spots on blue rams

d_osborne

AC Members
Jan 13, 2007
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so, i just got two rams from my lfs. not the most reputable fs but they were the only place that had blue rams without having to order them online. anyway, when i got home i noticed that they have some weird spots on them. one is worse that the other.

they look like something inside the fish. you can kind of see through the skin. they are about the size of pond fish food pellets. i don't know if it is some kind of disease or if it is common in rams or what. i wasn't able to find any in any of the pics of rams on the internet.

any info or help would be greatly appreciated.
 
What color are the spots? Rams do have spots all over their bodies. Are you sure it's not that?
 
well, i had to use my cell phone. i can't get a very good pic. like i said though, it almost looks like there is something inside of them. the "spots" in these pictures are only noticeable on the right side.





 
Need a better pic

And although I am guilty of it myself you should really inspect your fish before you pick the ones ou want....spend some time and eyeball all the fish in the tank THEN decide.
 
First, I'm sorry I cannot see anything off of your pictures, but maybe this will help --

Do any of the "spots" look like the ones on these Rams? http://www.aquahobby.com/gallery/e_ram.php

Are the spots blue or metallic? You say they appear to be "under the skin"; I'm not quite sure what you mean, can you ellaborate?

Are the fish exhibiting any behavioral signs that are unusual (i.e. twitching, flashing, not eatting, seem lethargic, etc.)?

Also, I could use some info on your tank and tankmates please (what are your tank readings, tank size and what other fish do you have, do you observe any aggression?). If cycling, blue rams particularily do not do well in poor water conditions...

Lastly, whenndid you notice these spots? When they were still in the bag from the LFS, during acclimation, within the first couple of hours of intoroducing them into the tank, day later, etc.?
 
No, they don't look like those spots, although they do have a few like those. I guess they don't really look like spots, that's why i put quotes around it above. They are about the size of the pellets that are fed to pond fish and koi. And it looks like someone implanted them inside of the fish or something.

If you click on the pics I posted, it will show a larger image. I think you can see them best in the middle pic. There are four all along the top of him. One by his head, two in the middle and the last by his tailfin. You can't see it in the pic, but he also has three or hour in the back half of his mid section.

The good thing is that they seem to be acting fine. I thought I would go out on a limb and put them in my tank that has been established with platies for about 8 months.

I have the ph at 7.0.
Ammonia ---0
Nitrites-----0
Nitrates---20

I think that's right with the nitrites and nitrates. I might have mixed them up. And i didn't notice them until I was floating te bag in the tank to get the water temp right. Don't worry I did acclimate them, but not in a qt or anything. I did the drip method describd on www.liveaquaria.com.
 
Okay. Very helpful. Certainly you should not have placed them into a stablized tank after seeing the "spots" prior to introduction, which obviously you are aware of, but many of us do not have the luxury of a QT (me included)...

I'm reaching here I know, but I'm trying to help. Does it look like this? http://www.fishpalace.org/skininfection_mikeaofa.jpg

Also, if you have not, please check this sight for some great photos! http://www.fishpalace.org/Disease.html#Worm

I would highly recommend that you notify your LFS of this development for 2 reasons: 1) To let them know now incase you have a need to return them (dead or alive) and 2) more importantly, to see if they are having a similar issue and to share any information that they may have to offer.

Lastly, I would keep a very close eye on things and track any changes. Hopefully it's nothing...
 
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