Just Found A Dead Fish

[sussexgirl]

I noticed over the weekend that one of my German Rams was gulping for air quite fast. She wasn't at the top of the tank, just swimming very slowly around half way down my tank. Her tank mate was fine and swimming all over the place - still is.

My water parameters taken just 10 minutes ago remain the same as they was when I last tested on Saturday:

Amonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 10
PH 7.8
Tank temp 76 degrees

The only thing I can think of is that I did a 30% water change on Saturday and I know that my LFS said that these fish preferred more acidic water and that you have to ease them in to more alkaline water very gradually. That said, I treated my water with dechlorinator and left it for 10 minutes before adding. I had used filtered water from my electric kettle to get the water to the correct tank temperature.

Any ideas? No sign of ich in the tank or anything untoward. It's a 95 litre tank by the way. Thanks

 

[WILDER]

Added any new fish to the tank, i would watch out for parasites.

 

[sussexgirl]

Added any new fish to the tank, i would watch out for parasites.

2 weeks ago I added my two blue rams and 2 corydoras sterbai catfish. Every other fish in the tank seems to be thriving so far. I've sat and watched them alot since I found the dead ram and there are no unusual markings on any of them. I'm perplexed really. Do you think it could be the PH of 7.8 that's the problem with the Ram? Also, I feel bad that the other Ram is alone now but I don't know whether I should wait a week or so and then add another or whether I should leave him alone or even return him to the LFS? If they don't suit my high PH water then it would be cruel to get another one wouldn't it?

 

[WILDER]

What was the ph of the store to your tank, and how long did you climatise them for.

 

[sussexgirl]

What was the ph of the store to your tank, and how long did you climatise them for.

Store didn't tell me their PH and me being 'green' to all this didn't think to ask them. When I told them all my water readings they just said that the Rams would need to be climatised for slightly longer and to leave the bag floating for an hour and just keep adding small amounts of my water throughout the hour. This I did and they were both swimming round happily looking healthy until I did my water change and thorough gravel vac on Saturday. I'm even wondering whether she got in the way whilst I was using the gravel vac and I didn't see her. I just feel so bad...........

 

[WILDER]

Sounds like to me he didn't climatise to well to the tank, sorry, i would leave it another week before you add and new fish, good luck.

 

[sussexgirl]

Sounds like to me he didn't climatise to well to the tank, sorry, i would leave it another week before you add and new fish, good luck.

Thanks Wilder, I'll do that.

 

[sussexgirl]

Sounds like to me he didn't climatise to well to the tank, sorry, i would leave it another week before you add and new fish, good luck.

Just spotted a tiny fry in the tank, my fat yellow platy has given birth at last. There I was feeling fed up about my ram last night just before I went to bed and then suddenly this tiny little yellow fish darted past and into the rock cave. Hopefully it won't get eaten but it was being chased by my remaining Ram!

 

[Phantom Thief]

I've never had much luck with rams. I've gotten 4 over the course of time i've spent on this hobby, none have survived. Not sure why :\

Anyway, good luck on the fry, but if its alone, chances are it wont survive for very long against the other fish, unless there's a lot of hiding spaces.

P.T.