Help save my Ram!

[BobLablah]

My German blue ram is verysick The symptoms are: Lack of appetite, eyes darkened, heavy breathing, swimming in circles and spiralling.

My levels are: Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Ph 7
I do water changes of 30% once a week.
Also in the tank: 5 x-ray tetras, one other ram, one pleco, one dwarf gourami.
It's a 20 gallon tank. I quarenteened the sick fishie and medicated her with an anti bacterial med. Any hope to offer? Or insights?
Thanks! I'm a newbie and she's my favourite fish!

 

[rdd1952]

I've heard that rams were somewhat delicate for new tanks (although I really want to put 4 in my new 75 gallon). It could possibly be a swim bladder problem but could definitely be something more serious. Erratic swimming is one of the symptoms though. Try feeding it a cooked, shelled pea. It won't hurt if constipation isn't the problem and should clear it up if it is. I hope she gets better. Good luck.

 

[BobLablah]

Thanks for your reply. Unfortunately she didn't last the night

 

[WILDER]

Sounds like it could of been a parasite infection, was the fish also flicking and rubbings against objects, any red inflamed gills.

 

[rdd1952]

Sorry you lost her.

 

[BobLablah]

Do you think my other fish are at risk of infection? They look fine today. Do I need to treat them?

 

[WILDER]

It sounds like a parasite to me, heavy breathing spiraling, can you see if the gills are red or inflamed, or pale, do they have a gold dusting to there bodies, are they flicking and rubbing on objects in the tank, was the tummy bloated on the sick fish.

 

[BobLablah]

The Ram did not look bloated. She looked gaunt. Her tummy was sunken. No red gills on any of them. No flicking or rubbing that I've observed. No gold dusting. The ram that died was super pale in the morning after she died.

 

[WILDER]

Sorry, a sunken in belly can indicate internal parasites, and then they can get secondary bacteria infection with them, i would do a few water changes, and keep an eye on the rest of the fish, good luck.