German Blue Ram Is Hiding

[killudead]

I have 2 german blue rams in a 75g community tank.
The tank has around 30 fish. See my sig for more info

anyway, one of my rams keeps on hiding deep in the bush in the back of the tank. It will come out to look for food, but always goes back in.
I give it a once over when i can, looks completely normal. No ich, no swollen body, nothing.
I have been monitoring all my lvls. The only thing that i am slightly concerned about is a slightly pink test for the nitrates. the tank is heavily planted. I check for ammonia and came up with nothing. I have been doing a small 10% water change for the last 2 days and added in some API stress coat when adding in the new water. Not a lot, but a capful or so.
I have been attempting to learn about breeding, as it may seem like one is male and the other female. I cannot tell them apart for some reason with my rams. leggo and eggo we call them.
Any ideas?

 

[killudead]

i tried to get some pics to look at.
Hopefully this will help.
The coloring on the first ram pic is strange. This is the ram that is hiding. It sits deep in the watersprite that i have planted.
The second pic is of the other one. That ones color is very bright and vivid.
The first ram does not look bloated, no ick, no nothing. I was reading that during breeding, they like to hide.

 

[killudead]

ok, I am not trying to spam my thread, but i have some more information.
I caught the little guy and now have him in a 5 gal. quarantine tank. As i look down on him, It seems like the lips are swollen and it seems like there is a small bulge on the left side of his body.
I have no idea. I hope it is not the start of dropsy?

 

[dthoffsett]

Have you noticed any signs of aggression? I'm not familiar with normal ram behavior, but him/her being bullied could explain some of it.

You might try getting Ferris or another mod to move this to the New World section, they may be more help.

 

[killudead]

Have you noticed any signs of aggression? I'm not familiar with normal ram behavior, but him/her being bullied could explain some of it.

You might try getting Ferris or another mod to move this to the New World section, they may be more help.

Unfortunately, the little guy died. I had thought of getting it moved. I realized after the fact, this is the wrong section.

 

[dthoffsett]

Oh, I'm sorry to hear he died, and sorry I couldn't have been of more help (or any at all). -Dawn