my tank is 120litres I have 3 neon rainbow, 6 neon tetra, 2 dwarf gouramis and 2 blue rams.
water stats
ammonia 0ppm
nirtate 0ppm
nitite 0ppm
ph 7.2
just noticed my female ram is turning blackish (all over) in colour the male ram and other fish are ok. Is this serious and can I do anything for her ? she is just at the bottom and not swimming around she was ok at tea time. There is no white spot or fungus and her eyes seem alright. To me it's like her body is shutting down could this be the case ? I have no camera to put a pic sorry

This post has been edited by Gem_uk: Nov 3 2006, 12:37 AM

It may be old age... Any new fish, plants or other introductions to the tank in the past 3 weeks??

no nothing new i thought they were very young fish she is about an inch big

has she been bullied at all?? Rams can be Very sensitive towards water conditions

again no i have not seen any friction with the fish. I hope she will not suffer in the night though

Hmm this is a absolute mystery to me as there doesn't seem to be any obvious reasons....

Any new types of food perhaps some contaminated food??
Breeding maybe?? (never bred rams so I wouldn't know)

thanks for replying to me. The rams have mated about 3 times nothing come of this and was told it could take them a long time to get things right. I just noticed she is breathing fast am I being cruel to leave her like this.

looked up on disease and cannot see nothing about them going black in colour

I honestly have No idea what is wrong with your fish sorry perhaps someone more experienced may help...all I can think of is perhaps it's eaten something wrong (say a moth has flown into the tank etc)

the tank always has the lid on she eats same flake and frozen blood worm and daphinia thank you for replying

anyone help please advise

I wouldn't euthanise yet IMO

ok thank you was just scared

Black patches ammonia burns that are healing or cancer.
And get you some info as can't spell it.

Ive never seen a Ram or any other fish go black. Is the fish colour changing or is it a coating on the fish thats changing the colour. Im thinking velvet or slime disease. You will be able to check by getting the ram into a little tub/tank and having a good look at it.

Other than that im not sure, a photo might help.

did a fishless cycle took 3 weeks and ammonia is 0ppm do water check 2x week (cancer omg)

Is cancer always visable?? And cancer is incurable im afraid (in fish)

Just want to check do you keep the fish with neon tetra's. Look under black patches.
There a desease called myxbactis or something like that but can't find any info for now.

http://www.fbas.co.uk/ASK3.html#widows

This post has been edited by Wilder: Nov 3 2006, 01:03 AM

yes they are with neon tetras and all other fishies seem fine I have turned the lights off now and just pray she will make it through the night I will let you know what happens thank you.

Do a search on it now found it,
STEP 3: Look for black patches on the fins and body along with body swelling. This is a bacterial infection called myxobacteriosis

Thank you read up on it will go to LFS in the morning she has the black patches but cant notice any swelling they say it is easy to treat and there is only one treatment. thank you for replying


my water stats are ok and have had no troubles they say overcrowding and poor water