CichildFan

Hi,

I saw some white spots on my german blue ram's side fin. I'm trying ICH Attack which is 100% organic (smells like it too! :-) ) The weird thing though is that the one side of one of my cichild's head turned black??

Does anybody have any idea what would cause this. The other cichild is fine and have the "normal" color scheme.

Any advice would be appreciated!

Thanks!

Shawnie

welcome to fishlore!!! im sorry for the ich on your fish

rams are super sensitive and dont handle meds well...even if they are organic ...did it change color after adding the meds or before? do you know the readings for ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates on your tank?

as new as the tank is, and with the additives you have been adding (stress zyme, stability) and the added ich attach, it could be from a combo of all and an uncycled tank ....

I would try the warmer temps for 2 weeks minimum, daily water changes of 30% with 2 gravel vacs a week (for the ich spores) and find some prime or ammo lock to add with your daily water changes....I would stop using stress zyme and stability as they are not self sustaining bacteria and do more harm than good on your cycle process....of course unless you plan on using it weekly for the life of the tank......

each fish is effected differently and hopefully nothing changes with the others!! good luck!

CichildFan

Hi Shawnie,

Thanks for the quick reply!

All my readings is good. I'm sure this happened after a started the treatment. I read such good things about stability..and by using it I never had the any spikes. I will follow your advice on rather using some prime and ammo lock instead.

So..I have raised my temp..do you suggest I stop the treatment and put my carbon filter back? before things end up getting worse instead of better?

so the gravel vacs twice a week as part of my 30% water change for that day?

What product do you recommend for helping getting the good bacteria to developed?

Regards,
Riaan

Shawnie

your welcome and I hope things look up soon!!!

have you done a test lately on the parimeters? just to rule that out? and if so, what were they?

I would stop the treatment as it sounds like the meds may be affecting the ram severely and turn up the temp to 84F for two weeks...do the 2 gravel vacs a week to clean the ich spores that hide in the subtrate....also, add some kind of bubble wand (unless you have one) as warmer water has less oxygen..when you do the water changes, make sure its the warmer same temps as the tank 84F (raise it gradually over a day or so)

stability works when its added for long periods of time...once you stop using it tho, the cycle crashes...seeing how your tank is so brand new, you can try to find something called tetra safestart ...its the only true bacteria ive had sucess with but its not readily available to everyone..if you can find some, we can help you in that area also....

CichildFan

Thank you!

I'm familiar with tetra safestart and will go and see if I can find it. I'm definitely going to take a picture of the ram since I have never seen that before.

I'll report back in about two weeks time.

Thanks again!
~Riaan

CichildFan

Hi Shawnie,

Here is a picture of my cichild. I think I have an endangered specie :-) I'm still puzzeled as to why he turned black like that, since my other ram was not affected.

~Riaan

Attached Images

IMG_2050.JPG (223.3 KB, 47 views)

Shawnie

Hi cichildfan ...my goodness ive never seen a ram like that..maybe it is rare? maybe some other members have seen it? holy cow!

were you able to find tetra safestart?

Time

Woah that scared me. I think it is a rare disease. MY blue ram has a black stripe on its head but not a black head. Good luck. I hope it turns out alright.

Shawnie

are you on a "disease" kick? dont think its a disease just because its not been seen before

Time

Hmmmmm maybe it is rare. I have seen blue rams with a bigger black stripe on their eye than the others. I hope it is alright. If it is looking normal then I agree with the rare.

CichildFan

Hi Shawnie,

I have ordered safestart on the internet. I did my first vac and 30% water change today. I have also bought and used the Ammo Lock.

I did test my water again today: pH: 6.8 , Ammonia:0.25/0.5 (difficult to match the color :-) ) , nitrite: 0 and nitrate: 0

I want my orginal ram back!!!!! :-(

Shawnie

keep up with the daily water changes and ammo lock every day......ill say some good fishy prayers that he makes it! once you get the safestart, do a 50% water change one day, then 24 hours later, add the TSS alone...then give it 7 days and test the tank again and go from there...hopefully it will be cycled...

animegirlalways

That is different, but not necessary deadly. To be safe definitely do the water changes/treatment that the others recommended and keep a close eye on the parameters, especially the ammonia. I hope he gets better!

CichildFan

Hi All,

Just an update....I lost my black face ram..and some of my other fish. :-(

I have also learned the hard way that using Stability and Stress Zyme are not helping when it comes to cycling a tank...and that there is no real short cut either.

Shawnie, I got and used TSS with a 50% water change way back then...but it didn't do anything for me. I have increased my filtration in the mean time by adding a EHEIM 2213 to my tank and I'm using diamond blend carbon to help me with my ammonia problem..and of course Prime.

I have 3 Neon Rainbow Dwarfs and a Dwarf Gourami left that seems to do fine now that the ammonia is around 1ppm (was of the chart of my API test kit for 2 weeks!!). I'm still continuing to do daily 10% water changes and the 5 of us (me and my fish) will just have to ride it out. :-)

STILL waiting patiently for Nitrite to show up...and it has been over 4 weeks....lucky me.

Thanks for a great forum!