Bolivian Ram Not The Same

I started noticing my Bolivian ram is not acting her normal self. She was acting lethargic and not eating. Today I've been watching her and she seems about the same. Hanging at the bottom and not moving. She may swim around this fish house decor and then go back in and sit in it. No physical signs in any way.

Around the middle of Sept. I purchased a pair, this one is smaller of the two and the bigger one is acting normal, swimming, eating and come to the glass when I move up closer. The smaller one used to it until around 4 days ago when I noticed her behavior. All other fish mates are normal as far as I can see.

I did a WC today and will test the water parameters tomorrow (Sunday) and post here. Any ideas/suggestions?

 

What are the tank parameters?

 

I'll do a complete API test tomorrow. Around a week & half ago my pH 7.6 & Ammonia 0.25. This is normally what both are all the time when I test.

Here are some pics, best I could get, of her.




The top right is showing the larger BR and the smaller one is in the back bottom.

What are the tank parameters?

Here are the parameters today. Yesterday I did a 30% WC.
pH = 7.6
AM = 0.25
Nitrite = 0
Nitrate = 20
These readings are pretty much what it always be. My stock is:
6 black skirt tetras
5 ember tetras
3 zebra danios
2 peppered cories & 2 nerite horned snails.

Any other ideas suggestions? The smaller BR is still the same, not much action from her!

Feohw Any ideas or suggestion what may be going on? From the 3 pics above the one looking sick is the left & right pics. The eyes look blacker then normal to me. The middle pic is the other one, she looks in great health and swimming & acting normally.

 

Hmm...
Took a look, hard to see any telltale signs of sickness based on the pics except I did notice somewhat of a sunken belly.
The water change will be helpful, always the first remedy for me.
Good call on Feohw maybe will see something.

Good Luck!

 

Hmm...
Took a look, hard to see any telltale signs of sickness based on the pics except I did notice somewhat of a sunken belly.
The water change will be helpful, always the first remedy for me.
Good call on Feohw maybe will see something.

Good Luck!

I noticed that too. Internal parasites could be a possibility.

 

No offence, but the tank looks all but suited for a bolivian ram (or any dwarf cichlid for that matter.). Long term bad conditions have impact on the immune system. I don't know how often I have to point to this: Whatever a fish has, most often it's because bad tank conditions have damaged the immune system and often when you treat it successfully either the same disease or something else will turn up again soon if the conditions are not changed.

What do you feed and how often do you do waterchanges? What is your KH and GH?

As for the hospital tank (came here from the other thread): May be not necessary, as eventually you might have to dose for internal parasites and for those I'd treat the whole tank. But as long as this is not cleared don't use anything.

Also: Please use the disease template next time, you're not a new user, you know it's easier to help with the template filled out.

 

No offence, but the tank looks all but suited for a bolivian ram (or any dwarf cichlid for that matter.).

What do you feed and how often do you do waterchanges? What is your KH and GH?

As for the hospital tank (came here from the other thread): May be not necessary, as eventually you might have to dose for internal parasites and for those I'd treat the whole tank. But as long as this is not cleared don't use anything.

Also: Please use the disease template next time, you're not a new user, you know it's easier to help with the template filled out.

None taken. I feed them different brands of flakes & frozen shrimp, that is all I have for now. I am planning on getting some cichlid pellets.

I do weekly WCs between 20%-50%. I will do a WC twice a week to see if that will help. I do not know what KH & GH are, since I do not have those. Do I need to get strips are the liquid to test with?

I really didn't know there is a disease template. I did noticed I should have posted in the disease section of forum.

Thanks for the info.

 

None taken. I feed them different brands of flakes & frozen shrimp, that is all I have for now. I am planning on getting some cichlid pellets.

I do weekly WCs between 20%-50%. I will do a WC twice a week to see if that will help. I do not know what KH & GH are, since I do not have those. Do I need to get strips are the liquid to test with?

I really didn't know there is a disease template. I did noticed I should have posted in the disease section of forum.

Thanks for the info.

Allright then.
I'd try a more varied diet. Frozen shrimp? Brine shrimp or big ones for human consumption? If so, don't feed these anymore, instead try brine shrimp, cyclops and mosquito larvae (especially the white ones).

Waterchange schedule seems fine. For KH and GH (and honestly, almost all things you have to test regularly, except ammonia) strips are more than sufficient. There are some brands that produce rubbish and I can't shake the feeling most of them do this just so people buy the liquid tests. I almost exclusively use strips by two certain manufacturers and have consistently reliable readings.
In any case: If both readings are high, that may have influence on the fishes health. Bolivian rams like softer, slightly acidic water.

Here's the template. Many people think it's not necessary, but it includes a lot of questions even people with experience don't always think of but can give a decisive clue.
Fish Emergency Template | Freshwater Fish Disease and Fish Health Forum | 376562

You might want to think about a tank makeover after the possible disease is identified and treated successfully.

 

She's not making it. She is lying on her side, moving but not good. What should I do at this point? I really do not have anything ready to put her in.

 

Oh fragg! That's a quick change.

From what you say and what it looks like you can't do much anymore at that point I fear.

 

Yes, she have passed on. I'm sorry to have lost her. But, so far, her big sister is still thriving and doing well, along with the other stock.

I'll research about BRs and maybe get more at some other time frame. I really like them!

Any precautions I should take besides doing WCs to try and keep the other stock healthy?

 

So sorry! :/

Leaves and alder cones. Otherwise... No, can't think of any direct measures.

I guess a tank redo might become necessary within the next year.

 

I'd recommend you get a more natural looking tank, I think it'll make your fish feel more at home.

 

I'll probably work on doing a makeover this winter or spring. I have had this setup about 1 yr & 7 months, but just got the rams in Sept.

 

It's tough when we have a loss. All keepers have had a loss now and then, for the most part we have no idea of the cause.
At this point just monitor and water changes.

Good Luck!

 

Just saw this today. Sorry to see the ram didn't make it!

 

***UPDATE***
Since the first ram died, I'm getting worried the second one is not acting normal. I've noticed the past few days, it's not coming up to the glass when I get close to the glass. Today after feeding, she was not going after the food aggressively like she have been.

She doesn't seem to be sick, but just not as active as she have been. Mostly get in one corner or inside decor and hang there most of the time. I do not see any bullying going on from the other tank mates or any injuries.

Any thoughts/suggestions?