German Blue Ram Help

[Black_Stalion]

Hi, ive just noticed my german blue ram is looking weird, ive taken some photos they aint great quality but you can tell there is something wrong, all tests are fine, nitrate is a lil high but going to do a water change now.

thanks to any1 who replies

 

[WILDER]

To be honest never kept rams so don't no what I'm meant to be looking at.

 

[Rhiannon]

I have a ram, can you describe what you think is looking weird on him? The pics are a bit blury..

 

[tmack]

I'm not quite sure either of what the problem is. In the top picture the fish on the left looks a bit thin & wasted in the belly area. Is that what you think the problem is?

 

[stargirly1208]

looks like my bolivian ram actually... very similar. pics are too blurry tho

 

[RadaR]

I can see what you mean.
Any idea on your water hardness? From experience Blue Rams dont last more than a few months in water wth a hardness (GH) over 10.
Keep your water quality up, look out for bullying and try some bloodworms to perk him/her up.

 

[thegnu]

ditto RadaR,
you just probably dont have the water for them. nice tank though!

 

[Black_Stalion]

i took photos using my fone

His tail looks like its growing now at an angle, he has gone thin, but he is still eating, water is soft ph is at 6.4 but nitrate levels r sky high so doing another water change again, will do 50% now for 3 days and that normally cures the problem with the nitrate but its puzzling me wots wrong with it, my other ram died about 6 weeks ago there was no signs of disease on that 1... strange

 

[WILDER]

Thought I saw a bend in the tail but wasn't sure if its was the angle the pic was took.
If he's going thin when still eating looking at internal parasites to fish tb, or it could be old age.
Check the anus to see if its enlarged or red and inflamed.
What does it look like when the fish go to the toilet.
Had any fish with bent spines.

 

[Black_Stalion]

it looks like he is dying now, hes stopped eating, but apart from the bent tail doesnt show any other signs of disease, all other fish are doing great, its probably old age as u say, will be a shame if he dies as i have had him for ages now

 

[thegnu]

you state that your nitrates are sky high. well you have answered your question your self. some fish can cope with high nitrates especially if they are in a tank with low nitrates and the nitrate level goes up slowly. rams, discus, some mbuna and many other fish cant cope with nitrates above 20PPM, they start to get sick. much higher than this and they die. this isn't rocket science its the truth. thats why a ram that could possibly live for three years might be lucky to live for three months in a lot of tanks but because they are such pretty fish many people will keep getting them, treat them like any other fish and they will keep dying!