Something is Wrong With My Ram Cichlid - Mikrogeophagus ramirezi

Current Setup and Fish:

5.5G Tank w/ Sponge filter
Temp - 86F
Bare Bottom Tank- Minimal Decor
Two Fish- M/F Ram pair

Context:

Recently, I have picked up these two rams, cause why not ya know? They looked pretty I guess. I put them through a week of QT with General Cure and Erythromycin at temp 84-86F. In that week Both the fish were very active and swimming around in the 75g (Yes it was a whole tank QT with a 75g) I noticed the female's color had gotten much more vivid and very gravid as well. The male also showed good color and was very active. He was eating well and his color was good too. Overall a healthy looking fish in my opinion (which may be wrong).

Since then, I have gotten this 5.5g cycled tank setup with the listed parameters above. I set the heater to 86F but turns out it was running about 90-92F for some reason when I put the fish in. Since then, I have turned it down to 80F on the heater so now it is actually 86F. (Screwy right?) I only put the fish in about two days ago, when in this time, the female's color and activity shows that she is ready to breed. (I have never bred rams, so this is simply my 'educated guess') Picking at the rock, super colored up, active eating, but on the contrary the male seems to have crashed, or at least isn't doing well.

The male isn't eating, sits on the bottom, doesn't move much, but he is vertical. He is also breathing heavy. Overall seems sick, but from my lack of experience I can only guess at this point.

What do you think I should do? I could medicate the tank, but they just came from a medicated system. I could add some sand and more cover, then do a water change. That is my first instinct, but with these Rams, it can be quite difficult from what I have read. They can be very sensitive. I feel maybe the addition of some plants and cover may make him feel more comfortable. Crazy to me to think that two came from the same conditions and one is crashing while the other thrives.

Thanks for reading! Any response will be appreciated!

Also, image of my sick boy

 

I feel like the tank size is very sad for them.

 

I feel like the tank size is very sad for them.

I don't disagree with you. This is just as a breeding setup to spawn them, and move them into another tank so the fry can rear in here. I have read about successful breeders doing this with them. Turns out the male crashed and died. I'm quite sad about it, but as a petsmart fish I am not exactly surprised.

 

Fluctuating parameters can often be a death-knell for rams - temperature included.
And any setup should ideally be a matured, running for several months. A sparse 5.5g should still suffice for breeding, but as with any small tank the parameters can sway more easily.
That said, even when you get all your ducks in a row, rams (store bought especially) can sometimes go south inexplicably. Good video if you're interested in breeding:

 

Fluctuating parameters can often be a death-knell for rams - temperature included.
And any setup should ideally be a matured, running for several months. A sparse 5.5g should still suffice for breeding, but as with any small tank the parameters can sway more easily.
That said, even when you get all your ducks in a row, rams (store bought especially) can sometimes go south inexplicably. ]

Hopefully soon here I will have a 20H freed up from another fish in QT so I can move them into there for more of a 'permanent' home. My thought on a 5.5 gallon for a breeding pair is that, for life, its not great, but for raising fry, it is excellent because then they don't have a large area to roam- therefore smaller area for the fish to guard. That and the rams don't really move a whole lot anyways, even when I had them in a 75, they generally sat in a small space in a corner. I will definitely be watching that video sometime soon here. Thank you for the reply and the info!

 

Hopefully soon here I will have a 20H freed up from another fish in QT so I can move them into there for more of a 'permanent' home. My thought on a 5.5 gallon for a breeding pair is that, for life, its not great, but for raising fry, it is excellent because then they don't have a large area to roam- therefore smaller area for the fish to guard. That and the rams don't really move a whole lot anyways, even when I had them in a 75, they generally sat in a small space in a corner. I will definitely be watching that video sometime soon here. Thank you for the reply and the info!

Cool, and yes a 5.5g can absolutely work for breeding (my smallest breeder at home is an 8 gallon), so long as you can keep things steady. I think that video actually has them in that size tank, just with a lot of plants. One of the better guides I've watched.