the big tank only about every other week. (I do water changes a few times a week in the juvie tanks) It's a 29 and has 2 neon dwarf gourami, a breeding pair of the blue rams, 4 otos and just put a female betta in so I could use her tank for a pair of my baby rams. They've never gotten sick on me except for having to get them through a bout of camelanus nematodes which they came with when I bought them. Lost only one to that issue...the rest came through fine.

Everything I've read about these fish say that I shouldn't be able to keep them well, never mind actually BREED them !! :huh:
 
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Emg, If you put the Rams in a large plastic bag with plenty of water and air (like your LFS), in a box with plenty of padding, and FedEx overnight, they would probably make it. Anyone have any more ideas on shipping fish? If we could figure it out, I would gladly pay for the shipping and the fish.
 
I would be willing to try I think....but you wouldn't get shipping charges back if they don't make it....and I don't think I would try shipping anymore if they all went belly up on you.....I would refund the cost of the fish however.

It's been pretty cold around here lately and I wouldn't want to try shipping any now...but if I still have some when it warms up...I could certainly give it a go if you're willing to risk it.

PM me and let me know. :cool:
 
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