2 Problem Cichlids - Blue Ram & Angel

[silverchild23]

Ok I have two problems/concerns I hope somebody can help with...

1. Blue Rams - over the last month I have bought three blue rams (two then one), the first two of which have died with seemingly no real conditions. They both died after roughly two/three weeks after looking very pretty and healthy for the whole time. Literally within a day, they would start rapid/heavy breathing near the filter and then die within 24 hrs. Before this there was no symptoms - poo was fine, eating fine, swimming happily around, looking v healthy. I just can't finger it. I dont want the same thing to happen to the last remaining one. Could it be water conditions? I dont think it's poisoning because all the other inhabitants have been just fine. Could it be a bad batch? They were from the same shop at the same time. Could it be a disease? Sound like anything anyone's ever heard of? HELP PLEASE

2. Angel - Some people may remember the problems I had with Mr.Silver the angelfish a while back. Well, he's still alive, but certainly not the wellest of angels He feeds fine, poops fine, swims around happily enough, seems otherwise in good condition. But the problem is, he doesn't grow! All the other angels in the tank have overtaken him now, and I swear he's still not much bigger than when I bought him 3 months ago! He must be only 2 1/2 inches top to bottom (inc. fins). I have noticed that when he eats he swells up alot before he poops, but I just dont understand why he wont grow! Has anybody had this before? In his time he has been treated for: internal parasites + worms (flubinol 15) / internal bacteria (interpet no.9) / hole-in-the-head (octozin) / constipation (peas + epsom salts).

Many Thanks, Ben

TANK PARAMETERS: Juwel Rio 240L (4FT), External Eheim Pro II filter, planted, large slate cave, mangrove roots, bubbler. Nitrate: approx. 20, Nitrite 0, Ammonia 0, pH 7.5, copper 0-0.25.
FISH: Angelfish x4, Keyhole Cichlids x4, Rummynose Tetra x6, BN Plecos x2, Blue Ram x1

 

[Miss Wiggle]

It could be the pH for the rams, or the gH the like soft acidic water so check out that your parameters are ok for them.

the angel just sounds like a runt, not being cruel but in every batch of fry some will be naturally a bit unwell and never attain full size, in all reality in the wild he would not have survived and the breeder probably should have culled him at birth. he'll probably live ok but never get full size, just care for him the best you can and treat problems as they arise.

 

[Jozlyn]

1. Blue Rams - over the last month I have bought three blue rams (two then one), the first two of which have died with seemingly no real conditions. They both died after roughly two/three weeks after looking very pretty and healthy for the whole time. Literally within a day, they would start rapid/heavy breathing near the filter and then die within 24 hrs. Before this there was no symptoms - poo was fine, eating fine, swimming happily around, looking v healthy. I just can't finger it. I dont want the same thing to happen to the last remaining one. Could it be water conditions? I dont think it's poisoning because all the other inhabitants have been just fine. Could it be a bad batch? They were from the same shop at the same time. Could it be a disease? Sound like anything anyone's ever heard of? HELP PLEASE

Ok sounds exactly like what happened to me. LFS gave me 3 rams, big, middle size and little. Middles size ram chased big ram until she ended up hiding beside the filter puffing like a set of bellows then she died during the night. Then little ram started to chase middle size ram, same thing happened, only middle size ram hung out on top of the heater puffing like a set of bellows and eventually died within two days. The same time frame as you two/three weeks, I now only have little ram who is almost full grown now and she's healthy as a horse! I have since found out that Rams should be in Male Female pairs!

You didn't happen to notice if they were chasing each other did you?

 

[silverchild23]

Thanks for the Replies.

I think you're probably right about Mr Silver - he must just be a runt. I think I must've spent over £50 medding and looking after him over the last three months so I know it sounds cruel, but if he gets bad again I think i'm going to leave nature to its own devises. It's prob crueller to let him carry on.

As far as the ram goes, there was never any chasing I'm afraid. Albeit the other things you describe sound the same as what's happened to my rams. I first bought a male and a female, and they got on really well. First the male went. So a week a later I got another male and he got on well with the female too. Two weeks later, the female died. I was so upset. The last remaining is now the male who seems very healthy. However, they were all from the same batch and all the same size as each other. I worry it might just have been a bad batch from the local LFS. - I've heard that sometimes people breed/raise them badly and they end up living for a very short time before dying inexplicably.

Anyone else heard of this?

 

[Miss Wiggle]

i think that might be kindest for Mr Silver, tough descision to make though

you could be right about getting a bad batch, if they come from weak stock or have been poorly raised it could easily leave them weakened