Shivermetimbers
- #1
So I picked up a blue ram (how it was marked, guessing German Blue) from a store on Saturday along with a few ghost shrimp to add to my tank. Acclimated the fish and within 15-30 mins of being in the tank it had colored up beautifully and was quite active. For the rest of the weekend all seemed fine, active, eating, seemed to be scouting the tank to possibly claim a territory, and seemed quite pleased with a spot under some driftwood.
Yesterday about 48 hours after being put in the tank, the ram was nearly stationary just above the substrate. Mouth was flapping a bit, fins weren't clamped, still moving slowly as it hovered in this spot for quite some time. Color started fading some, and at feeding time the ram didn't seem to be interested, although seemed to peck a few crumbs that floated by. By late last night I went to check on it before heading to bed and it was laying on it's side, but still alive. I reached in and when touched (it was under a driftwood overhang so I needed to coax it out to try and net it out) it literally swam doing loops in the water, after about 4 loops and a corkscrew I got it out and put it in a cup and within minutes the fish had died.
I have heard that these fish are rather sensitive, and some even suffer from sudden ram death syndrome. Does this seem like I just got a bad draw on this fish? something I could have done different? Fish seemed like all was well for about 48 hours and then took a sudden down hill turn in a few hours. Levels in the tank have been steady at about
6.4-6.6 PH
Temp around 80º
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 5-10ppm
Tank is not old (few weeks) but has been cycled since day one using seeded media. Other fish seem fine and active. Plants have been growing in slowly as well.
Just looking for advice. I'm going to return the fish as the store will exchange for a new one or just get my money back. Not sure if I should grab another? or wait it out. I don't have a quarantine tank so I know it is a bit risky introducing right to the tank, but don't have another option right now. Only thing I could use is a gallon unheated container which I could put an air stone in. Figure that the ram wouldn't last in there anyway for much time.
Yesterday about 48 hours after being put in the tank, the ram was nearly stationary just above the substrate. Mouth was flapping a bit, fins weren't clamped, still moving slowly as it hovered in this spot for quite some time. Color started fading some, and at feeding time the ram didn't seem to be interested, although seemed to peck a few crumbs that floated by. By late last night I went to check on it before heading to bed and it was laying on it's side, but still alive. I reached in and when touched (it was under a driftwood overhang so I needed to coax it out to try and net it out) it literally swam doing loops in the water, after about 4 loops and a corkscrew I got it out and put it in a cup and within minutes the fish had died.
I have heard that these fish are rather sensitive, and some even suffer from sudden ram death syndrome. Does this seem like I just got a bad draw on this fish? something I could have done different? Fish seemed like all was well for about 48 hours and then took a sudden down hill turn in a few hours. Levels in the tank have been steady at about
6.4-6.6 PH
Temp around 80º
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 5-10ppm
Tank is not old (few weeks) but has been cycled since day one using seeded media. Other fish seem fine and active. Plants have been growing in slowly as well.
Just looking for advice. I'm going to return the fish as the store will exchange for a new one or just get my money back. Not sure if I should grab another? or wait it out. I don't have a quarantine tank so I know it is a bit risky introducing right to the tank, but don't have another option right now. Only thing I could use is a gallon unheated container which I could put an air stone in. Figure that the ram wouldn't last in there anyway for much time.