German Blue Ram not doing well after partial water change

[llilith]

I bought a juvenile German Blue Ram from my LFS last Saturday. He's been doing well until this morning. I did a partial water change yesterday. I changed about 1/8 of the tank water, added Seachem Prime, and was careful to match temperature. Today, the GBR is sitting in one place moving his mouth fast. He has been like this all day. I'm not sure he'll make it.

Can anyone tell me how to do a partial water change without upsetting the GBR? I really want to keep one, but I don't know what I've done wrong. I appreciate any help.

Tank details:
15 gallons
Other fish: 2 otos, 3 harlequin rasboras, 4 pygmy cories, 1 nerite, 3 assasin snails
Lots of plants and hiding places
Temp: 80, Ammonia: 0ppm, Nitrite: 0ppm, Nitrate: 0ppm, PH: 6.8
I feed fluval bug bites, hikari sinking wafers, and tetra tropical flakes. This fish was eating well until today. :-(

 

[PlantedCommunityTank132]

I think GBR's do best in 28 C. Did you check if your temperature of the new water was close to the tank water temp?

 

[llilith]

I did make sure the new water was same temp. It's a bummer cause I like this little dude.

 

[PlantedCommunityTank132]

How long did you have him for?

 

[llilith]

today is day 6. I got him last saturday. he seemed to be doing fine, except for some glass surfing.

 

[PlantedCommunityTank132]

I really have no idea why this would happen. He was in good condition when you got him, or?

 

[llilith]

Yeah he seemed so. I got him from a non chain pet store and picked him out cause he had the most color and was biggest. Even with the most color, he is kinda plain. I think their tank of rams were very young, none of them were colored up. I'm keeping my fingers crossed he's ok in the morning. I've read that sometimes these fish just don't make it, being pretty sensitive.

 

[Cale24]

Yeah, it can go that way with rams, sadly. I've had them fall ill after a water change, which I attributed to them eating some stirred up waste/ old food trapped somewhere as I poured in the new water. Can't say for sure.
Feed them some boiled, deshelled and mashed peas weekly - helps their digestion.

 

[Dunk2]

I bought a juvenile German Blue Ram from my LFS last Saturday. He's been doing well until this morning. I did a partial water change yesterday. I changed about 1/8 of the tank water, added Seachem Prime, and was careful to match temperature. Today, the GBR is sitting in one place moving his mouth fast. He has been like this all day. I'm not sure he'll make it.

Can anyone tell me how to do a partial water change without upsetting the GBR? I really want to keep one, but I don't know what I've done wrong. I appreciate any help.

Tank details:
15 gallons
Other fish: 2 otos, 3 harlequin rasboras, 4 pygmy cories, 1 nerite, 3 assasin snails
Lots of plants and hiding places
Temp: 80, Ammonia: 0ppm, Nitrite: 0ppm, Nitrate: 0ppm, PH: 6.8
I feed fluval bug bites, hikari sinking wafers, and tetra tropical flakes. This fish was eating well until today. :-(

Welcome to Fishlore!

How long has this tank been running?

You didn’t ask about this, but unfortunately you have temperature incompatibility with your stock. My Rams have done best at 82F+, which is too warm for your other fish.

How often are you changing water? Rams need clean water, and the 1/8 change you mention won’t be enough. I change 50%+ of the water in my Ram tanks every 5 or 6 days.

 

[llilith]

Thanks for the help. He's still alive this morning and even ate a bit. I'm keeping my fingers crossed he gets past this stress. I'll get some peas and try that too.
I read about the temp they like, and I thought that 80 was a happy medium for all the fish in the tank. Maybe not.
I typically do a 1/4 water change every week. This time, I did less because I didn't want to shock the new guy. Dunk2, how do you do a 50% water change without shocking them? I use tap water with prime.
ETA - the tank has been running for 1 year, with very steady parameters.

 

[Dunk2]

Dunk2, how do you do a 50% water change without shocking them? I use tap water with prime.

Thanks to StarGirl, I use a meat thermometer to match the tap water temperature to the tank.

I use a Python for water changes and 50% is the least I’ll change every week. Every third week or so it’s more like 75%.

In my experience and unless you stock them with other warmer water fish, there’s no such thing as a happy medium with Rams. Or for most fish you attempt to stock with them.

 

[StarGirl]

I agree with Dunk Rams love warm fresh water. Changing water shouldn't shock him. I change 50% a week also. It will keep the other parameters closer to your water source too.

 

[llilith]

Sounds like I'll need to find another home for some of the fish. I'll raise the temp a bit and do larger water changes in the future. Now that I've met the GBR, I really love them, so I'll change to match their preferences. Maybe I'll try a pair if this guy perks up (or if he doesn't as a second chance).
I do use a meat thermometer for temp checks on change water, it's a great idea!

When you do a water change, do you have to be careful how quickly you add new water? I've had a couple of fish deaths over the past year right after water changes. I was thinking maybe I'd replaced too much or added it too quickly. I've always used Prime to treat the new water, dosing enough for the whole tank in the pitcher.

 

[Dunk2]

When I first I got into Rams, I kept them in a community tank.

This was challenging for 2 reasons. . . Their water temperature requirements and their eating habits. Rams are notoriously slow eaters and can easily be outcompeted for food in a community tank. For both of those reasons, I now have 2 Ram only tanks.

As far as adding new water, I think I add it fairly quick. So long as you’re changing the water consistently and frequently and temperature matching (and dechlorinating) it, it shouldn’t be a problem.

 

[Leeman75]

Yeah, I would watch how quickly you're putting the water in. I typically use a siphon to stream water in bit by bit rather than just dumping the water in quickly all at once. May be over cautious, but i love my Rams so I don't mind taking extra care with them. I also do 50%+ WCs each week .

 

[StarGirl]

I just dump the water in. I have a 2g bucket to refill. I have never had a issue with any fish dying after a water change.

The only fish you have that I think may have a issue with the 82* is the dwarf cories. Otto's and Harleys can go to 82 which is top of their range. About the only Cory that will be ok are Sterbai cories.

 

[llilith]

Thanks everyone. I really appreciate the advice.

 

[llilith]

Sadly, he died last night. I'm going to rehome some fish and turn up the heater, do larger water changes and eventually get a pair. Will probably be back for more advice