Overnight Blue Ram death with no warning?
- Thread starter msquared
- Start date
I'm planning on keeping a pair of german blue rams (my LFS hasn't gotten the shipment in yet) so I also picked up Sterbai Corys as tankmates. I've heard the Sterbais like temps in the low 80's as well.
That's good to know. That's the direction I'm leaning: try another Ram, and bump up the tank temps.
I definitely will ask. These did not appear to be juiced up like that - they almost looked wild caught as they had more stripes instead of just one obvious spot on the side, and the colors were more more natural without being "hyped up." But that's just me guessing, and I will indeed ask.
Updates to this:
First, I got test strips that include GH and KH. I know strips aren't as reliable as liquid, but this is what I could get for the moment at a store near me. They show GH at 75ppm (about 4.2dh); and KH at 20ppm. So based on some Googling, that should be pretty good for Blue Ram happiness. It also seems to corroborate my tanks self regulation of pH at 6.8 (one largish piece of driftwood seems to help keep it there). So unless these strips are way off (they are at least well within the printed expiration date) then I think all my parameters about right for Rams (once I bump the temp to 80*F). Please correct me if I'm wrong on this, though!
Second, a little research turned up a LFS in the St. Louis area that supposedly breeds their own cichlids. I called and they said they have Blue and Gold Rams. Another LFS actually recommended them to me especially for their quality and knowledge of cichlid stock. They advised me to bring a sample of tank water in so they can check it for compatibility. So that way I will also get confirmation of my test strip readigs. If the hardness readings are off, then I'll have to wait until I lower it before buying a fish. I will probably head over there tomorrow evening to check it all out. If all looks good, then I guess I'll be trying one again with a Ram. I'll update the thread with a progress report.
First, I got test strips that include GH and KH. I know strips aren't as reliable as liquid, but this is what I could get for the moment at a store near me. They show GH at 75ppm (about 4.2dh); and KH at 20ppm. So based on some Googling, that should be pretty good for Blue Ram happiness. It also seems to corroborate my tanks self regulation of pH at 6.8 (one largish piece of driftwood seems to help keep it there). So unless these strips are way off (they are at least well within the printed expiration date) then I think all my parameters about right for Rams (once I bump the temp to 80*F). Please correct me if I'm wrong on this, though!
Second, a little research turned up a LFS in the St. Louis area that supposedly breeds their own cichlids. I called and they said they have Blue and Gold Rams. Another LFS actually recommended them to me especially for their quality and knowledge of cichlid stock. They advised me to bring a sample of tank water in so they can check it for compatibility. So that way I will also get confirmation of my test strip readigs. If the hardness readings are off, then I'll have to wait until I lower it before buying a fish. I will probably head over there tomorrow evening to check it all out. If all looks good, then I guess I'll be trying one again with a Ram. I'll update the thread with a progress report.
Next update: The LFS in question tested my water sample and her results agreed with mine. Good. Then she said they also match her Ram tank's parameters almost exactly. Great! The only downer (in a way) was that she didn't have any male Blue Rams left. I chose the less aggressive of two females left (among a bunch of Golds), and now she's adapting to my tank at home. She's got prettier coloration than the last one. So far so good, and we'll see how it goes.
Hey everyone. Just to start off, I'm new to this forum, and this is my first post.
So I had the same thing happen to me. I lost my female Blue Ram. And now my male is hanging up in the corner of my tank, and my male apisto keeps chasing him around (might be due to apisto breeding??). Anyway, I'm setting up a temporary hospital tank (20L) to try and get him situated until i get him a new mate and reestablish him back into the tank.
So I had the same thing happen to me. I lost my female Blue Ram. And now my male is hanging up in the corner of my tank, and my male apisto keeps chasing him around (might be due to apisto breeding??). Anyway, I'm setting up a temporary hospital tank (20L) to try and get him situated until i get him a new mate and reestablish him back into the tank.
Matt, Sounds like you hit the jackpot with the Ram source. And I envy your water parameters. I would keep the temp no less than 80 degrees, preferably a bit higher. Hopfully the LFS can supply you with a male soon.
I finally have a male and female who seem to like each other, but after several weeks still no sign of spawning. My hard water does not help matters.
Great fish but not the easiest to keep.
I finally have a male and female who seem to like each other, but after several weeks still no sign of spawning. My hard water does not help matters.
Great fish but not the easiest to keep.
