Tom

My rams aren't eating and I have been putting lots of frozen brine shrimp and they haven't been eating it and they are always hiding in the back or under the piece of driftwood. What could possibly be wrong? Oh, I forgot, the water is 0 ammonia and nitrite and less then 10 nitrate and the pH is 6.5-7.0.
Tom

Jacko

Is it a pair of rams? The conditions are right for breeding I guess, but if the water is lower than 81 dF they would just be sulking. Try bloodworms and other foods to entice them out, no fish can resist the yummy bright red color of a bloodworm.

Tom

It is a pair of them and the water is at about 80F, is that the problem?
Tom

Jacko

That is a fine temp for them, though if the other fish in your tank can allow and your heater goes that high, try 82, I kept my ram's at first in 79-80 water and they sulked and reminded me more of cories than rams, changed their temp to 83-84 and they brightened up and ruled and sparred with my gold gouramies and were far happier. Are they bloated at all?

Tom

No. They seem fine in regards to disease and sickness, that is the whole reason for my question. I will up the temp tomorrow morning.
Tom

Jacko

How old are they, how long have you had them? They could still be acclimating to your tank.

Tom

I got them a week ago. I got some more plants today since the tank is a little bare in regards to plants and the male has been coming out more then usual, the female seems to be hiding/guarding something under the piece of wood which is like a tunnel. No other fish is able to get under the wood any ways, so if I was a fish, that would be the ideal place to lay the eggs and raise the fry.
Tom

Bill

My two males were the same, they take a while to get used to eating with the other fish. I wouldn't worry, they'll be picking stuff up even if you can't see them eating.

Tom

Thanks, now that I think about it, when I had my ram in my 36 way back when, it didn't start eating with the other fish after about a month with them. I got another female tonight since I remember reading that 1 male should be kept with 2 females.
Tom