Mature bolivian ram hiding and not eating.

My male bolivian ram is acting strange. Usually he is always swimming right out front, following me around, and eating well. I've had him in this 36 gal bow for around 10 months. No one bothers him. For two days now though he hasn't been aggressively eating. He would go after pellets half-hearted and would easily give up. Otherwise he seemed pretty normal. Today he was just hiding in the back of the tank right near the bottom, and wouldn't come out even for his favorite food frozen brine shrimp.

water test 0/0/20. didn't check ph. temp is fine. all other fish acting normally.

tough to see anything physically wrong although he looks a little skinny and pale.

suggestions on what to look for?

 

Hey there, not sure what's going on with your BR, but I'll call some others, to see what they think. CindiL @Dovah @aliray @tthepianoguy el337

 

What temperature tank is he in?

Unfortunately this is common with Rams in general where they are fine for months and then seemingly stop thriving. I've had a few die from this same scenario. I've read that it may be because they are raised in water infused with antibiotics, antibacterials etc and their immune systems are not strong because of it. Eventually in our tanks a bacteria gets to them. I don't know exactly how accurate this is but I did watch a you tube video on this and have read some articles. My local pet store has moved them into all RO water for the same reasons.

If he doesn't perk up in the next couple of days I would consider removing him to qt and treating with a broad spectrum antibiotic.

 

Water temp is 78* and very steady. Maybe I stirred something up when I did a very thorough cleaning of the tank two weekends ago. Removed all decorations and cleaned everything in the tank and the filter tubes. I did not disturb the bacteria colony in the eheim filter. Even though this was a "cleaning" I did end up with a lot of debris in the remaining water (30%) that took a bit for the filter to clear.

He was still sitting on the bottom back of the tank this morning. Breathing and gently moving his fins, but didn't look like he moved more than an inch all night.

He was mature when I got him 10 months ago and hasn't appeared to grow at all.

 

Most people will tell you they should be in 80 or above so I don't know if that's a contributing factor or not. My current one is in 78 also but I switched to RO due to high tap nitrates. I am hoping he makes it awhile or longer.

Its awful to see them like that because they have so much personality when they're well.

How are the other fish in the tank?

 

Hey, tameone, sorry you're having this problem.

I would also consider internal parasites in addition to what CindiL suggests. She has much more experience with these fish but those symptoms do make me think of the possibility of parasites.

You could try feeding some medicated food with Metronidazole if you're up for it. This medication acts as an antibiotic as well as an anti-protozoal, so it could be killing two birds with one stone. The only problem is it doesn't work if your fish won't eat it, and I know first hand how disgusting it can taste from having to take a course of Flagyl. Some of the pre-medicated foods of this kind come with garlic already but I don't think it'd hurt to soak with something like Garlic Guard to double the chance of your fish finding it tasty enough to ingest.

 

Thanks for the input. All the other fish are fine, but the Ram is getting worse. Tonight he's just laying still on the bottom.. Upright and breathing, but nothing else. Doesn't look good. Unfortunately I do not have a qt tank, just a little plastic hang on the side container that I use to acclimate new fish. I could put him in it for observation, but it would cause him additional stress for sure. Doubt he would eat anything in it.

Right after I posted that, he moved a couple times.. But he isn't swimming, more like crawling/slithering along the bottom. Hard to get a good look, but his belly looks sucked in behind his gills compared to his normal side view profile.

can't really see there, but its sucked in looking behind the fin next to red spot (which is behind the eye). hang in there buddy

edit. well things are escalating quickly. got back from posting the above and he was tipped over motionless on the bottom. I went to net him and he tried to swim, but was just moving in circles and unable to stay upright. he's in my minI container now, and he can't keep himself upright. hes either on his side, or nose down. when he tries to swim, he flips upside down, or spins in circles nose down.

 

He does look very poor, I'm sorry about your fish.

 

Yup, I suspect he's a goner. Even if I were able to medicate him appropriately starting tomorrow, he appears too close to the edge to survive long enough for anything to help revive him.



edit: after some reading, seems like a lot of rams develop swim bladder issues later in life, and frequently go out this way. I don't know how old he is, but he was fully grown when I got him, so he might be pushing two years.

 

Poor guy.

 

Sorry

Swim bladder issues don't usually present like that, nor do they cause rapid death. I am still thinking bacterial infection. I'm sorry, mine looked just like that when and acted that way when I finally euthanized them.

If you have antibiotics and he's alive it would still be worth a shot to something like Maracyn 2.

This video helps explain the issue:

I haven't watched this second one yet but its from the same guy about keeping them alive. It might have some good tips.

 

Gave it two weeks to make sure the other tank mates are healthy, and I added a small female Kribensis as a replacement. She is acclimating nicely (definitely likes caves.. will have to re-build the one I disassembled after I realized the Ram didn't give two craps about caves..), and ate well today! Color is showing and she's swimming around. Hopefully she plays nicely with my year old Angelfish.


seems to be doing alright so far

 

So cute, I want one~!

I didn't realize they were that small.

 

On the smaller side, has to be young. Didn't realize how small though until I got her in the tank and saw she's not much larger than my biggest cardinal tetras!

 

My love for dwarf cichlids has grown exponentially in the recent past. I'd like to make my second tank for them.